BRITISH ARE IN EXTREME DANGER

Taranaki Daily News, 7 January 1927, Page 7

BRITISH ARE IN EXTREME DANGER

POSITION IN HANKOW STILL THREATENING SAFETY DEPENDS UPON INACTIVE CHINESE MILITARY SPREAD THROUGHOUT YANGTSE VALLEY FEARED

(Pre® Association—Copyright.) ...- London, January 8. “The British community here is in extreme danger,” cables Sir Percival Pbiffipe from Hankow to the Daily Mail. “Its safety solely depends on the Chinese military, which has taken no measures io check fanaticism. The British naval force was ready to land when the Cantonese Commissioner of Foreign Affairs sent a message declaring that if a single shot were fired the Chinese troops, which were undependable, would attack the concession. •The native police to-day refused duty, and the labour pickets are now patrolling the streets. The Chinese stoned the marines as they were embarking. A Chinese guard escorted Mr. Goffe, Consul-General, to the consulate. “A mass meeting of workers demanded that the Cantonese Government should give Mr. Goffe 72 hours to apologise and disarm the volunteers and the police who were guilty of wounding and killing Chinese, otherwise a general strike would be proclaimed and the concession blockaded.

Shanghai, Jan. 5. The Hankow disturbances were due to the smallness of the British forces available, the present naval strength consisting of only 250 men. Admiral Cameron, the commanding officer, reported that unless permission was granted to fire he would be unable to cope with the situation. Vice-Admiral Sir E. S. Alexander-Sin-Clair, Commander-in-Chief at Hong Kong, consequently wired instructions to fire if necessary, without regard for the consequences. low water prevents larger warships proceeding to Hankow, which is completely in the hands of the Chinese, who occupy the principal administrative buildings. They have driven the British residents from the concession and closed the foreign stores. Looting may be expected unless the military intervene. Admiral Cameron states that the mob was in the mood for a massacre of the civilians. Had the marines opened fire they would have been able to handle the situation, if allowed to use machineguns, The eo-operation of the Chinese military is not expected. On the contrary it is believed that they are fostering the agitation in .order to secure control of the concessions. It is predicted that the Hankow events are likely to have a repercussion in the whole of the Yangteze Valley, Britons at Hankow are at present taking refuge in other foreign concessions, but a civilian evaonation is likely. Kiukiang ie already being evacuated by women and children in expectation of similar incidents. The situation is fraught with the gravest peril to foreigners residing at river ports and interior cities. The Hankow incident requires drastic foreign steps, Otherwise Shanghai will fare likewise when the Cantonese arrive, whieh is in-1 evitable. Owing to the seriousness of events in China, Mr, MacMiirray, U.S.A. Minister in China, has been recalled to Washington for a conference. M. Karakhan, the Soviet Ambassador in Peking, is leaving the capital to establish hie headquarters at Wuchang, the Southerners’ new administrative centre. According to reports received locally all the women and children at Hankow have been instructed to embark preparatory to leaving the port. The local British authorities hitherto have no confirmation of the report. CHINESE CONTROL OF COURTS. TREMENDOUS DISSATISFACTION. .. Received Jan. 7, 12.5 p.m. Shanghai, Jan. 6. Extraordinary judgments marked the opening sessions of the Shanghai mixed Court under Chinese control since January 1. The new court procedure restricts foreign judges, influencing their decisions, and they are lodging a protest against the decisions. Wholesale discharges granted by Chinese judges at the first sitting are causing tremendous dissatisfaction in the ranks of the foreign police, who were responsible for the arrest of highway robbers and others charged with major offences, who were liberated on small bail instead of being, as hitherto, detained in custody. Smugglers ol opium harve berti discharged with a caution, though such, offences, are in direct contravention of the Chinese criminal code.

LULL IN THE DISORDERS. ALL PRECAUTIONS MAINTAINED. Received Jan. 6, 10.30 p.m. Shanghai, Jan. C. As a precautionary measure all the women and children in Hankow, Ichang and Kiukiang were evacuated last evening. Two steamers with three hundred women and children are now en route to Shanghai. At Hankow all the men are being concentrated on what are regarded as safe points on the waterfront. There have been no disturbances in the Japanese or French concessions at Hankow, where foreign officials or foreign-controlled police continue to function. Everything ie peaceful in Shanghai. The Red Nationalists are endeavouring to promote a general strike immediately after the Chinese new year (about February 10). A later message reports that a procession of soldiers, pickets and students, carrying banners and yelling, passed through the British concession at Hankow. The cenotaph, which was plastered with Nationalist flags and propaganda, was used as a convenient stand from which orators delivered speeches. To-night the concession is superficially quiet. A British wireless message from Hankow says that the British concession ie now controlled by Chinese authorities. There has been a lull in the disorders, but the women, children and naval hospital eases have been evacuated and the male population concentrated on safety points along the river front to facilitate future operations. Although the Chinese authorities guarantee safety, the message states that events do not inspire confidence, and precautions are fully maintained. H.M.B. Vindictive, with seaplanes, the cruiser Carlisle and.the destroyer Wishart are being rushed from Hongkong to Hankow’s relief. The principal Yangtsze ports, Kiukiang and Ichang, are suffering in a manner similar to Hanko-w, and the evacuation of the women and children is occurring, many proceeding to Shanghai and others remaining on the steamers in mid stream, hoping for the trouble to blow over. Meanwhile, nearer Shanghai, fighting is in progress for possession of Shanghai, but the results so far are indefinite. Received Jan. 6, 8.25 p.m. London, Jan. fl. The eighth destroyer flotilla, at present at Rosyth, is ready to depart any moment. Its strength was reduced last year ou the ground of economy. The official view is that the Hankow outbreak ie not so serious as it wae at first reported; nevertheless every precaution ie being taken.

BRITISH CRUISERS MAKE READY. UP TO FULL STRENGTH. London, Jan. 5. The Admiralty has announced that the crews of the light destroyer flotilla have been brought to full strength. for possible service in the Far East. It consists of eight deetroyere under the flotilla leader, Bruce, and is normally manned by two-fifths of the complement.