WELL IN HAND

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16297, 23 March 1927, Page 8

WELL IN HAND

SITUATION IN SHANGHAI SPASMODIC FIGHTING BURNING AND LOOTING. (British Official Wireless.) Ree. 2 p.m. LONDON, March 23. The situation m Shanghai international settlement was last night reported to be well in hand. Military and naval contingents of eight nations— British, French, American, Japanese, Italian, Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese—are. guarding the settlement and the French concession. Within this area, are 1,500,000 Chinese civilians, mostly in a highly excited condition. The general strike for three days, in which public service employees are participating, was yesterday declared, in celebration of the Southern victory. The settlement municipal council has declared a state of emergency from noon yesterday, this involving preparations for taking over utility services and mobilising volunteers. The settlement boundaries are. subject to spasmodic attacks by armed parties of uncertain allegiance. and a few casualties, apparently caused by snipers and stray bullets, have occurred ainong the defence force. Outside the settlement a confused situation exists. Many Northerners, including Pehsuecbeng, the Shantung commandor, have gone over to the Southerners. Burning and looting, attributed to irregulars an driff-raff, took place in the Chinese city throughout the night, when incessant fighting was heard outside the settlement cordon. DISORDERS ON BORDERS FOREIGN TROOPS INVOLVED (British Official Wireless.) Roe. 2 p.m. LONDON. Mar. 23. The Prime Minister made a statement in tlio House of .Commons regarding the situation at Shanghai. Ho said that at (S o'clock last night there wero reported to be 23,000 Cantonese troops in the area immediately south of the French settlement, but that the number was probably exaggerated. The Chinese police stations outside the settlement had been taken over, and their arms seized by agitators who were creating disorder on the settlement borders. At the Municipal Council's request an armed guard of the national forces concerned were guarding property outside the cordon. There were three Japanese posts in that district, and six British, The Royal Marines had landed at a iiversido area Shanghai to protect British lives and property there. The Northern forces were reported to be evacuating Soochow, and it was reported that General Cliaiig-Cluuui-Chang was preparing to defend Nanking strongly. Press telegrams indicate that in the settlement the situation is completely under control. Several attempts have been made by Chinese troops to break through the barriers. One large body of Northerners temporarily succeeded, , but wore finally disarmed or ejected. [ Several shells, presumably misdirect--1 ed, fell hi the settlement vvithorit \)£ life to foreigners. Considerable sniping in the settlement has taken place. Japanese marines have replied, and men of the Durham regiment wore compelled to retaliate' in one case, though, they did not reply to other sniping for fear of hitting innocent persons. Southern Nationalist forces control practically all the native city, but in the Chapei district adjoining the settlement some Shautungese are still residing. In this area hooligan gangs are looting and burning Chinese property. BRITISH TROOPS ENGAGED HEAVY CHINESE CASUALTIES I —__ fßlec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.! (Received March 23, 2 p.m.) SHANGHAI, March 22. • The Northerners who rushed the settlement were forced back by Durham reinforcements after a few Chinese had been killed and several wounded. The number of killed and wounded at the first attempt, is not known, but it must be large, as the Durham's detachment guarding the barrier were forced to use a Lewis gun, besides their rifles, in reply to the all ackers' fire. The fact that there were no British casualties is due to the retreating troops excitedly' firing into the air, rather than at the defenders. Later 300 Northerners were allowed to enter after they were disarmed, Japanese naval men are still disarming and admitting several hundreds more further northward. The Northerners' rush to the settlement is due to the arrival of a vanguard of Nationalist regulars. \ HOW AMERICA VIEWS IT WILL RECOGNISE CANTONESE (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received March 23, 2 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 22. The victory of the Cantonese army at Shanghai is forcing United States officials to consider the possibility of extending recognition to the National-j i»ts. This will be delayed as long as possible, but is regarded.as inevitable in informed circles if the Cantonese military successes continue. President Coolidge is desirous of rc'ognisiug any Govorninen.t which gains the support of a majority of the Chinese people and appears to be able to maintain stable conditions and protect foreigners. The fact that the Nationalists have been friendly to Soviet Russia will not prevent the United States recognition, provided oilier conditions are fulfilled. One of the major conditions is that; the Nationalists should negotiate an orderly revision of the socalled unequal treaties,- instead of denouncing them outright.