TROUBLED CHINA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20282, 15 December 1927, Page 11

TROUBLED CHINA

CANTON UNDER COMMUNISM. RED RUIN AND LOOTING. EVACUATION OF NATIONALS. MISSIONARIES FLEE FROM MOBS. (Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.) SHANGHAI, December 13. According to refugees arriving in Hongkong, the Communist troops are freely looting Canton. The situation is ex. tremefy confused. All gold and silversmiths’, jewellers’, and general stores are empty. The newspaper offices have been occupied by members of the Printers Union, and the plants are idle. The police stations, which escaped burning, are used as bases for operations of the Communists. Tb e majority of the residents have difficulty in securing provisions. Prices have advanced outrageously, and paper currency has depreciated 50 per cent. The Communists are reported to be dashing hither and thither in the streets carrying grenades and German mausers, robbing pedestrians of wealthy appearance, stripping rings from fingers and tugging ear-nngs from women. The Communist leaders from Canton have issued a proclamation in the name of the Soviet in Hongkong, ordering the extermination of landlords, the destruction of title deeds, and the confiscation of lands and houses. ■The American warship Sacramento landed naval troops, field guns, and machine g ins at the Shameen to assist the evacuation of nationals. It is impossible to estimate the enormous damage to Canton from fire and looting. American and German missionaries up country are fleeing before the mobs to Hongkong for protection.—A. and N.Z. Cable. THE DISORDERS CONTINUE. EVEN HOSPITALS NOT SPARED. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, December 13. Following the Communists’ coup at Canton during the absence of most of Chang Fakuei’s troops, the disorders are continuing. Incendiary fires, which damaged the French mission buildings, the Japanese hospital, and the Central Bank, continue to burn in many parts of the city. Foreigners have not been interfered with, but numerous Chinese, including many police, have been shot. Steamer traffic has been resumed between Canton and Hongkong, and many refugees have reached the latter city. WARSHIP’S BRILLIANT DASH. MANY EUROPEANS RESCUED. RUGBY, December 13. According to advices from Canton the members of teh Government took refuge on the south bank of the river, which they still hold, and, as they retain the naval craft, they control the river. They have urgently recalled the troops of Chang Fakuei from the outlying districts, and these troops delivered a counter-attack against the Communists this morning. The report is current that the city has been retaken, but this lacks confirmation. Europeans have been rescued from the east suburbs at Canton as the result of a brilliant dash made by Vice-consul Hall in the British warship Moorhen. The Moorhen was heavily fired upon by the Communists from the north bank as she proceeded down the river. Eighty-one refugees were brought away without a casu. aity, 11 being British, 15 American, and 65 German. FLUCTUATING FORTUNES. CANTON RETAKEN AND LOST. SHANGHAI, December 13. The latest reports state that the Nationalist forces succeeded in retaking Canton, hut were quickly driven out by the Communists and compelled to retreat to Honan, opposite Canton. The struggle continues with fluctuations in fortunes. A. and N.Z. Cable. • BRITISH LIEUTENANT MISSING. BAST HEARD OF IN NOVEMBER. RUGBY, December 13. The Governor of Shansi (Yen Hsi-shen) has informed the British authorities in Peking that, despite careful inquiries, no trace has been found in the province of Lieutenant Knowles, of the British Legation Guards, who has been missing since October, when he proceeded westward on a fortnight’s walking tour. He was last heard of in th e middle of November, when he staved for a few da vs in a Tnnn-st monastery Gravest fears are entertained as to his fate. RESCUE OF CAPTAIN LALOR. EFFECTED BY A MISSIONARY. RUGBY. December 13. The Admiralty announces that th e rescue of Captain Lalor has been effected by Mr Tocher, and that Captain Lalor is now on the British gunboat Bee. The Rev Forbes Tocher,"who has thus been - icrit-i' m saving Captain Lalor s life, is a well-known missionery of the Church of Scotland. He went to Ichang in 1?(D. and is in charge of St. Andrew’s School there. He gained the Military Cross as chaplain during the war. It is his ’-nowledge of the situation and the confidence reposed in him by the Chinese which have rendered his efforts successful. COMMAND OF BRITISH TROOPS. ALTERATIONS ANNOUNCED. RUGBY, December 13. 'Major-general Duncan, general officer commanding the British troops in North China, has been appointed to command the First Division, and he will be succeeded by Major-general Wardrop. LEASES IN TREATY PORTS. PROPOSALS TO SURRE-TDER LONDON. December 13. A Treasury White Paner states that it is pronosed to surrender the remaining leases of properties in tbe treaty ports in China wK-rcvev Britain is a ground land lord, on th e ground that occupancy of the oosition of ground landlord in a foreign eountrv is nno-"-’'nm; nnd clearlv incompatible with the British policy in 'n-" -stirrated cost of the siirren. flr- ■ ■' °"0. —A. and N.Z. and Sydney Sun Cable. WHAT CHINA NEEDS. HELP OF BRITAIN AND AMERICA. NEW Y'ORK. December 10. (Received Dec. 14, at 10 p.m.) Sir Frederick Whyte, speaking at a dinner to the American Council of the Institute of Pacific Relation's, said hat China would welcome the help of America and Britain in her internal affairs, since she has repudiated Russian influence ,n that quarter. Russia overshot the marlafter her victory at Hankow. she began to dictate her policy ,n f he Chinese Moscow r laved a vital hut not ; a creative part. The narents of new China were not to he found among ‘he dictators of the proletariat. There were now three revolutions in progress in China— intellectual. renaissance and economic and political revolts. “ If we fail fo seize the opoo tuu’tv, lut said. “ Russia will come back. Then