Rebels At Nanking

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 843, 11 December 1929, Page 9

Rebels At Nanking

GRAVE OUTBREAK EXPECTED

Europeans Evacuate City WARSHIPS HASTENING UP YANGTSE r,lit-cl r.A. — By Telegraph — Cogminhc Received 10 a.m. SHANGHAI, Tuesday. THERE is an ominous quiet at present; but it is obviously misleading. All foreigners have been ordered by their respective consuls to evacuate Nanking, where a serious outbreak is expected, unless President Chiang Kai-Shek is able to suppress the rebels in the surrounding areas. The aircraft-carrier Hermes is proceeding to Shanghai from Hong Kong. A cruiser and two destroyers are proceeding to Nanking.

A message from Tokyo says that official advices state that the situation at Nanking is extremely critical. The Japanese. British, and other Consuls are planning joint measures for the safety of their subjects. The cruiser Hirato is proceeding to Shanghai to co-operate with the Suffolk and the other warships for the protection of foreigners at Shanghai, with 5,500 troops.

the mutiny of troops at Pukow, opposite Nanking, the President. Chiang Kai-shek, disarmed the guards left in Nanking by certain generals of whose loyalty he was doubtful, and arrested their civilian staffs. Martial law was proclaimed. Measures were at once taken for the dispatch of British naval reinforcements, and preparations made for the evacuation of the women and children. A national situation had since developed, owing to the revolt of the troops stationed on the ShanghaiNanking Railway, about mid-way between the two cities. In view of these developments the British Consul-Gen-eral at Nanking, Mr. Meyrick Hewlett, had been instructed that in the event of danger he should at once order the withdrawal of the women and children. There were at present two British warships at Nanking, and the cruiser Suffolk was due there today, and another cruiser, the Berwick, tomorrow. WARSHIPS AT SHANGHAI Regarding the position at Shanghai, Mr. Henderson said there were at present three British warships there, and a flotilla leader and two destroyers were on their way from Hong-Kong. All the refitting in Hong-Kong dockyard was being expedited, and overtime was being worked. Arrangements were in hand for the transfer of a battalion from Hong-Kong to Shanghai, should the situation demand it. Mr. Henderson added that he had no information that British property had been interfered with or endangered elsewhere, except perhaps at Ichang. A small body of rebels approached that place, and preparations were made to evacuate foreigners, in case of need. Later reports showed that the defence of Ichang had received reinforcements and after continuous fighting the rebels had been repulsed. No immediate trouble was foreseen there, but as a precaution the women and children either remained afloat or were concentrated on the river front.

The American, British, French, and Japanese troops, together with 1,500 volunteers, and a large police force, are believed in Shanghai to be sufficient to ensure adequate protection for the settlements. The cruiser Berwick arrived at Shanghai today. The Bruce, the Serapis, and the Stormland proceeded up the Yangtse. The barbed wire defences between the French concessions and the Chinese city are already manned. The total foreign troops stationed in China are 15,600.

FORCES READY TO MOVE FOREIGN SECRETARY MAKES STATEMENT WARSHIPS ON THE SCENE British Official Wireless Reed. 11 a.m. RUGBY, Tuesday. Hong-Kong messages state that the majority of the British and American women in Nanking were evacuated yesterday oh the steamer Shenking, .and the remainder, two British and about four American, are being evacuated today. The disturbed situation in China was the subject of a statement in the House of Commons by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Arthur Henderson.

The Minister said that following on