THE CHINESE CHAOS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19966, 7 December 1926, Page 9

THE CHINESE CHAOS

SOOCHOW CAPITULATES. CAPTURED BY THE REDS. ROAD TO SHANGHAI OPEN. (Free. Association— By Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, December 5. The Daily Mail’s Shanghai correspondent says that Soochow has, without resistance, surrendered to the Bolshevists and the Cantonese. Not a shot was fired. Admiral Chen-ping landed troops, and the defenders, rather than turn the city into a battlefield, withdrew, allowing Admiral Chen-ping to hoist the Red Flag at the civil headquarters. Many of the defenders joined the Cantonese. When General Cbang-yi, commanding additional Cantonese, also advanced on Soochow, the panic-stricken populace hoped that their surrender would avert bloodshed and looting. Soochow’s capitulation opens the road for the Cantonese advance on Shanghai. -—Sydney Sun Cable. Soochow is situated on the Grand Canal, and is 57 miles from Shanghai. It has an estimated population of 500,000. AMERICAN ATTITUDE. PROTECTIVE MEASURES ONLY. SHANGHAI, December 5. Official reports from Washington state that America will not participate in any measures by the Powers to prevent the Cantonese from seizing the Customs, declaring that the Yangtse situation is an internal affair which does not concern America. Her naval forces in Cantonese waters will bo employed solely for the protection of lives and property. if necessary the Americans will evacuate the area. Reports from Britain are different, the Admiralty having promised reinforcements when they are required. A. and N.Z. Cable. ORDERED TO HANKOW. TOKIO, December 5. The Italian gunboat Caboto, which is visiting Japan, has been ordered by the Italian Minister at Peking to rush ro Hankow, where the situation is becoming worse.—A. and N.Z. Cable.