CHINESE UNREST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21021, 9 May 1930, Page 10

CHINESE UNREST.

PEOPLE STARVED AND FROZEN. DEATH ROLL OF 3,000,000. (From Odr Own Correspondent.) , ‘ SYDNEY. May 1. Passengers from ships that have recently reached Sydney describe China as a seething cauldron of bitterness and Hatred, and they tel! grim stories of ships seized by pirates, and of deaths by violence and starvation. Captain W. T. Lilley said that the China of to-day was vastly different from the China of 50 years ago. In the old days ot the clippers, he said, the Chinese was a subservient person, ready to bow to the ground dr knock his head on the Moor when in the presence of a European, io-day he was just as likely as not to take a European by the neck. But for all this apparent freedom, the average Lhinese was far worse off to-day than he ever had been. His masters were the war lords who exacted a full measure of submission from the rank and file. Political factions talked of the new freedom of the Chinese nation, but the average Chinese was freer in the old days than he was to-day. He was told how he should live, what he should do, and what his opinions should be. If he did not agree with the advice that was tendered to him he,would probably find that his wife and children had been slaughtered by the interests ho had opposed. Most of the general masses did not want to take part in the boycott of European interests, said Captain Lilley. but few of them had the courage refuse to obey the dictates of those higher up. All they wanted was to be left alone and permitted t grow enough food to keep them, and to pursue a quiet- and uneveptful life. With all the turmoil stirred up by the war Iqrds and opposing poli tical factions, their portion was starvation, violence, and often death. In the interior children, ridden by hunger, had eaten corpses. Similar horrible stories from other parts had filtered through to Hongkong. The harvest in many parts had been bad, and the people were undergoing terrible suffering. The winter had been very cold, and many people had been frozen to death. The death roll from starvation and cold ’ last year totalled 3,000,000. And there seemed to be no hope of the trouble ending. Other wars were pending as soon as the warmer weather came. Judging by all accounts, the only persons who benefit by the troublous times are the pirates. They are driving a thriving trade along the Chinese coast, and not even the river boats are safe The pirates in most cases booked as passengers. , They were superior-looking, well-educated men, and disarmed suspicion. Then when the time was ripe they directed the attack! calling to their assistance a number of other passengers who ' had booked. Stories which have reached the coast' indicate that nothing but turmoil exists inland, and it is dimcult to predict where China will end up. Bolshevists are making very decided bid for control, but it is doubtful whether they will succeed in face of the opposition of the ambitious and equally cruel Chinese who are self-appointed leaders.