TROUBLES OF CHINA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19081, 28 July 1925, Page 9

TROUBLES OF CHINA.

WAR, RIOTS AND STRIKEB.

ATTACKS UPON FOREIGNER^.

DUNEDIN GIRL IN SHANGHAI.

[BX TELEGIJLPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.} DUNEDIN. Monday. Writing on Juno 12 to a friend in Mornington, a Dunedin girl now in Shanghai states: " Last time I wrote it was war, as usual. Then came business as usual Now we have a nice littlo riot and a miniature battle in the main street and a general strike and boycott of English and Jap&Uoso goods. Everything was as usual oa the Friday, not a sign or sound of any trouble, yet on the Saturday, when uro were at the races, a few miles out, wo heard there had been a. riot and that students had been shot by our police. That was on May 30, and this is Juno 12, and the trouble i 3 still going strong and likely to go stronger. ** The Chinese used no discrimination whatever and attacked the foreigners and stoned and smashed the tramcars. Any foreigner venturing down a sido-street likely to get stoned. This state of afiairs has calmed down as tho streets arc well patroLed by marines and volunteers of all nationalities. Lewis guns arc perchod on the roots of the Nanking Road buildings ready for anything. ,

" You will have read tho account of tho lighting in Tibet and Nanking Koads. Bullets were flying about. Tho Chinese had a machine-gun hidden in their new world buildings on tho corner of Nanking lioad, and without a word commenced hnng into tho street. Passersby tied for shelter. Those playing tennis on tho racecourse got a great inght as budets went whizzing over their heads. Soldiers arrived and raided tho building but could tind nothing, tho Chinese having escaped by various routes. One mounted American was hit and his horse was shot, whilo others scampered madly away. All this in oar shopping street —our Princes Street. " Now it has changed from riot to strike, which is rapidly spreading to all parts of China. All shops are shuttered and barred and a foreigner cannot change a dohar at any exchange shop. Tho seamen havo now struck, thus crippling business pomptotely. If they commence a boycott oi British and Japanese goods things will bci serious.

" Tho students' demands are preposterous, and now tho Chamber of Commerce has also taken a hand. It is developing into a political affair, delegations arriving from i'ckmg to go into the question. " The houseboys have not yet struck ard are not anxious to, but uuless they go their families aro threatened, and it just amounts to how much intimidation they can stand. Many hotel boys have left, more from fear than desire. All coolies irom big works have left; they aro just like sheep, following the leader, who has promised to pay them their wages if they join tho strike. On all walls are posters m Chinese, and any tho council put up are torn dov,*n immediately. There aro pictures and sketches of the tortoise everywhere. This is supposed to be a great insult. The newspapers are on strike and our papers aro being run by the foreign staff and typistes. " All tho markets are shut and the council is controlling the iood supply. So far there have been no shortages save in. fresh meat. Tho Chinese will not allow cattle through, nor will they work io the slaughterhouse. One saw an interesting sight the other day; a herd of cattle guarded by volunteers being taken down the Wanking iload to be slaughtered. Just imagine that in Jfrinces Street."