CHINESE CHAOS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19907, 29 September 1926, Page 7

CHINESE CHAOS

PLIGHT OF FOREIGNERS PRICE ON THEIR HEADS. FORCED TO LEAVE INTERIOR. NORTHERN ARMY IN RETREAT. (Press Association— By Tcleirraph—Copyright.) PEKING, September 27. Seventy-five foreign refugees successfully reached Hankow from Chungking, in the Upper Yangtse, after a perilous voyage, the soldiery firing from the river banks. There has been a complete evacuation of the town by all foreigners owing to the threats to kill on account of the Wanhsicn affair, which the Chinese describe as a massacre by Imperialists. Not a single British house is intact, and all were looted and wantonly damaged. The militia is mainly responsible. Placards posted in Chungking offer a reward of 100 dollars for the head of every foreigner and 40 dollars for every servant in foreign employ. Anxiety is felt concerning the safety of foreigners residing in all parts of the interior of the Szechwan province on account of the anti-foreign feeling. The falling river will soon prevent all but the smallest craft proceeding up the river. Refugees tell a terrible story of escaping the frenzied mob filled with bloodlust. The arrival of the bodies of Commander Darley and two seamen (victims of the Wanhsien incident) at Hankow proves that the commandyered steamers at Wanhsien and Wanturig have been released, as was- promised’ by General Yang-sen. Meanwhile the second naval expedition is remaining at Ichang pending further developments. Other vessels under the British flag have been temporarily commandeered by the Reds for the purpose of crossing the Yangtsze. It is feared that this is likely to become a habit, resulting in further trouble. Marshall Wu Pei-fu continues his retreat, and is now regarded as a negligible quantity. The anti-Red campaign is almost solely in the hands of General Sun Chuan-fang. Wuchang, which has been besieged for twenty-seven days, holds out, but the resistance is dwindling on account of General Wu Pei-fu, who hqs retreated, being unable to relieve the town. Twenty-two foreigners are also unable to escape. They have not been communicated with for four days. The promise of the opposing armies to release 50,000 or 60,000 women and children was withheld at the last moment. This was due to the defending general sheltering behind their presence, as the Reds are refraining from heavy shelling of the city and the slaughtering of noncombatants. Meanwhile civilians are dying on all sides from starvation, as the soldiers are commandeering the food. —A. and N.Z. Cable. THE WANHSIEN EXPEDITION. LONDON, September 27. It is officially announced that the British steamer Wanlia, which General Yangsen released, has arrived at Ichang, bearing the bodies of Commander Darley and the two sailors who were killed at Wanhsien. The Chinese casualties, to which Mr Chu referred at Geneva, did not exceed 300. —A. and N.Z. Cable.