WAR IN CHINA

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIV, 30 December 1926, Page 8

WAR IN CHINA

(Per Press Association —Copyright PARIS,. December -28. Cabinet reviewed the situation ... China, and approved of M. Briand ( recommendation not to depart from, j the y policy of “wait, and see.” . A semi-official note has been issued stating that Britain’s proposed declaration is regarded as unnecessary, that the Government believes it inadvisable. to. discuss foreigners’ rights over the beads, of the opposing Chinese Government, and prefers t<. let the Crisis , pass till it is possible to negotiate with a really representative authority. ' To recognise the Caviton Government, as independent from Peking, would be to sanction the secession of State and disturb both x.orth. and South China, which each is striving to control. SHANGHAI, December 28. The British memorandum to ths Powers, favouring the immediate granting, of the Customs surtaxes agreed on at the Washington Conference, was received with .mixed feelings by the Chinese and foreign populations, ss being tantamount to the recognition of revolutionary Government, which has | already illegally enforced the surtaxes, la contravention to the treaties. The Russian element in the Chinese war is becoming more pronounced. Daily thousands of hungry, destitute whites, formerly driven out of their homes in Russia by the Soviet, and driven to take refuge in China, where they are forced to beg work as Chinese > Coolies, are joining the anti-Red Chinese Army hoping to strike a blow at Bolshevism. For the first time in many years China is divided into two main factions in a -clear eut issue, of .which the Russians are taking advantage, joining the respective armies, and resuming on a minor scale, the former Russian revol-utionary-warfare. An understanding exists between General Sun-Chun-Fang and General Chang-Chung-Chang, whereby the latter will preserve Shanghai against Red attacks, while General Sun-Chunn-Fang will concentrate on the Western front against the advance of the Reds from Hankow. The Anti-Red Allies are now manoeuvring in the south-west sector ot Central China, forming defences impregnable against the Reds, despite the presence of Red Russians in the ranke. The Shanghai-Nankin railway is cleared, ready for the Shantung troops to rush to Shanghai in the event ot the Cantonese penetrating the western defences, but the Red capture ot Shanghai is remote, unless treachery occurs. PEKING, December 29. The military impressment of coolies for transport purposes in connection with the proposed northern attack to drive the Reds from Yangtze Valley, met with disastrous results. The coolies were pressed from the streets, herded like cattle, and entrained without being fed. A trainload of three hundred were found ail • frozen ■to death on arrival at the front. Similar incidents are reported elsewhere. Press gangs are busy in Shanghai, permission being granted the military governor to send squads into foreign concessions to press idlers. This is causing the Red agitators to curtail their activities, and interest in the warfare in Central China is temporarily diverted to .an attempt to exterminate the notorious pirate stronghold in Bias Bay, following on the recent pirating of the British -steamer Sunning. In all the paracies .lately carried out, the vessels hawe teen taken to Bias Bay, within one hundred miles of Hong Kong, and looted, the prisoners being transferred to the robbers’ fastnesses in the adjacent mountains. The authorities in Canton made overtures for a combined attack, including a British naval force from Horik Kong, and -bombing planes, upon the pirates’ stronghold. The Canton Government previously formed a .military expedition to act in conjunction with rhe naval forces from Hong Kong, 'but the Cantonese guerillas attacked the military expedition and prevented it from attacking the pirates. The new expedition is being awaited with deep interest, in view of the "fact that it is the first time foreign assistance has been sought effectively to .deal with the pirate pest. It is reported that the Kirin district is being terrorised by a band of sixty mounted women bandits, reputedly led by the divorced wife of a prosperous merchant seeking revenge for her supposed wrongs. The band is well aimed, desperate, and is roaming unchecked, indulging in the robbing of wealthy people. , , The provincial authorities are deaf to appeals for assistance and protection, j fearing reprisals by the bandits.