CIVIL WAR IN CHINA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19905, 27 September 1926, Page 9

CIVIL WAR IN CHINA

FIERCE FIGHTING IN PROGRESS FURTHER RED SUCCESSES. MISSIONARIES ROUGHLY HANDLED. (Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.) PEKING, September 24. Fierce fighting continues without any material change around Nanchang, which is reported to have been looted and partly burned following the entry of the Reds. The fighting is principally south of the. Yangtsze among General Sun Chuanfang’s five south-east provinces. General Wu Pei-fu is scarcely active owing to the succession of betrayals by formerly trusted generals. The Reds, emboldened by their successes, are attempting to bottle up navigation on the Yangtsze from Hankow westwards. Communications with eight provinces arc closed. The Reds arc being assisted by the past differences between the northern commanders. This is preventing co-operative resistance, in striking contrast to the unity and patriotism of the Cantonese. It is reported that mines have boon laid in the Yangtsze in places in the Hunan province. The heroic defence of Wuchang is a thorn in the side of the Red campaign. At Shanghai the Soviet newspapers have been suppressed. Shanghai residents continue to uphold their reputation for indifference to China’s writhings. The cabarets are filled nightly. The merchants are tho only sufferers. The three British missionaries who have been imprisoned in the compound at Wanhsion by Yang-sen’s troops since tho naval incident are reported to be safe. Smuggled messages give details that the troops smashed the mis--on compound with battering rams, devastated tho dwellings, looted wherever possible, and threatened to kill the occupants in the event of their sending for assistance. Erstwhile notorious bandits, masquerading in the uniform of Chinese Christians, were forbidden to worship at the district church. Wanhsien is occupied by the soldiery. Three foreign women missionaries who have been engaged in relief work outside Nanchang were subjected to the gravest indignities at the hands of the soldiery. They were robbed of their money, jewellery, and supplies. The rings were torn from their fingers, and their house was looted. Foreigners are bitter at the inaction of the Powers in permitting the maltreatment of their nationals. —A. and N.Z. Cable. THE YANGTSZE INCIDENT. RAISED AT LEAGUE ASSEMBLY. CHINESE DELEGATE’S ACTION. SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS MADE. GENEVA, September 24. (Received Sept. 25, at .5.5 p.m.) A sensational incident took place at tho League Assembly, when Mr Chu, tho Chinese delegate, acting on instructions from his Government, drew attention to the actions of the British warships on the Yangtsze. Viscount Cecil, in reply, said he had heard with surprise Mr Chu’s statement, and he regretted his procedure, especially as his version of tho events disagreed with the British story. The matter was at present engaging the attention of both Governments, and he hoped for an early and friendly settlement, although Mr Chu’s statement would hardly assist to that end. British circles regard Mr Chu’s action as extraordinary, because he previously gave no notice of his intention to raise tho subject. His speech took the Assembly’s breath away, because he rose to announce that his Government was presenting a Chinese encyclopaedia to the League’s library. ‘ Suddenly he continued with a highly-coloured version of tho events on the Yangtsze. He accused three British merchantmen of steaming up the river at full speed, sinking a Chinese craft, and drowning 100 Chinese. When the Chinese boarded the merchantmen to make inquiries a British cruiser threatened the villages with its guns. Later a British gunboat slew over 100 Chinese ..cudarmcs. The large cruisers then arrived and bombarded Wanhsien, killing thousands of civilians. After Viscount Cecil had replied the President intervened, pointing out that as the subject was not mentioned in the agenda it could not be debated.—A. and N.Z. Cable. SURPRISE IN LONDON, A FEELING OF APPREHENSION. GROWTH OF ANTI-FOREIGN FEELING. LONDON, September 24. (Received Sept. 25, at 5.5 p.m.) The Daily News says;—“Mr Chu’s speech astonished London official quarters and deepened the fear that grave events may be impending on the Yangtsze. The protest follows the publication of a British Note to China in which the seizure of ships at Wanhsien is described as nothing less than piracy. Following General Yang Sen’s promise to return the ships they left Wanhsien for Ichang, but they were stopped cn route. This action inevitably suggests that the stoppage was not accidental, while the recurrence of firing on foreign warships is significant. The situation is now in the hands of General Yang-Sen and the British Navy, but the question of a new expedition bristles with difficulties in connection with which the falling of the river is important. Moreover, a naval action may endanger the European colonies on the Yangtsze, where the anti-foreign feeling is increasing. There remains the air arm. The Hermes will be in Chinese waters within a fortnight, but anything may happen in the meantime.” —Sydney Sun Cable. MISSIONARIES’ DEPARTURE POSTPONED. On account of the unsettled conditions in China the Presbyterian Foreign Missions Committee is giving further consideration to the question of despatching its missionaries to Hongkong on the date originally intended. Miss F. G. Ogilvie (of Wellington), who is at present in Sydney, has been instructed to postpone her departure from that port meanwhile, and unless the position is clearer in a few days’ time the departure of Rev. F. H. Wilkinson (of Dunedin), Nurse D. Robertson (of Oamaru), and Nurse E. E. Goodson (of Claudcboye, Temuka) will also be deferred.