NANKING DISORDERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19608, 9 April 1927, Page 11

NANKING DISORDERS.

JAPANESE OPEN FIRE. CLASH WITH OANTONESE. •PITCHED BATTLE IN STREET LEWIS "GUNS' EMPLOYED. GUERILLA FORCES' ACTIVE. ©y Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received April 8, 7 p.ia.) and N.Z. SHANGHAI. April 8. Simultaneously with • the departure of Chiang Kai-shek, commander of the Southern army, from Nanking, guerilla forces jagain became active. They sniped and wounded a Japanese jnarine. Immediately a large force of Japanese jnarincs took possession of the streets, *rith orders to shoot anything seen pioving. As sporadic sniping continued the 'Japanese commander ordered the marines to advance after sweeping the streets with guns. The Chinese guerilla forces rallied fend a short-pitched battle followed. Then the attackers escaped in a maze of alley.ways. E&rly next morning a second street battle occurred, but Japanese marines drove off the attackers, who were Cantonese soldiers. HANKOW SITUATION. position becoming worse. EVACUATION OF FOREIGNERS. and N.Z. SHANGHAI, April 7. The latest wireless messages from Hankow indicate that the Japanese are determinedly defending the Japanese concession there, on which Chinese troops are not permitted to trespass. • There is already a Japanese landing party of 300 Cn shore, and this will be doubled on the jgrrival of the cruiser Tenryu. % The general' situation is reported to be steadily becoming worse. Lawlessness is ca the increase and Hankow is being gradually emptied of all foreign residents. Russians and Germans are now hurriedly joining the general exodus. A general atmosphere of uneasiness prevails in the native districts. . In accordance with the decision to completely evacuate the up-river areas British gunboats, consuls, and communities have been brought to Hankow from Chungking, Ichang, Changsha and Chengiin'-

At Shanghai the curfew to-night was eased one hour to an eleven o'clock limit.

HELP OF BRITAIN.

PROTECTION OF FOREIGNERS.

MEASURES IN SHANGHAI.

(Received April S, 5.5 p.m.) and N.Z. LONDON. Apnl 7.

A message of thanks transmitted to the British. Government by foreigners in Shanghai for " the prompt and adequate measures taken for the defence of the international settlement," was signed by 5000 people, representing over 32 nationalities. All the leading members of each colony were among the signatories. INCIDENT IN PEKING. RAID ON SOVIET PROPERTY. PROTEST TO BE MADE. fc. und N.Z WASHINGTON. April 7. Unofficial, but authoritative, reports here to-day stated that the foreign diplomatic, corps at Peking is expected to protest to the local authorities against the unauthorised invasion of the Russian Legation by the,,, guard of the compound. In connection with the authorised Chinese raid on the adjoining private Hussian property, the State Department announced that the Senior Minister, on behalf of the diplomatic quarter, authorised the Chinese authorities to search the property of the Russian Dahl Bank and the Russian Eastern Chinese railway, but gave no authorisation for a raid en the adjacent compound, in which the Chinese went beyond their authorisation.

MARINES FOR CHINA. DETACHMENT FROM TOTAL OF 1500 MEN. A. and N.Z. ' WASHINGTON. April 7. A message from San I>iego says a further 1500 marines have sailed for Shanghai in the transport Henderson. COWARDLY CHINESE. CHILDREN AS SCREENS. SHANGHAI. March 31. Another attempt was made to storm the French concession in the same place where the gates were stolen last night. A few Chinese., with a mob of children, walked up to the gates holding out children to plead for the gates to be opened. Suddenly a mob of 200 Chinese, knowing that the French gukrds would hesitate to fire on the children, rushed tip behind, threw bricks, and tried to climb the barriers. The soldier- immediately fired over the children's heads and dispersed the invaders, who included several Cantonese soldiers. French troops then chased the mob and captured three Chinese.