THE RETREAT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19648, 6 September 1926, Page 7

THE RETREAT

DEFENDERS LEAVE HANKOW INTERNATIONAL GUARD TO WATCH FOREIGN INTERESTS BRITISH GUNBOAT ENGAGES REDS. 8y Telegraph—Par Press Assn-— Copyright. Received September 5. 5.5 p.m. PEKING, Sept. 4. The Cantonese offensive forced the anti-Reds to retreat from Hankow, | which is guarded by British, American and Japanese warships. A British gunboat is reported to have been engaged in a two hours’ bombardment of invaders on the south bank of the Yangtsc in defence of foreign inter- . csts, following on the ultimatum. Shipping is paralysed. Martial law was declared in Peking ; last night. General Sun-Chung-Fang is ; rushing 50.000 troops to assist the north in response to the Allied appeal. . Fighting is continuous, the contending parties occupying opposite banks of the j• river. The natives are panic-stricken, and foreign business is stagnant. The deposing of General Wu-Pei-Fu . is not confirmed. It is reported that < the Cantonese are blockading Yangtsc. i LIKE THE DUTCH ALLIES FLOOD THE COUNTRY. PREPARING FOR DECISIVE BATTLE. PEKING, Sept. 4. ' General Wu-Pei-Fu is reported to have been deposed from the command of the anti-Canton allies and is now virtually a prisoner on board a war vessel on the Yangtsc. Wuchang is believed to have been regained as the result of an offensive by the allies, who opened the dyke flooding the enemy area. Both sides are preparing for a decisive battle for the possession of Han- I kow, which is overcrowded with re- 1 fugees.