COMMUNISM IN CHINA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20281, 14 December 1927, Page 9

COMMUNISM IN CHINA

THE TROUBLE SPREADING. GENERAL STRIKE EXPECTED. MARTIAL LAW IN CANTON. CANTON UNDER RED CONTROL. fPres* Association—By Telegraph Copyngnt SHANGHAI, December 12. There has been an outburst of Radica. propaganda, linked up with a tramway strike and other industrial disputes. Fifty thousand workers are idle, synchronising with the Canton coup, which is regarded seriously. There is a recrudescence of Communism to an alarming degree. Propaganda issued by the General Labour Union urges the spread of the strike, and approves of the assassination of several tram inspectors last week. The trouble is spreading rapidly, and a general strike may be expected. Later advices from Cn-ron state that, taking advantage of the absence of the majority of the regular troops at different fronts, peasants and workmen, issisted by disaffected troops, seized Canton aftei sharp fighting lasting six hours. The revolutionary forces disarmed the guard at the peace nreservative bureau, taking possession of the city, and placing it under peasant labour control. The railway stations, Government offices, fdegraphs, and all communications have been placed in charge of the workmen s Red corps. The outskirts of the city are swarming with peasants and workmen wearing red brassards. All the shops ar© closed, and business is at a standstill. The leading Kuomintang officials fled, taking retuge on a man-b’-war at the commencement of hostilities. —A. and N.Z. Cable. MARTIAL LAW IN CANTON. CRIMINALS JOIN LOOTERS. RUSSIAN INTRIGUE APPARENT. SHANGHAI, December 12. Reports from Canton describe the city as beiog in a state of revolution followed by an orgy of looting and burning. The city was plunged into darkness owing to the power plant failing. All the ships have been deserted by the crews, and the natives are panicstricken. Thousands are fleeing to Hongkong. As the result of the cessation of steamer communication, the railways are overcrowded. Several vessels manned bv British bluejackets which arrived at Hongkong were jammed with refugees. The British td Japanese warships are standing by at the Shameen, which is the foreign residential area, consisting of a small island off the shore. . Martial law has been proclaimed. The Central Bank of China is reported to have been destroyed following looting. Chinese gunboats added to the general confusion by shelling the waterfront of the city. Communists wrecked the police bureau, liberating the criminals, who immediately joined the looters. The local Nationalist officials declare the position to be the direct result f Russian intrigue. Chiang Kai-shek, interviewed, declared emphatically that unless Soviet Russia discontinued immediately her intrigue in China the Nationalist Government would bo compelled to break off relations and request the closing of all the Soviet consulates. Later messages from Canton from Japanese sources report fierce fighting between the Communist forces and General Li Fu-lin’s forces in an attempt by the latter to retain the control of Canton 'or the Nationalists. —A. and , N.Z. Cable. SUPPRESSION OF PIRATES. QUESTION BEING CONSIDERED. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, December 12. The question was asked in Parliament whether any further steps were being taken to suppress the Bias Bay pirates. Air G. Lockcr-Lampson (Under -secretary for Foreign Affairs) replied that he coula not make any definite statement at present, except that the whole question was now being considered by a committee _of the diplomatic bodv in Peking, consisting of British, French, Italian, Japanese, and United States Ministers. RELEASE OF CAPTAIN LALOR. BANDITS STILL BARGAINING. RUGBY December 12. The Admiralty issues the following: “ Captain Lalor writes confidently, but he is in considerable discomfort. The naval authorities have sent an antiseptic dressing for his wounded leg. He is within 10 miles of the town of Shasi, Ihe pirates are very suspicious, and the arrangements for a rendezvous are extremeiy difficult; therefore Captain Lalor’s release may tak© some days. The bandit organisation is on the left bank of the \angtse from Ichange to Shahi, and it is very strong and military in character. An increased ransom has been demanded. COST OF BRITISH TROOPS. THE SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES. LONDON December 12. Th© details issued by the Supplementary Army Estimates showed £3,090,000 for excess cost of extra troops in China to March 51, 1928. The heaviest item is sea conveyance of troops, £978,000. — A. and N.Z. and Sydney Sun Cable. PEOPLE’S COUNCIL FORMED. MODELLED ON SOVIET LINES. SHANGHAI, December 13. (Received Dec. 14, at 1 a.m.) The Canton Communists have established a People’s Council modelled on the Sovietv Government. One of tho prominent commissars is a notorious leader of the Seamen’s Union and a sworn enemy of the British. He opeMv declared that he aims at crippling Hon~kong’s trade and isolating the The Commissar fo- '"r is M. Borodin’s former chief secretary. .R u ecs continue to pour into Hongkong, many of them being wealthy resident's. The Hongkong hanks are receiving huge clepoGits from the officials of the late Canton anti-Rcd regime. The Communists continue to control the city. —A, and N.Z. Cable.