STRIFE REVIVED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16339, 13 May 1927, Page 7

STRIFE REVIVED

ACTIVITY IN CHINA MORE SUPPORT FOR CHIANG “REDS” SUFFER REVERSE. iElec. Tel. Copyright— United Press Assn.’ (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.! (Received May 13, noon.) SHANGHAI, Aiay 12. Forty thousand Chiang Kai-Shek troops have crossed the Yangtse 40 miles up the river from Nanking for the purpose of co-operating with General Chen-Tiao-Yuan in attacking the Peng-Pu northern communications.

Tile Cantonese report that they won a victory at Luchowfu, in Anhwei province, but are threatened by attacks in Kiansu province. The Extremists are digging trenches and erecting fortifications in expectation of the Northerners' reported occupation of Tsungwing Island, at the Yangtse mouth, close to Shanghai. Several Northern warships have' left Tsingtao for the south. News from Hankow is contradictory, but it is comparatively certain YangScn, the Wanhsien outrage perpetrator, has formed an alliance with Chiang KaiShek.

French residents at Ichang arc under orders to prepare for evacuation within a tew hours, in view of the situation, which is becoming worso.

GENERAL ACTIVITY "RED SPEARS" STILL OPERATING BRITISH CONSULATE ABUSED (British Official Wireless.) Rec. noon. LONDON, Aiay 13. Alessages from China state that General Yang Sen, who was in command of the Chinese forces at Wanhsien, arrived’ at Ichang on Sunday. Apparently the usual looting of the native city took place, bnt foreign property was not touched. Yang Sen is reported to have also taken over Shasi, and to be joining up with Wu I’ei-Fu’s troops on the river llun, for an advance on Hankow.

Armed peasantry, known as the “Red Spears,” are still operating on the Hupeh-Honan border against the Southerners, and have destroyed bridges further south.

The Feno- Tien troops have not advancer! beyond Chumatien. At Chingkiang there is considerable troop movement down the river towards Cueishan, and all available water transport lias been commandeered by the Southern general, Hoying Yin. The Consulate offices, and nearly all foreign houses in the British concession, were yesterday occupied by troops despite proclamations Iby General Ho forbidding this action. The Consular officer lias requested the withdrawal of the troops.

The Communist force which was marching on Swatow is reported to have dispersed at. Tuning. With reference to tho rumors regarding the purpose of the visit which Sir Miles Lampson, the British Alinister in Pekin, is paying to Shanghai, it is emphatically stated that its sole purpose is to enable the Minister to study the situation himself, and to consult with the Conimander-in-Cluef, Admiral Tyrwhitt, Commander of the Shanghai defence force, General Duncan, and British Consular officials there.