A CONFLAGRATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 254, 27 October 1938, Page 7

A CONFLAGRATION

HANKOW ABLAZE ASHES FOR THE JAPANESE DISTRESSING SCENES TOO MANY REFUGEES FOR FOREIGN CONCESSIONS [By Telegraph—Prese Association— Copyright J Received Oct. 26, 7.30 p.m. HANKOW, Oct. 25. Huge tires raging to-night throughout the city present a terrifying spectacle, added to which are the groans of the wounded and dying, the crackle of burning wooden nouses and the cries of Chinese seeking to escape from the flames. The city will be another Canton as soon as the fires, which are breaking out everywhere, join up in a tremendous conflagration. The Chinese systematically set fire to public buildings before departing. The Hankow correspondent of the British United Press states that the tires are spreading very rapidly, and the factory district is ablaze. The Chinese are blowing up aerodromes and other military posts. The Wuchang district is on lire, two Britons and eight Americans being marooned. There is a similar outbreak at Tanyang. Foreigners are frantically pumping water from the river in an endeavour to check the flames, the normal city water supply having been cut off.

The Japanese to-day occupied only part of the city. The last of the Chinese troops had gone before the first Japanese entered. It is now stated that General Chiang Kai-shek abandoned the city in order to conserve the Kwang lung army for a battle in western Hunan. Distressing scenes were witnessed in the foreign areas to which distraught Chinese iied hoping lor refuge, but the English, French and American concessions were already overflowing and the British and other concessions closed their gates at mid-day. Bluejackets manned the barricades, but these were opened repeatedly, though all armed Chinese were refused admission. It is impossible to-night to move along the sidewalks in the British area .or destitute Chinese.

The Japanese continue to occupy Hankow without resistance. It is reported that refugees were machine-gunned by low-flying Japanese planes as they streamed westward along the highways from Hankow. With the departure of the Government special administrative districts have been created and handed over to the refuge-? zone committee. Foreign Interests. One hundred bluejackets are billeted at the British Consulate. The Italians and Americans are taking similar precautions. The gunboats Gnat and Tern are standing by off the German Concessions, and the American flagship Luzo" is near the British Concession. The Yangtse above Hankow las beer, closed. Shanghai reports a renewd request to foreign shipping to move up the river, as it is difficult, to guarantee that there will be no attacks on Chinese taking refuge in the vicinity. The British naval authorities have refused to move.