TA
BUICK China Mail
1928-
Get-Away and the effortless speed of
aving Birds-Buick for 1928-now on display.
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THE DRAGON MOTOR CAR CO., LTD.
Telephone Central 1246 or 1247.
33, Wong Nel Chung Road, Happy Valley.
HSTÄ
1
ISHED
No. 25,747 HONG KONG, MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1927.
NO PEACE IN SIGHT.
MILITARY FACTIONS WHO WANT WAR.
CANTON WITHDRAWALS.
Gen. Li Fook-lum Taking Troops From City..
REFUGEES IN LARGE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO ARRIVE HERE.
Canton's exodus of refugees to Hong Kong reached a climax during the week-end in spite of the fact that the authorities have restored order and are adding to the number of Communists arrested since last week's crisis.
Fears are entertained, not so much of a repetition of the Red horrors, as of an imminent clash between opposing political factions which only a few days ago appeared likely to be reconciled against a
common foc-the Communists.
Hopes of peace between the Ironsides and the Kwangsi military faction have been dashed. to the ground by hostilities breaking out on the West River. Adding complexity to the situation is the with- the hour-leading one to surmise whether he has quarrelled with the Ironsides or is merely ensuring the highest degree of protection for
ON THE WEST RIVER.
"Taiming Has Narrow Escape.
J
STEAMER UNDER FIRE.
Preventing "Reds" Reaching Wuchow From Canton.
BARS OF GOLD.
"Almost a Case of Piracy."
LAUNCH HELD UP.
Story Of Daring Robbery In. Harbour Limits.
-
**
PRICE, $3.00 Per Month.
REDS IN HONAM.
Outbreak. During the Week-end.
MARTIAL LAW.
Troops Return From Communist
Drive In Canton. -
J
is
"The Useful Christmas Gift”
Buy an 8 power British or French Binocular at the Special Price of
$45.00
at
'LAZARUS'.
A KOWLOON CRIME. NORTHERN CAPTURE.
Daughter Whose Throat
Was Cut.
FATHER CHARGED.
Pig's Heart And Medicine For High Fever
drawal of troops from the city by General Li Fook-lum-the man of Passed the "Taiming" down-river firm in Wing, Lok Street which exagents were going to single out who examined the girl and found a
his own area.
Red plots have been detected at Honum and are referred to elsewhere on this page..
"REDS" IN HONAM.
A company of Kwangsi soldiers could be seen on the crest of a hill about 300 feet high, which runs. from the outskirts of the town down to the river bank.
FRESH AND FAIR.
Northerly winds, fresh; fair, is the official weather forecast until
noon to-morrow,
The anticyclone over China' has strengthened considerably, Fresh to strong monsoon may be ex- pected along the coast of China and over the Northern portion of the Northern China Sea.
Kuschek Taken From Nationalists.
WHERE IS WANG?
Inference That Pro-Fengtien Troops Have Advanced.
Nanking, Yesterday. West River, Dec. 17, Before His Honour, Mr. Just a Honam has come under the at The Chinese who was committed
for trial on, a charge of murdering The Northern (pro-Fengtien) The Captain, Chief Engineer J. R. Wood, Pufsue Judge, this tention of the Canton Reds, two his 16-year old daughter at Kow- Army is reported to have captur and an Indian (anti-piracy) guard morning, Tasi F with others not buildings having been put on fire loon duly appeared before His ed Kuschek from the Nationalists, Honour the Chief Justice and jury the place being on the Tientsin- of the British 8.8. "Taiming" had in custody, was charged with the during the week-end, a narrow escape at 3 a.m. on Dec. robbery of TIs.600 in gold bars, and Very strict martial law was ob-at the Criminal Sessions in the Pukow Railway, about 100 miles 16 when approaching Dosing, up- other money and reperty from the served in Honam during the week- Supreme Court this morning. He north-west of Pukow. British ward bound, from shots from the steam launch of the We Fat Shing end, boats not being allowed to pleaded not guilty.
Mr. Somerset Fitzroy appeared)
Naval Wireless. The across the River to or from:Canton banks of the West River.
Company on October 12.
for the Crown, and Mr. Hin Shing [Note: The Nationalists had Hostilities had broken out be- leged offence occurred in the Har-city.
The authorities-under General, instructed by Mr. F. E. Loseby, advanced to over 200 miles from
defended...
Pukow. If it is confirmed that tween the Kwangsi troops and the bour. Ironsides.
Mr. T. S.. Whyte-Smith prosecut-Li Fook-lum whose army
Prisoner was accused of having they have now lost a town only The "Taiming" was met by aed and Mr. H. S. Sheldon, instruct-known as the Papersides are cut the girl's throat with a razor, 100 miles from Pukow, it means volley and Immediately turned ed by Mr. Hugh-Jones, appeared for probably right in thinking that afterwards attempting to commit that they have been driven back back out of the firing zone. Shots the defendaut.
plotting is confined to extremist suicide in a like manner. The girl considerably but there is no news Mr. Whyte-Smith said it might students and labour unionists in died as a result of her wounds.
to this effect.] were heard till half an hour later.
This morning medical evidence Keeping Out the Reds! almost be termed a case of piracy. Honam who sympathise with the
was given by Dr. J. E. Dovey, in Reds.
Mr. Wang Ching-wei.- At daylight, three steamers
The Wo Fat Shing company was a
Rumours were current that Red charge of the Kowloon Mortuary,
Shanghai, Yesterday. It is rumoured that Mr. Wang premises which would be set deep cut in the throat. There were Ching-wei has left Shanghai but and, as the firing had ceased, the "Taiming" proceeded. At Dosing
ablaze. True enough, the occu-nicted by someone else, and it could British Naval Wireless.
indications that the cut had been in the news requires confirmation.- she was fired on again.
pants of many houses woke up one have been caused by the razor pro- morning last week to find large duced in court, which was found of the Leftist faction of National- [Note: Mr. Wang is the heal rings painted on their walls, near the scene of the alleged crime.
Cross-examined by Mr. Lo, wit-it politicians which is also known either in red or white.
Threat to the General. ness said that the girl's condition as the Canton group. He has Nobody has been able to ex-indicated that she had had high fallen into disfavour through al- As ships had been allowed to go
fever, which might have caused herleged intrigue and has been ac down-river and the "Taiming"
plain the difference in colours,
However, the tension was in. to become delirious. From the ap-cused of complicity in the Red was going up, it became apparent
creased on Saturday and then two pearance of the cut in her throat coup at Canton.] that the Kwangsi authorities de-
houses, widely separated, were by someone else or might have been the injury might have been caused
Luxury Tax in Peking. sired to examine up-bound craft
set on fire. But no Communist self-inflicted. He thought, how-
Peking, Dec. 12. to make sure that no Reds got up
army stood by to keep the fire-ever, it looked as if it was inflicted The Revenue Office of the Fin- to Wuchow from Canton.
fighters off. And the incendiar- by another person.
ance Ministry has sent notifica- Marks on the Bridge ported ga bars to Annam, andista seem to have only done their
Not a Magician.
tions to foreign business firms in That the soldiers "meant busi-possessed its own launch which took work half-heartedly, if only to A Chinese who lived in the lower the city, stating that the Luxury part of the house said he had Tax will be levied on them from ness" was evident from their the bars to the ships carrying them cause a scare, West River, Dec. 17. In their counter-attack against shots being directed at the navi- from the Colony. On October 12 Observers formed the opinion known prisoner seven years. When December 1. the Ironsides who "stole" Canton Rating Bridge and officers' quar-f at about 6.40 p.m. Tis.600. worth of that the Communists' real object the doctor, but did not stay with Industry Association yesterday the girl was ill witness went for The Japanese Commerce and gold bars were put aboard the was to threaten General Li Fook them after doing so. Later that Wong Ki-cheung, from them, the Kwangsi soldiers
Shots passed dangerously near launch which was then lying near lum into desisting from giving night second-in-command of the Iron-have advanced 42 miles (down to where the Captain, Chief Engin- the Canton wharf. The bullion was help to the torrible campaign of daughter. Prisoner sent his wife a resolution against the imposi
he saw prisoner and his heil a general meeting and passed sides, in a proclamation issued Takhing), out of a total distance cer and the guard happened to be. intended for the Norwegian ship vengeance on the Reds in Canton. down to witness, and he went up lion of the Luxury Tax. Repre yesterday, has handed over com- of 200 miles, and the Ironsides mand of the 4th Nationalist Army have withdrawn their outposts They took shelter until out of the "Prominent," lying in the harbour. Troops Standing By. and stayed about an hour. He saw sentatives of the organisation to-
area where the "rat-tat-tat" to a Lt.-General who is believed and their River feet to about 10 could be heard incessantly when it enclosed in wooden boxca, the whole is on the south side of Canton he appeared to be very frightened. tion and, presenting the resolu- The gold was in bars, which were Honam, as is generally known, pri. oner carrying his daughter, and day called at the Japanese Lega- to be friendly towards the Kwang. miles further down.
Cross-examined, witness agreed tion, asked the Japanese author- si faction..
I was informed that General was found that three rounds had
waist-high and two the deck he- It was taken aboard the launch by For years it has been governed by wife on the night of September 22 11th frities for its abolition. four" of the Kwangsi military low. Wood partitions of rooms
General Li Fook-lum, commander but did not know how long he stay- faction which dominates the Na- were splintered by shots which
of the 5th Nationalist Army. Crew's Composition.
ed. He denied he told the prison- Toho. tionalist Government at Nanking passed right through.
It was important to note, said Mr.
When the Ironsides overthrewer's wife he was a magician or that was on board the s.s. "Tin Chow,"
Whyte-Smith, the personnel of the the Kwangsi faction last month be said he could cure the daughter which belongs to one of his re-
erew. There Was the coxswain, he--as he has done on many oc- If left to his care. He also denied latives and was bound for down-
On arrival at Dosing, the "Tai-Wan Yee, a seaman, Ah King, a casions-sided with the winners. he recommended prisoner to give river, ostensibly to capture Can-ming" found that the well-known Areman, Aih Ai, a boy Sai Lo and And it was due mainly to his the daughter some pig's heart mix-
Anti-Smuggling Bureau which
a substitute engineer, Ah Wing. efforts that an expedition was fit-ed with medicine. the Kwangai authorities had in- It was important because the fire-ted out last Tuesday to counter- Wong Ching-pak, doctor of Chi- stituted and had caused to become man and substitute engineer sub-attack the Reds who had obtained nece medicine, of Wellington Street,
nuisance was back at work again aequently, became robbers.
possession of Canton for two and said he was a clasman of the pri-
For once the war lords are bend- ing to public opinion.
Although they still control the city and important parts of Kwangtung provinces, the Iron- side leaders have consented to their own "dismissal."
General
Ironsides to Retire?
Another Lt.-General who join of the Ironsides last month is also
promoted,
The foregoing incidents are taken to indicate the beginning of the Ironsides' leaders retiral from politics.
Partly because of the tide but particularly because passengers had swarmed the boats at an ear-
ly hour, the river steamers left Canton much earlier than usual yesterday,
Tension Increased,
Tension is increasing.
COUNTER-ATTACK. Kwangsi Forces Advance Down
West River.
ters.
Wong Shiu-hung, one of the "biestruck the armoured bridge about being enclosed in' a big tin box. harbour, facing the city proper he went up to see prisoner and his ities to negotiate with the Chinese
ton.
low
River Obstructed.
was anchored one
"War News" Wanted.
fakis.
but no official of any standing had When they were all board the a half days.
Takhing has been retaken by the Kwangsi army. Ten miles be- of the "Kong" class of gunboat which now supports the Ironsides. There
five armed were also
Great Heat.”
soner whom he had known since Later. childhood. Witness had attended Martial law prevails in Ilonam. prisoner's daughter, being fetched are raiding by the last witness. It was on
ventured back to the port yet,
When the "Taiming" reached launch, the crew was driven below
Police and soldiers Chicken Basket Island which is by the robbers and searched. Pri- soner WAR the chief searcher.
armed launches went alongside.
of General Li Fook-lum.
dent understands that he will re-
The portance) is not clear yet.
lacking naval forces, may attempt news" from Dosing.
were being
SUICIDE MANIA.
UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS BY CHINESE WOMEN.
GALLANT SAMPAN OWNER.
Two Chinese women attempted to
Firemen are on constant Rond, and again on September 22, launches. They were both rescued by..
The daughter was seriously ill, and taken to the Government Civil All the units which General Li suffering from "great heat" (high Hospital suffering from the affects
fever). Prisoner seemed very of immersion. Fook-lum sent to take part in the much afraid of something and
are now back at Honam.
NOT RELAXED.
De-launches and so the river down to outside Wuchow, two Kwangsi After a while those below heard. suspected quarters; and troops in September 19 that he first (Wong)/commit suicide yesterday by jump- velopments hi.ge on the attitude I Shiuhing (the next town of im-Their duty was to find out from as they would tell the jury, noises full marching order are standing went to the house at 88, Cantoning into the harbour from ferry "China Mail" political correspon- However, the Kwangsi army, the British merchantman "war on deck as if boxes
When the broken open. After the robbers duty.
released them- had departed they inforcements from Wuchow on that the Kwangsi men had won Dec, 16 crossed from Dosing (15 and that there were no more pro- had gone ashore just past the Ming miles above Takhing) to the left Canton craft at Dosing, they Yuen gardens.
Prisoner was arrested just be- thanked the "Taiming" and pro- bank of the West River and may mised to obtain redress for the fore leaving for Canton. Le marching down by now.
shooting outrage-Our own cor-notes were found in his stockings and a gold bar in one of his shoes. respondent.
The case is proceeding.
main "neutral" until a stronger to circumvent the Ironsides. Re- officers in charge had gathered selves and found that the launch anti-Red drive in Canton last week cried, and asked whether she would jumped from the launch "Man Yec"
government is set up in Canton.
A rumour was heard in Canton yesterday that the military had ordered the arrest of Mr. Chan Kung-pok, one of the Leftist poli- ticians and the only civilian mem- ber of the War Council who has Leen dismissed. The rumour has not been confirmed but it was one of the main causes of the panic prevailing during the week-end.
WAR EXPLAINED.
Distances Between Wuchow and Canton.
minus an armed launch which was
the victim of a collision.
About 20 miles below Takhing, H.M.S. "Tarantula," flying the flag of the Senior Naval Officer, West River Patrol, was anchored.
Ironsides at Samshui.
three regiments has considerably Near Lukpo (76 miles below strengthened the defence forces Wuchow), an armed launch was of Kwangsi province and has in- seen, submerged in the River, creased confidence in the Govern- evidently the victim of a collisionment, when the Ironsides were moving.
At Samshui on Dec. 17, Ironside
WAR BEGINS.
Wuchow is about 200 miles west Kwangsi Army Marches Down
Canton.
Attack on Dosing.
NO NEWS.
Bank-
LOCAL PRESS RESTRICTIONS BY POLICE.
Cifaton Authorities Pursuit of the Reds.
The Canton authorities have not relaxed in their pursuit of the Communists.
die.
The case is proceeding.
In the first instance, & woman
whilst it was on a trip from Hong Kong to Yaumati. She was observ. ed by the master of a passing cam- pan, who jumped in after her and prehensive to the extent that they kept her afloat until both were pull- are taking all their valuables to ed into the sampan, which brought the woman to Hong Kong, where Shameen.
Meanwhile, the British Consul- the Police took charge of her and General has advised all British had her removed to the hospital.
second would-be suicide subjects in the vicinity of Canton
whilst the vessel was bound to Hong Kong from Shamshufpo. She was rescued by members of the Man Tat's" crew and handed over to the Police on arrival in Hong Kong..........
The
More captures were effected during the week-end but these to take refuge in Shameen until jumped off the launch. "Man Tat" were confined to members of ex- the situation is more satisfactory, tremist labour unions and former British Naval Wireless.. jailbirds who escaped when the a newspaper representa-prisons were stormed.
Police Many more men have been shot. on Satur- In Honam. men who were
Consulate.
GEN. LI FOOK-LUM. -
His Proclamation From Canion.
CHRISTIE CASE.
APPEARANCE ON FRESH CHARGE.
BLUHM NOT IN COURT.
When A note of optimism prevails. for pro-Cantonese) troops were There is now no longer any talk tive visited the Central scen pouring into the town in tow." boats which seemed to have come of the Ironsides invading Kwang-Station at 8.30 p.m. Hostilities have actually broken from the North River. The tows, si, but rather of when the Kwang-day night for late information for rounded up in the attempts at out on the West River where the left immediately after the men si units will again be masters of publication in our Contemporary, arson were shot immediately in
the "Sunday Herald," he was at the streets.
Following is the proclamation Kwangsi military faction-over- disembarked' and I was told that thrown by the Ironsides last they will bring more troops.
The offensive is now on, and first informed that there was "no-
Raid on Consulate.
which has been issued by General month-are marching down to It is not known if the units at!
is being pushed with vigour by thing doing," but later, in the The news that the Russian Li Fook-lum to the foreign General Wong Shiu-hung him- course of further conversation, was Vice-Consul was killed last week Presa:— make another bid for Canton. Samshul are to be used to resist;
self.
told that no information could be has been confirmed. His name is While the troops are defend- That fighting has been in pro- the Kwangsi counter-attack or to
Dosing is being attacked on given.
given as Hassiz. He was one of ing the boundaries, Canton is in gress is confirmed by two corres-be sent to Canton to guard the At any
three sides, and as soon as this
Taking ad- This attitude on the part of off-the five who met their deaths lack of protection. pondents of the "China Mail" city against the Reds.
place is taken, the soldiers will cialdom, it is understood, is the re-ahortly after the Communists vantage of this, the Communists whose reports follow. The open- rate, the trains on the Canton-
be sent-down the West River to sult of an allegedly erroneous re-were overcome.
attacked the Public Welfare De-
James Christie was this morning.' ing honours are with the Kwangsi Samshui Railway are not run-
retaken Takhing and Shluhing, port appearing in a contemporary It is also confirmed that the So- partment and various Police. Sta formally charged before Major C. faction and the Ironsides, in addi- ning-Our own correspondent.
Before long, they will be ap- concerning the sending back of viet Consul General is in custody. tions and other departments, Wilson, at the Central Magistracy tion to losing some ground, are
proaching Samshui and the some "Red" refugees from Hong A very large quantity of litera- They established the Soviet Goy- with criminal conspiracy to de- railway, which will mean that Kong to Canton. A communication ture was seized in the raid on the crament and ransacked the fraud, and remanded for a date to they will be knocking at the from the Hon. Capt. Superintendent
whole city, setting fire to business be fixed for the hearing of the case. door of Canton itself.
catates and cruelly killing in- of Police which appears, in part, In
The new charge followed Chris- City En Fete.
this morning's issue of another local
habitante... This lasted for two Yesterday a monster welcome paper may help to confirm the
days and nights. Luckily the the's discharge, in company with Troops gathered again in time and Christopher Bluhm on Saturday on was accorded General Wong Shiu-above.
earnestly set to work to destroy the charge of undertaking to pro- under the command of General hung. The city was festooned It is also understood that the
them.
cure and supply morphia, Mr. R. B. Wai Wan-t'aung, arrived. in Wu- with flags and scrolls in honour Hon. Capt. Superintendent of Police
I, Fook-lum, taking my troops Lindsell, the presiding Magistrate chow yesterday and the day be- of the leader's return. At noon has ruled that only three indivi- fore. These men belong to Gen- nearly ten thousand people as duals may in future give informa- A feeling of tension still exists, and the Fourth Army and the deciding that there was no genuine eral Wong Yuk-ch'oh's brigade, sembled on the public recreation tion to the Press, these being Mr. the Chinese being very uneasy newly enlisted Second and Third offer to provide morphia which was and had marched overland from ground and took part in a prepar- King, Director of Criminal Intelli- as the result of widely circulated Divisions, crossed, the river and used by the accused purely 25 a the North River after their ed programme. Unfortunately, gence, Chief Inspector Kent, and rumours to the effect that the fought against the Communists, blind in the hope of obtaining chieftains in Wuchow to Shishing 03 miles.
Canton had due to pressure of official duties, Detective Chief Inspector Reynolds. Canton military leaders are at and in the shortest period they money from the prospective buyer. were completely destroyed Bull who in this case turned out to bo Shinhing to Samshui,
28. been
the General Wong Shiu-hung was not Any police officer disregarding this loggerheads, overthrown by Wuckow to Bambul 121 miles, Ironsides to re-join" their able to be present in person, but
are not entirely to be dieregarded is now turning to ruins with dead Au Younger front From Samarhul to Canton by rail comrades in Wuchow. It is esti- was represented by a staff officer; order is subject, we are told, to m- It is felt too, that the "Reds" viewing the city of Canton which Chinese Police Reservist named Bluhm, who le to appear before as a factor in the new situation, ond wounded all over the dis- way in 89 miles. By water there are mated that another three thou-who addressed the assembly. several routes, a roundabout one being sand were left behind, either kill Police Search for Reds,
COMO and further attempts to secure tricts, I could not help from ME. Lindsell to-morrow morning to 93 miles long. A military force would,
TO-DAY'S DOLLAR control of the city would not come mourning Judging the remote answer a charge of being in the Colony without a passport, was not however, have to travel about 200 milesed, wounded or captured by the
The closing rate of the dollar, as a surprise. 2
charged with Christie this morning. on demand, to-day was 270
of Canton. For future reference
the following table may be handy.
Distancès down the West River :---
miles
Wuchow to Konghau
11
Konghau to Fangchuen
Fungchuon to Dosing...
14
Wuchow to Dosing 27 miles.
Desing to Takhing.....
15
Wuchow to Takhing 42 miles.
Takhing to Yuotsing
Yuetsing to Lukpo
Lukpo to Shluhing
River.
Wuchow, Dec. 16. Approximately three regiments,
to get from Wuchow to Canton, or Ironsides, or having dropped out
en route The addition of these
The Polico Department has conducted another search of the
(Continued on Pass
atant dismissal.
16.
CONSUL'S ADVICE.
British Subjects to Go Into Shameen.
Canton, Yesterday.
The wealthier Chinese are ap
(Continued on Page 7):