CHINESE TONG WAR

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6545, 18 November 1924, Page 8

CHINESE TONG WAR

“TEAR-GAS” BOMBS SEIZED BY POLICE The leaders of the two rival Chinese Tongs (secret societies) are seeking a compromise again after several weeks of war, whch raged n seven important United States cities. Secrecy surrounds the negotiations, even the police refusing to divulgf where the conferences are being held. While the leaders were away members of the Hipsing and Onlong Tongs gathered at their headquarters to await the results. There is an air of tranquility in Chinatown for the first time for many -weeks, but it is admitted that, both headquai’ters are filled with firearms. Several seizures of tear-gas bombs were made by the police in the last two days. The largest quantity was found in a restaurant patronised nightly by Broadway crowds. It is now disclosed that the cause of the war was not the Chinese revolution, but a struggle over business locations in the various cities. Hipsings appear to.be willing to pay a 50,000 dollar (£10,000) indemnity to settle the dispute, but they refuse to agree to other demands of the Onlongs, on the ground that they are not American.