STALKING TERROR

Northern Advocate, 19 September 1927, Page 5

STALKING TERROR

CRIME WAVE IN SHANGHAI RIVALLING CHICAGO. ' COMPLACENT CHINESE COURT. (United Press Assn—Copyright.)' (Received 11.30 a.m.) SHANGHAI September IS.

An unprecedented wave of crime is sweeping Shanghai, principally in the international settlement. The authorities are alarmed, wondering if the world's crime centre has shifted from Chicago to Shanghai, The area of the settlement is 5500 acres and the police total 3533, including whites, Chinese and Indians, in addition to hundreds of reserves and specials, yet outrageous crimes occur daily in broad daylight in the settlement's busiest thoroughfares. Street battles between police and desperadoes are becoming common, and kidnappings happen under the noses of the police.

The authorities blame thousands of disbanded Northerners captured in the recent fighting around Nanking. Many had secreted arms and ammunition, which are now being used to terrorise foreign settlements. Further blame is laid on the Provisional Court controlled by Chincso, which deals with eases affecting natives and non-extraterrltor-ial foreigners arising within the settlement. The Court refuses to impose the death penalty and otherwise deals lightly (with criminals brought to justice.

The September record averages seven armed hold-ups daily and three armed kidnappings. Wealthy Chinese are in the majority of cases the victims, and they a.ro murdered if the ransom is not forthcoming. In addition there are scores of unarmed 'hold-ups, A strange feature of the situation is that 'crime outside the settlement is considerably less than within, suggesting an organised effort to reduce to a minimum the well-known security afforded in foreign settlements in the past. Opinion in certain circles is that a deliberate campaign has been instigated; by the ‘Chinese authorities to create a situation that would justify further claim to assume control of the settlement apart from the original nationalist programme.—A, and N.Z.

EMBASSY RAID SEQUEL.

MILITARY SITUATION QUIET,

(Received 11.30 a.m.) SHANGHAI, September 17. The preliminary trial of 15 Russians arrested during the raid on the Soviet Embassy in Peking in March has concluded. All were found guilty of agitating to .produce internal disturbance in China. They will be subjected to further trial in the High Procurate Court at an early date. ■ •-The-’-imilitary- situation is quiet, A conference between representatives of the Hankow and Nanking Governments has commenced but little has been accomplished yet'owing to the unexpected resignation ,of Wang Ohing-wei, chief of the Central Executive Committee of the Ivuomingtang, at the eleventh hour, -It is believed that the remaining delegates will proceed with the conference, which was originally planned in order to unite Hankow 'aiid Nanking.—A. and N.Z.