CHINESE CONFLICT

Northern Advocate, 4 January 1927, Page 5

CHINESE CONFLICT

THIRD EDITION

CRISIS REACHED. FOREIGNERS IN DANGER. (Received 12.20 p.m.) SHANGHAI, January 3. Messages from Kiukiang state that the situation-is pregnant, with, danger for foreigners, A general strike has been declared in (be British concession to starve out residents, necessitating relief being rushed from Hankow in ah attempt to break the boycott, . , Six naval vessels, guarding lives, landed every available man for protection and to demonstrate. The concession is picketed by strikers to prevent food entering. The Chinese authorities . declare helplessness to restore order at presnt. Lighting is cut off. His Majesty’s Wyvern and other vessels are assisting with searchights. Anti-Christian feeling and outrages in the outlying provinces have increased to auchaq that all missionaries are fidvised to proceed to the safety zones. Hitherto peaceful countryfolk have been stirred up nigh to fanaticism by agitators,, and are perpetrating outrages and incendiarism.

CATHOLIC CHURCHES BURNED, PRIESTS AND NUNS ATTACKED (Received 12.26 p.m.) PEKING, January 2. All Catholic bishops and nuns in districts surrounding Hankow were ordered to evacuate after the mission at Yang Shin-shan had been attacked by mobs of six hundred. Priests were assaulted and driven out of a church, which was fired and destroyed. Priests aand nuns escaped over the walls of the town and were pursued by a howling mob. A seminary in the vicinity of Shasi was looted and destroyed, an 3 priests stripped of clothing. A Church at Hnsseph and; mission homes were burned. ‘

The mission at Tung-Chan-sian, in the - vjcinity of Wn-Chang, was .■ destroyed. ■. ' , , Nuns in a convent at Shin-Shin-kai were compelled to flee owing to continued interference by soldiers.