FIGHTING IN CHINA.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 October 1926, Page 13

FIGHTING IN CHINA.

KIUKIANG ENDANGERED.

FRANTIC APPEAL FOR HELP.

ANTI-FOR EIGN ACTJV IT Y.

Tekgraph—Pres. Am. —Copyright. Peking, Oet. 7

At Kiukiang fighting favours the Beds. The city is in danger of failing. fsun-Chuan-Fang is frantically appealing for reinforcements. A British gunboat is proceeding to Kiukiang to protect foreign life and property. .The gates of Wuchang are being opened daily for a brief period to allow a; portion of tho population of 200,000 to escape. Several foreigners have also left. The earlier report of the mutiny of troops inside is confirmed, but it was quelled. In epite of assurances to the contrary firing on foreign vessels continues. Several arrivals at Hankow from Shanghai were riddled with bullets. The efforts to rescue Mr. Freeman Davies, the captured Australian missionary who was seized by bandits at Chowkaihow, have so far been fruitless, on account of the floods and the prevalence of bandits throughout Honan. Marshal Wu-Pei-Fu has deputed General Yen, with a division of troops, to rescue Mr. Davies at all costs.

Relief is being sent to the lady missionaries stranded in Chowkaihow, but it is feared this is impossible at present owing to the flooded area. Volunteers are attempting to reach the ladies in small boats.

The Chinese Republic police, who have been ordered to prevent the anti-British demonstration at Shanghai on October 10, the anniversary of the Chinese Republic, arrested to-day 16 ringleaders and closed all the offices of Communistic parties and Students’ Union, a notorious anti-foreign organisation.