CHINA’S SORRY PLIGHT.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 8 October 1926, Page 9

CHINA’S SORRY PLIGHT.

Horrors of Siege of Wuchang. POPULACE PERMITTED TO LEAVE. By Cable —Press Association —CopyrUhn. AUBtraiiau and N.Z. Cable AnhOo»«;)on. PEKIN, October 6. After having kept the populace within the walls of AVuchang for 36 days, thousands dying of starvation, disease and wounds, the gates of the city were opened to permit -000 civilians to leave for Hankow, by agreement between the contending parties. All firing ceased for n short time. There was a mad stampede at the gates. .Frenzied men, women and children fought for escape. Numbers of women and children were trodden down and trampled to death. An eye-witness reports that thousands unable to leave, fought madly, but were forced back from the gates by bayonets. The refugees are in a wretched condition, and report a pitiful state of affairs in the city. Dead and dying are everywhere, and unless the blockade is lifted speedily nil will perish excepting the soldiers, who are on the point of mutiny. ... .

ANTI-FOREIGN AGITATION. BANDITS RAVAGE SEVERAL, CITIES. By Cable—Press Association —CopyTljn*. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. PEKIN, October 6. The bandits, who recently looted Cbowkaikow, looted the cities of Tungsu and Chenliu. HaU afterwards proceeded to Kihsienhow .and the other half to Haipingkan, near Kaifeng, the capital .of the Honan Provinco. They are reported to be 5000 strong, and to be armed with rifles, machine guns and small cannon. The galea of Kaifeng swarmed with refugees, fleeing through the night from the afflicted districts. The captives taken by the bandits include a British missionary named Riding. Many hundreds were killed and wounded. Chung-King, the farthest up river trading station, the headquarters of anti-foreignism and the Red Lamp Society, was again the scene of trouble, and two British gunboats have been despatched to protect the few remain, ing foreign merchants. Several attempts were made on the lives of the employees of British people. A monster anti-British demonstration was held at Hankow yesterday. Attempts to enter the foreign concessions were prevented by British marines with difficulty. There was no bloodshed, but much hostility was displayed. The war situation is virtually- unchanged. The Reds are closing on Kiukiang, the nearest important river port to Shang, hai, indicating the repulse' of the anti-Reds.