SERIOUS SITUATION IN CHINA SENDS AMERICAN AND BRITISH WARSHIPS TO NANKING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18940, 10 December 1929, Page 1

SERIOUS SITUATION IN CHINA SENDS AMERICAN AND BRITISH WARSHIPS TO NANKING.

Foreign Women and Children Being Evacuated From Capital As Result of Threatening Trouble. (United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received December 10, 11.30 a.m.) SHANGHAI, December 9. In accordance with instructions issued by the British and American Consulates, foreign women and children are being evacuated from Nanking. A steamer arrived this afternoon with seventy-three aboard. While the situation in the capital is quiet, it is Indicative of the seriousness of the outlook. It is reported that Government officials at Nanking have issued wireless instructions for the holding of a swift vessel in readiness to evacuate the Government in case of necessity. A foreign official opinion received from Nanking is that Chiang Kai-shek is preparing to fight. A telegram was received from the cruiser Suffolk this morning that all was quiet, but trouble is anticipated hourly. The train carrying Consular officials to Nanking last night reached the capital safely, but the midnight express was partly derailed as a result of the removal of a section of the rails.

The Shanghai Volunteer Corps have been ordered to stand by for mobilisation in the event of trouble.

CRITICAL SITUATION AT YANG-TSE PORTS

BRITISH CRUISER PROCEEDS TO NANKING (United Press Assn.—By Electrla Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received December 10, 11 a.m.) LONDON, December 9. A somewhat critical situation exists in several Yang-tse ports, arising out of the advance of the Kuominchun’s troops and defections among the National troops at Chang-chow, which led to the interruption of railway communications between Nanking and Shanghai. Conditions appear uncertain and as a precautionary measure the British cruiser Suffolk left Shanghai for Nan-

king yesterday morning, in order to be available if required for the safety of the foreign residents. The cruiser Berwick has left Hongkong to replace the Suffolk at Shanghai.

AMERICAN ADMIRAL SAILS FROM MANILA FOR SCENE OF STRIFE.

(Received December 10, 11.30 a.m.) MANILA, December 9. Admiral Charles M’Vay, Commander of the Asiatic Fleet, sailed for Shanghai aboard the cruiser Pittsburgh, to be at the centre of the trouble. Admiral M’Vay said that due to the serious situation in China and the possibility that the lives of American citizens might become endangered, he believed that it was his duty to go to Shanghai.