WAR IN CHINA

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIV, 21 December 1926, Page 7

WAR IN CHINA

CHRISTIANS PERSEWFED. LOOTING AND SHOO®]®© PREVAIL. (Per Press Association —Copyrigli.t, SHANGHAI, Dec. 21k The perils of the missionaries; in: the interior are increasing. The' Szcetacn province is oveiTHW by bandits and mercenary armies; ami' there is continual warfare betwwsn tfljic armies.

Reports state that Luchow tetritrory is: swarming with bandits ini'the guise- of military, who are subject-, ing the- inhabitants to Unparalleled oppression and Christians to persecution.

Two rival factions are combatting for tfe- control of the province, and i as-, a: result the lives of the missioni arias are imperilled. i Solifiers are canning amok, looting /homes,, ravishing women, and levying taxes at the gun point. A pitched battle between the rival forces at Luckow resulted in extensi.v.H' liillrmg'. Two missionaries, a (Canadian and an Australian, were trapped between the fire, which resulted- in- the serious wounding of (the' Canadian, who was dragged to the- safety of the mission home by the Australian.

The New Zealand Amos mission was rained with fire foi' hours.

Otliers attempting to leave the ioity were driven back by gunfire. Help; Huis been promised. NANKING OCCUPIED. BY SHANTUNG FORCES. SHANGHAI, Dec. 20. Contrary to the recent northern 'statements, news has been received from a reliable source that the IShantung forces in large numbers, wiifli Russian stiffening, have crossled! the Yangtse, and have occupied Nanking.