DISORDER IN CHINA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16772, 11 October 1928, Page 3

DISORDER IN CHINA

THE DISBANDED SOLDIERS TROUBLE AT A THEATRE A WATTLE WITH TFAPCIS. SHANGHAI. Imi'i-t 10. The 1 1 c-IKi! i:- i S I))' 1 ' :-Di D I'd l> "- 1 1;11n 1 t i;t-ir , iiiicrllm u■- :"I' 1 1; 1 ' • : ‘ :l 1 mean., i mpl".D'd are (.J'.a'lui'ly ‘'•:'« t,f any urgaui: ed ;-y:J.em : m i ’’too i,r\ cral mwi'.lli... v bile i ; i HL' '"ises I hey ale n-U even : ctd bail, lo H'e.r mil' \ c \ d luges. No provision “ ■a’’” l ’ iht'id abs -n.i i.m into civil .':{«• am! flic inevitable result.- will be llial, under the ci.-uditioiis prevailing all over tho country, tbc.se disbanded soldiers "ill simply .swell l lie ranks cl the- various bandit groups iiitrsting ( himi, II was reported from Nanking last week that ike residents were in a- state of unrest owing to (lie continued tear nil looting by soldiers who bad. just hi on disbanded. Ihe Nationalist Government was unable lo cepe with tlie.situa lion; furthermore, no money was available to put into execution (he proposed di-bamlmenl scheme. I lie result was that the soldiers were gelling old ot hand and a- general feeling of unrest prevailed. A group of 200 di'Viandcd Nationalist soldiers, all in uniform, started 'a not in a theatre in Cliapei. the Northern Fliine.se suburb of Shanghai. 'I be trouble started as the insult of a rinsli between the soldiers and the ushers. Jbe soldiers forced their way into the theatre and occupied all Hie reserved seals. Ibo m.'Miiigeinenl. anxious to avoid trouble, informed the soldiers that- they could stop and view the performance provided they took back seats and behaved themselves. An argument stal led and Ibe ushers attempted to fnnibly eject several oMbo more t iirbtilenf- .soldiers. 'I lien Bedlam broke loose. The soldiers seized teapots - -a Chinese theatre always provides lea. during the. performance, also steaming hot cloths for wiping one’s lace and bands-(lips, basins, chairs and other articles of furniture, and attacked Hie ' '-UKF ESC A FED UN A TIGS." Several persons among the audience in the direct- line, of flying missiles were knocked down and received injuries. Ihe actors in the middle of the act hastily (eft. the stage, which was piled with pottery and broken pieces of turnilure. The soldiers behaved like a •contingent cl escaped lumudics. 1 lie managementi>f the theatre hastily summoned Hie police, who rushed in. but were quickly overpowered by the soldiers. Ihe milituiv authorities were then advised of the disturbance, and after about- L> minutes more of battling a Nationalist lieutenant- arrived oil tho scene and mutinied tho platform. Bhe officer attempted to appeal to (lie better natures of the soldiers by a brilliant How of oratory. He recalled the memory of Dr. Finn Vat-Fen, spoke of the Nationalist cause, and begged the soldiers to show some regard for the theatre owners and their pat tons. The lieutenant’s speech was cheered by the disinterested persons in the theatre. but the soldiers informed their olli cor that the management of the theatre had insulted them and that it was their intention to leach them a lesson. Tim lieutenant lied from the stage- just- ahead of a shower of crockery. The riot was again started, tint- in a short lime the same lieutenant returned. This time tin was accompanied by two armed companies of soldiers. Within a short lime, the disbanded soldiers were inarching dow n llie mad at Hie point- of the bayonet. The broken debris of glassware, pottery and furniture was swept away, and the actors somewhat nervously continued the play. The majority of these disbanded soldiers refuse to pay their fare when, travelling by train; they occupy firstclass carriages, and if tho train guards try to eject them there is usually afree light. AN UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE.

A resident of Shanghai, together with bis wife and child, ' went, by train last month lo Hangchow. At one of tho small stations en route, tlm train was boarded by some 20 soldiers. They entered the first-clast; carriage with the three foreigners and started to abuse them. Tilings went, from bad to worse, but fortunately I lie three foreigners were rescued by Hie tram guard 'and. locked in the, guard’s van for safety. The Nationalists have issued a. notice advising foreigners to refrain from (ravelling up-eouiitry as much as possible. They slate that the various villages am infested with, disbanded soldiers and it is feared that, possibly they will interfere with foreigners travelling in tlm interior. While it is admitted that tho task of rehabilitating China, oil. a. peace fooling i.s enormous, at the, same time the issuance of such a notice by a Government. nominally controlling China, must be regarded as a, confession of weakness. —Auckland Herald correspondent.