DARK DAYS IN CHINA.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18499, 21 February 1930, Page 9

DARK DAYS IN CHINA.

Murder Campaign Revived

OUTRAGE IN FRENCH CONCESSION. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copy) ght.) SHANGHAI, February 19. After 12 years’ freedom from political assassinations, Shanghai was astonished this morning to discover what apparently foreshadows a resuscitation of the murder campaign. Last night seven armed Chinese entered a house in the French Concession, and shot dead two Chinese members of the Left Wing of the Kuomintang. Two others are expected to die. The householder, a Leftist, owes his life to the fact that he was absent. The gang knocked at the door, and immediately shot the boy, who opened it, and then rushed upstairs and entered the room in which four Chinese were sitting. They opened fire, hitting all, and then left immediately. In the street they encountered a passer-by, whom they regarded as a possibly dangerous identity witness, so they shot him, and then escaped. The police allege that Nankin is responsible for hiring professional

The dead men are Wong-loh-ping and Panteh-chien, both prominent in Kuomintang circles, the former being a member of the Executive Council, and regarded as the chief henchman of General Wang-Ching-Wei, the leader of the Leftist Party, and a personal enemy of General Chiang-Kai-Shek.

The assassination is causing uneasiness among many prominent Government officials residing in the Foreign Concessions, which hitherto have been looked upon as a sanctuary.

NANKIN REGIME UNPOPULAR. ARMED CLASH INEVITABLE. (United P-ess Association—By Electrl# Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received February 20, 5.55 p.m.) PEKING, February 19. Under cover of the exchange of pacificatory telegrams between the pivotal leaders in the threatened clash between the Northern and Southern factions in China, both sides are rushing preparations for war. A stream of troops continues to pour northwards from Nankin. The Fengyuhsiang’s chief men are holding a military conference at Sianfu, the capital of Shensi province, which is expected to result in a fresh declaration of hostility towards the Nankin regime.

ARMIES ON THE MARCH. SERIOUS CONFLICT FEARED. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyrlgh t.) (Received February 20, 6.20 p.m.) Advices from China to British official circles suggest that armies are marching under General Fong and General Chiang. It is not easy to ascertain what is happening, but it is rumoured that something pretty serious is in the wind.

DETAILS OF ANNAMITE MUTINY. MUTINEERS HEAVILY PUNISHED. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received February 20, 5.5 p.m.) HONGKONG, February 19. Official French sources release details of the Annamite mutiny. Graphic descriptions of the actual fighting, now published, show that the mutiny commenced on the morning of s the 10th., with attacks in launches on the barracks, also the homes of the officers, the mutineers using trench mortars. The hero of the fighting was Lieutenant Tacon, who led a detachment of Royal Annamites. Under his skilful direction, these rescued the wives and families of the French officers, at a critical moment. By next morning the" Government forces had inflicted a severe defeat upon the disaffected soldiers, whose losses were heavy. On the morning of the 12th., when the funeral of five officers took place, bombs were thrown just prior to the arrival of the Governor and suite. The* assailants were fired at, but escaped. Martial law has been proclaimed.