NANKING OUTRAGES

Southland Times, Issue 20147, 6 April 1927, Page 5

NANKING OUTRAGES

Boxer Rebellion Equalled

CLASH IN HANKOW

Japanese Fire on Mob

CLEANING UP SHANGHAI

Details of the Nanking disturbances show horrors equal to those of the Boxer rebellion and have raised foreign indignation in China to fever pitch. The clash between the Japanese and Chinese mobs in Hankow, which threat- * ened to develop into a serious situation has been settled, the Southern com* mander tendering an apology for the incident. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.)

ATTACKS ON FOREIGN WOMEN. HORRORS EQUAL BOXER REBELLION. (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) Shanghai, April 4. The situation generally is most disturbing. Reports from all parts of the country tell of uprisings and outrages against all classes of foreign life and property, despite the presence of large international military and naval forces. The trouble appears temporarily to have reverted to Hankow and river ports, and threatens to spread northwards to the Treaty Ports. Chang Tso-lin is desperately warring with the Cantonese in Anhwei Province to stem the Red tide, but his victories are counterbalanced by the activities of plain clothes agitators striving for a repetition of the Nanking outrages at Pekin, Tientsin, and other places where foreigners are congregated. Evacuation continues everywhere. Later details of the Nanking outrages equal the horrors of the Boxer rebellion. These were mainly committed by uniformed coolies upon white women and girls, principally Americans, and Japanese women. Reports of these and other indecencies have aroused the indignation of foreigners throughout China to a high pitch of fury. The arrival at Hankow from Canton of the International Labour delegates, Messrs Mann, Browder, and Woriot prompted a revival of anti-foreign demonstrations. The delegates, including Russian speakers, addressed a huge mass meeting, denouncing Imperialism and advocating the overthrow of the Right or Conservative wing of the Kuomintang. A Japanese naval wireless from Hankow says that the expected evacuation of all Japanese, except the staffs of two firms which are surrounded by pickets, will be completed during the day. Twenty-five Japanese have taken refuge on the warship Bee. There are already five warships at Hankow, three hastening thither, and three leave to-morrow morning escorting three Japanese steamers which are taking food and supplies.—A. and N.Z.

HANKOW SITUATION LOOKS UGLY. JAPANESE MARINES FORCED TO FIRE. NATIONALIST SOLDIERS RETALIATE. (Rec. 7.5 p.m.) Shanghai, April 4. The American naval guard aboard the American steamer Chinan at Chung king fired on and wounded three of a mob of coolies aboard a sampan who were trying to take possession of the steamer. A serious situation has developed at Hankow, necessitating the evacuation of Japanese residents, following a mob attack on marines. Hordes of labourers stormed the Japanese concession, necessitating the landing of two hundred Japanese marines, who drove the mob from the concession. The clash resulted in the deaths of seven Chinese, and injuries to a number of marines. Five Japanese marines were carried off by the mob. They were later found dead floating in the river, mutilated. The Chinese surrounded the concession, but were held back by the marines. The Japanese admiral refused a request by the Chinese authorities to withdraw the marines, following which the Chinese guards of the Eighth Army surrounded the concession to check the mobs, but instead fired on the marines. Two destroyers and cruisers have been despatched to Hankow to assist in the evacuation. Later reports state that the mob is getting cut of hand.—A. and N.Z. SITUATION NOW QUIET. SOUTHERN APOLOGY TENDERED. (Rec. 8.30 p.m.) Shanghai, April 4. A navy wireless from Hankow gives details of the mob rising on April 3. The disturbance was caused by Chinese children’s abuse of the Japanese bluejackets strolling on the Bund. The mob threateningly invaded the concession. A Japanese warship landed two hundred marines and drove out the mob from the concession,

which is now guarded by Nationalist troops. Everything was quiet at midnight. The Southern commander has apologised to the Japanese Consul.—A. and N.Z.

NORTHERN RESISTANCE STIFFENING. SUCCESSFUL COUNTER-ATTACK. (Rec. 12.55 a.m.) Shanghai, April 5. The Nationalist thrust towards the Yellow River is now meeting with resistance from the Northerners who counter-attacked on the 3rd and 4th and captured Kwan tien after heavy fighting. The Nationalists are rushing up reinforcements. Two hundred wounded have arrived at Nanking.—A. and N.Z. SEARCH FOR HIDDEN ARMS. CLEANING UP SHANGHAI SETTLEMENT. (Rec. 7.45 p.m.) Shanghai, April 7. The volunteers and police were mobilised, and surrounded and raided a notorious waterfront block of houses in the Honkew district. The police were hammering away at the houses while the volunteers with machine-guns and armoured cars held the street#.

A force of a thousand strong, under an American volunteer officer, received the order: “You must allow none to escape. Use rifle butts first, but there must be no shooting unless definitely ordered.” They formed a double cordon round the block containing hundreds of houses, in which the police believe extremists’ arms and ammunition are stored. Where the doors were not opened the police hammered their way into the houses or gained entry by fire brigade ladders. There was great excitement among the Chinese crowd.

The search is stated to be part of a programme for rigorous cleaning up of the settlement preparatory to advancing merely

T defence lines into Chinese territory. It is j understood that the latter project will certainly occur if the Powers’ probable demands in connection with the Nanking affair are not fulfilled. The threat to invade and take over the Chinese city in the vicinity of Shanghai may even be included as preparatory to any ultimatum sent in connection with Nanking.—A. and N.Z. JOINT NOTE NOT DECIDED ON. DESPATCH OF REINFORCEMENTS. NECESSARY AS MOBILE FORCE. London, April 4. Official circles admit that Britain, America and Japan are at present not agreed upon the despatch of a joint note to the Cantonese arising out of the Nanking outrages. The Australian Press Association understands i the three Powers are agreed upon the necesj sity of serious demands for an apology and I reparation, and even upon the nature of ' reparation. “But Britain will not object to I the presentation of identical notes instead - of a joint note.” Authorities further hint at I the probability that the Powers are not likely to announce the nature of possible ! sanctions or reprisals even for non-compli-I ance, probably reserving freedom of joint individual action in this direction.

Downing Street emphasises that the decision to despatch reinforcements is in no I wise connected with the Nanking affair. | They will take several weeks to reach China. ■ They are being sent in consequence of the Shanghai defence force commander’s desire i to have mobile troops available for despatch to other parts of China if and when needed. This can be taken as an indication that the Cantonese northward sweep may ultimately necessitate the defence of British nationals

and property in Pekin and Tientsin. Official circles frankly admit that they have no great faith in Chang Tso-lin’s ability permanently to check the Cantonese advance south of the Great Wall, but he is regarded as well able to hold Manchuria whatever happens.

The latest news received by the Foreign Office shows there is no sign of abatement of the Cantonese hatred of foreigners. The most significant fact is that everywhere antiBritish posters have been superseded by new ones inciting hostility to “foreign devils of every nationality.”—A. and N.Z. AMERICA AGREES TO JOINT NOTE. ULTIMATUM NOT FAVOURED. Washington, April 4. The Government has sent delayed instructions to Mr Macmurray regarding joint demands to the Nationalists. The instructions are understood to modify the joint draft demands Mr Macmurray submitted to the State Department after conferences with the British and Japanese Ministers. The new orders permit joint demands for an indemnity for Nanking and other outrages, and a request for guarantees for the future protection of foreign lives and property, but do not authorise an American or joint ultimatum. According to informed persons here it is considered probable Mr Macmurray and the British and Japanese Ministers at Pekin will be able to agree to joint action along faVoUr ed the Americans.—A. and

EUGENE CHEN INTERVIEWED. REVOLUTION NOT COMMUNIST. London, April 4. The Petit Parisien’s Shanghai correspondent interviewed Eugene Chen, who said the revolution was not Communist, though it was true Communists were collaborating with the Kuomintang Party. He did not fear Russian Communism. China would always welcome industries and capital from all European and American countries. The Nationalist Government would protect all economic enterprises.—A. and N.Z. NANKING POSITION BECOMING NORMAL. COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT IN SHANGHAI. London, April 4. In the House of Commons Sir Austen Chamberlain said conditions in Nanking were becoming normal as regards the Chinese population, but the attitude of the Nationalist towards foreigners and foreign property was increasing in truculence.

Daily British steamers departing from Nanking had been subjected to heavy fire from the water-front and looting continues. While three civilians had been killed by the bombardment it was impossible to ascertain the military casualties but they were confined solely to troops engaged in the attack. They were estimated at six killed and fifteen wounded. The property damage was infinitesimal. Seventy-six British shells were dropped in seventy minutes and a similar number of American. In reply to a question Sir A. Chamberlain said there was no evidence fixing responsibility for events in Nanking and eke where on China, but anti-foreign feeling generally and anti-British in particular was undoubtedly encouraged and stimulated from Moscow. Sir A. Chamberlain thought it inexpedient to take further action on his Note or the Soviet reply at present. Answering further questions Sir A. Chamberlain said he understood Communist Governments had been established in those part of Shanghai outside the settlements but he W8- not clear on this point though he had reason to understand two Chinese Governments were more or less established there. The British Government on March 30 extended advice to approximately two hundred Britishers in every part of the interior of China to withdraw to a place of safety. If they elected to disregard this advice they did so at their own risk, and responsibility. Though the situation in Hankow was easier a further crisis was anticipated, hence the steps taken to reduce the British community to a minimum. America was evacuating nationals immediately

Sir A. Chamberlain declared that when Chen said the Cantonese were not responsible for looting and murder he said what was contrary to established fact. Mr Lansbury asked whether the direct contradiction by Sir A. Chamberlain of Chen’s statements was not a good reason for the despatch of an independent mission to Nanking. Sir A. Chamberlain replied frigidly: “I do not consider it part of my duty, as apparently you do, to disbelieve every British representative.”—A. and N.Z. NANKING CASUALTY LIST. SIX EUROPEANS KILLED. CHINESE KILLED NUMBER SIX. Rugby, April 4.

Sir Austen Chamberlain, Foreign Secretary, in reply to a series of questions on the Chinese situation in the House of Commons to-day, said that from the information gathered from * numerous disinterested Chinese the general belief among the Chinese was that three Chinese civilians only were killed by the shells fired by the British and American warships at Nanking. It was impossible to ascertain the number of military casualties, but these took place solely among the troops engaged in attacking the foreigners at the Standard Oil hill. Chiang Kai-shek had, however, told" a number of Press correspondents at Shanghai that the estimated

casualties suffered by the Chinese was six killed and 15 wounded. The ground within range of the firing was entirely open, except for a few foreign-owned houses and the damage done to Chinese property was infinitesimal. No part of the city was set on fire as the area where the shelling took place was open agricultural ground. The firing continued intermittently for 70 minutes, and in all 76 shells were fired from the British warship H.M.S. Emerald, and approximately the same number by two American destroyers. The foreign casualties, according to his latest information, were:

British: —Three killed (Dr. Smith, Mr Huber and Naval Seaman Knox). Americans: —One killed, one wounded. French:—One killed. Italian:—One killed.

He had no accurate information about the Japanese casualties, but it was reported that two or three were wounded.

The latest report from Nanking was that the conditions were becoming more normal in regard to the Chinese population, but the attitude of the Nationalists towards foreigners and foreign property was every day becoming increasingly truculent. British steamers leaving port had been heavily fired on from the waterfront and the looting of foreign houses still continued. All the foreigners had been brought out of the

The British Government were in consultation with the United States, Japanese, French and Italian Governments regarding matters connected with the Nanking outrages.

The latest report indicated that the situation in Hankow’ was easier, but a further crisis w’as anticipated. Steps were being taken to reduce the British community to a minimum and the United States authorities were evacuating their nationals as rapidly as possible. British subjects in the interior of China in places where disturbances were to be anticipated had been advised from time to time ever since November last to withdraw’ to places of safety. This advice had been repeated as the occasion arose by the British Consuls and had been extended to further districts where necessary. In • a continuous process of this nature it was not possible to give a series

of exact dates, but on March 26, British Consular officers at Ningpo, Swatow, Foochow, Chungkiang, Wuhu, Kiukiang, Hanhow, Yunnanfu, and Kiungchow’ were warned to evacuate the Treaty ports if* necessary on March 28.

This advice was extended to British subjects in the interior of the Tientsin, Chefoo, Taingtao and Esinan Consular districts and on March 30 to every part of the interior of China.

Chungkiang had been completely evacuated as had also Changsha, except for the British Consul and the Mother Superior of the Franciscian Mission and the British warship stationed there. Ichang was to be similarly evacuated at the earliest possible date. All British subjects who elected to disregard this repeated advice had been warned that they did so entirely at their own risk and on their own responsibility. Asked as to the number of British subjects in the interior of China Sir Austen Chamberlain replied that he was reluctant to give an estimate because the numbers varied from day to day but he thought they numbered not more than 200.

In regard to the responsibility for the outrages at Nanking the British-Consul-General there had stated that the outstanding fact which could be proved beyond question was that the looting and killing were the work of Hunanese Nationalist stddiers in uniform. It was an established fact that foreigners were shot down in cold blood by Nationalist soldiers and it was equally etfablished that practically every foreign house including the three Consulates was gutted and at least eight foreign houses burnt down, all by Nationalist soldiers. The looting continued for several days after March 24.

The Rt. Hon. Sir Laming WorthingtonEvans, Secretary of War, replying to a question about the defence of the French Concession at Shanghai said that this had not been undertaken by the British Defence Force. In response, however, to an inquiry from the French commander as to whether if pressed he could call for British assistance, General Duncan had informed him that he could co-operate if the French line were in danger.—British Official Wireless