ANOTHER BOXER RISING?

New Zealand Times, Volume LIV, Issue 12651, 11 January 1927, Page 7

ANOTHER BOXER RISING?

CHINESE EXCITED BY THEIR SUCCESS AT HANKOW SHANGHAI THE NEXT GOAL FOREIGNERS MORE INCLINED NOW TO UNITE IN DEFENCE News from China indicates that the success of the Cantones* troops at Hankow will force the other Powers to unite with Britain in future, especially in the defence of Shanghai.

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. SHANGHAI, January 9. Passengers arriving from Kiukiang state that the Kuomintang Hag had been hoisted over tho British Consulate there. The Consul is aboard H.M.S. Wyvern. At Hankow the situation is declared to bo so bad that it cannot become worse. The principal British buildings have already been looted, are flying Soviet flags, and are used as headquarters by labour unions and agitators. Refugees state that youthful Cantonsse soldiers hurst into the homes and ordered out the inmates, placed red seals on the doors, and refused to allow possession to be taken, even to babies in arms. They state that the Chinese are not content with the recovery of the concessions, but want to expel every foreigner from China, and are supported in this by the military, who have declared that they are able but unwilling to control the situation, and are assisting in demonstrations. In accord with predictions, the entire Yangtse Valley has been influenced by the Hankow events. | The present wave of anti-foreign violence is not likely to cease until it reaches Shanghai, but here it is not expected to attain the proportions of the Hankow affair. The stabilising influence is tho Governor, Sun Chuan-fang, the antiRed commander, who is now blocking the advance of the Red army 100 miles to the west of Shanghai, and is at present holding his own. His defeat would leave Shanghai open to entry by the Cantonese. It is believed that the Powers have arrived at an arrangement in such an event. American sentiment, which has hitherto favoured non-interferenoe, has now been stirred by the Hankow events. Signs that Chinese extremists throughout the country are becoming intoxicated with their success at Hankow are shown by events elsewhere. Tientsin, the port of Peking, though under anti-Red control, -is showing signs of imitating Hankow. Similar reports elsewhere suggest that a second Boxer uprising may be expected unless the Powers reach an understanding immediately. OTHER POWERS AWAKENED Britain cannot be blamed for inaction. She has long been the scapegoat. The other Powers are now realising that they are equally affected, and that only a concerted demonstration is required to restore order. Bloodshed is unnecessary, judging by events at Kiukiang, when at two blank shots fired by a gunboat in response to the Consulate’s signal, the mob fled in terror.

Yesterday’s refugees include many missionaries. It is reported that a hundred missionaries and others at Kuliag have been cut off from escape by events at Kiukiang. Definite action by the Powers is not expecteif until all the interior residents who can have reached safety, fearing reprisals, hut intervention appears inevitable.

Ships arriving from Hankow filled with refugees all speak in high terms of praise of the restraint and forbearance of the British marines under prolonged provocation. All the Hongkong bank’s securities have been removed from Hankow.

AMERICAN’S LEAVE HANKOW

Advices,' dated Hankow, January 7th, state that a steamer left for Shanghai the previous night carrying the evacuated American women and ohildren. All the administrative officers in the British Concession are now in the hands of Chinese, who are in control of the police and municipal buildings. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has assured the safety of all foreigners.

Advices of the same date from Japa-

nese sources at Kiukiang state that Chinese crowds occupied the municipal buildings and premises of British firms and private residences. The efforta of Chinese troops to preserve peace and order do not appear to have been successful, and the British Concession is endangered. Though Japanese residents are at present safe, fears for their future are entertained. The Customs officers have taken refuge in an American warship. CANTONESE IN A QUANDRY Published in "The Times." LONDON, January 9. The Peking correspondent of “The Times,” recalling that the British developed the Hankow Concession from a mud flat to its present very valuable property, in which millions are invested, points out that the Cantonese now realise that the boycott is a two-edged weapon, that the closure of the banks and cessation of business havq dislocated trade, throwing idle tens of thousands of people, who are demanding that the local authorities pay their wages while they are unemployed. He emphasies the fact that Britisl banking, shipping, and commerce preponderate in the Yangtse Valley, a fact whioh enable® Britain to exercise effective economic pressure on the river ports and other commercial' centres for the purpose of bringing the Cantonese to reason. RED GENERAL SECEDES (Received January 10, 9.5 p.m.) LONDON, January 9. The “Daily Gazejtte” correspondent in Shanghai reports the secession of the Red General Chang Chih-ohang, known as “The Flaming Evangelist,’’ from the Northern Kuominonun army. He was so disgusted with Bolshevism that he fled to Peking, where he betrayed Feng u-hsiang’e plans to Marshal Chang Tso-lin. JAPAN WILL WAIT AND SEE Sydney “Sun” Cable. TOKIO, January 8. The impression is growing here, both in Japanese and in foreign diplomatic circles, that America is about oesever diplomatic relations with China, and to adopt the same attitude regarding treaties, debts, and obligations ns in the case of Russia. The Foreign Office intimates that Japan will wait and see what the American attitude is before answering the British Memorandum, although Washington’s position is not likely to be defined before the return -of the American Minister to China. He is expected here on January 24th, en ■route for America. While here lie will consult Baron Shidehara, Minister of Foreign Affairs. The morning papers further comment unfavourably on the British Memorandum. That Britain's attempt to eoqrt Chinese favour will most- prob. ably fail is the verdict of the “Chugai,” which reflects the attitude of the Japanese Press as a whole. The “Chugai” considers that the proposals were dictated by selfish motives, and, besides being unfair to other Powers, are transparently insincere and likely to harm rather than improve British relations with China. ■\ BELGIUM VACILLATES BRUSSELS, January 9. The newspaper “Le People” understands that the Government has replied sympathetically to the British Memorandum to China, but is opposed to any proposals resulting in the reinforcement of the Northern military leaders against the Cantonese. SOVIET FANNING THE FLAME LONDON. January 9. The Riga correspondent of “The Times” says that the Soviet, fearing an improvement in Anglo-Cbinese relations, is issuing daily statements exposing “Britain’s subtle attempt to hoodwink the revolution with its memorandum.”