STILL CALM

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19783, 5 March 1927, Page 7

STILL CALM

SITUATION IN CHINA THE DEFENCE OF SHANGHAI SHANTUNG TROOPS IN CHARGE. PREPARING FOR THE CANTONESE Received March 5, 1.20 a.m. PEKING, March 4. The only now military development to-day is the news that General Chang Tsung Chang is strong.hening the gar rlson at Foochow. The move is dictated by fear of I possible southern attempt via West Ta» huiake to cut his main line of communh cations, namely the Shanghai Nanking railway. Meanwhile large numbers of Shantung troops continue to arrive from Tsiug-tao, all pouring into Sungkiang and replacing General Sun Chuan Fang’s troops. The latter are arriving in this area in considerable bunches They are a poor lot, looking fit fol anything but fighting. The Shantung authorities are wisely diverting theig from the city to Woosung, prior t/ sending them to tho north Kiangsu prf vince. NEW MURDER BUREAU RED TERRORISM. CAMPAIGN OF INTIMIDATION SHANGHAI, Maxch 4. Li Pao Chang, Defence Commissioned of Shanghai, who was responsible for tho drastic i surcs against the tors in the . ent strike, has been replaced by a nominee of Chang Tsung Chang, General Pi Shou Chen, the youthful commander of tho Shantung forces in the Shanghai-Sunkiang area He is also admiral of the Shantung navy. The conscription of coolies is reported to be going on in the suburbs o£ Shanghai. Many reports that cannot be confirmed have been received of fighting at Wukuang, ten miles south of Foochow. If correct, they indicate that the Nationalists are nctir their which is to cut off railway communication between Shanghai and Nanking. In order to prevent the Cantonese absorbing mor.e leaderless troops of Sun Shuan Fang’s army, all have been ioplaced by Shantungites (at the front. Sun Chuan Fang’s men are returning t» Shanghai disarmed, and are permitted to enter the foreign settlements in smill batches under supervision of the British. It is now virtualaly a clear-eut issutf between the Cantonese and Shantungites. It is significant that troops are seeking the protection of foreign settlements, which is now fro ly given, if they arc not carrying arms, A new murder bureau has been formed to terrorise Shanghai workers into joining the Red movement. It has prepared a long list of victims to be sacrificed in an attempt to frighten the dissenting clement responsible for thf failure of the general strike. Therf have been twelve (assassinations.

TWO MORE CRUISERS

AN EXTRA PRECAUTION. JAPAN STRENGTHENS HER FORCES. TOKIO, March 4. Two more cruisers, conveying • landing party of 500 bluejackets, have been ordered to Shanghai as a precautionary measure. The Isuzu is leaving Yokosuka tonight .and the Sendai is stalling from Sasoba to-morrow.