1927-12-05 — Page 1

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BUICK China Mail

··1928**

Power-the mighty force of imitless

power-Bulck for 1928-how on dis. play.

INSPECTION IS CORDIALLY INVITED.

THE DRAGON MOTOR CAR CO., LTD,

Telephone Central 1246 or 1247.

13, Wong Nei Chung Road, Happy Valley.

TENSION HIGHER.

ESTABLI®”

1845

No. 25,735 HONG KONG, MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1927.

GRAPHIC STORY OF KONGMOON PANIC.

“MYTHICAL FOE" APPEARS.

CANTON COUP SEQUEL LUCKY WAR LORDS.

'Shanghai Atmosphere of

Indecision..

CHINA'S POLITICAL SQUABBLES. Nationalist Convention Problems

War in the North.

Shanghai, Yesterday.

Fortune Taken

Shekki.

CURRENCY TROUBLES. Preparing For An Invasion At Kongmoon.

PRICE, $3.00 Per Month.

LEAGUE'S WORK.

Soviet And Poison Gas.

BRITISH DELEGATES ARRIVE.

Coolidge Opposes Russia's Proposals.

Geneva, Saturday.

M. Litvinoff told a Reuter cor-

"Your Eyes Are Safe With. Ua.”

N. LAZARUS

liong Kong's Only European Optician. (Established Over Forty Years). Manager:-RALPH A. COOPER, M.A.0.A., Registered Optometrist by Canadian Govt. Exam,

(Personal Attention).

LALOR'S

RANSOM.

YANG SEN LEVIES TAX ON MERCHANTS.

FULL SUM NOT OBTAINED.

Chinese Military Start in Pursuit To-day,

A Fire at Night-Then a Cry of Invaders!

News from Shekki confirms the The preliminary Kuomintang rumour that the Kwangsl mili VERY VALUABLE CORN SHIPMENT ASTRAY IN PIRATES' ZONE.-conference met again at General tary faction, on withdrawing respondent that the Soviet yester- CABLE FAILS TO REACH CAPTAIN LALOR AT PAIYANG. Chiang Kai-shek's residence this from the Heungshan district into day signed, their adhesion to the

Demands have been made on the Chinese public by General afternoon and there are possibili- the interior after their superiors protocolemning the use of pot

Sir Austen Chamberlain and other Yang Sen to contribute to the amount demanded by the "Biangtan" Consternation was felt in the Kongmoon area on Saturday morn-ties of the meetings lasting had been toppled over at Canton sonous and asphyxiating gas in war. ing when a big fire broke out in the city as the predecessor to a several days. There appears to by the Ironsides, took away a for

This of the League Council, and M. chiefly arising out of the Canton Central Bank of China:

money was in the Bank's office at Briand and the French delegation, Jepisode,

There are ten resolutions be- Shekki and is believed to have in-arrived this morning by the same Order was restored when the mythical foe was identified as a fore the conference, as follow: cluded $100,000 in silver (Canton train.

The thirteen Russian delegates 1.-Abolition or maintenance 20 cent pieces) and $800,000 in

have gone to Moscow this week-end. friend making a pre-arranged signal for operations to begin.

of the Special Central Com- notes issued by the bank.

No Crisis at Kongmoon. M. Litvinoff stated to Reuter:- mittee and other organisa-i

Hitherto the bank's paper "Our work is finished." tions created by that body.

superscribed "Heung- 2.--Organisation of the Stand- money,

ing Committee. 3.-Reorganisation of all de-

wild rumour that the Ironsides-or their bandit accomplices-had be an atmosphere of indecision, tune from the local branch of the members of the British delegation pirates for the ransom of Captain Lalor.

reached the outskirts of the place.

The city blaze began at one o'clock on Saturday morning (or. Friday night) and lasted two hours, doing considerable damage and causing a number of engualties which have not been ascertained yet.

GERMAN. WAR RAIDER EMULATED.

About 9 am, a hundred armed men were seen on top of the heights opposite the Customs House, waving a large white flag. Such intelligence was con- strued by the people of Kongmoon city to be the route of the militia at Ngoi-hoi, 14 miles below Pakka, the victors being Iron- sides or bandits. There was no gunboat at Pakkai at the time. and an attack was feared.

Later in the day it was learned that the "white flag" men were the village guards of Chiu-lin, signalling to the garrison at Pak- kai (the port of Kongmoon), for the combined start on a raid on a bandit lair at Ho-tong.

Corn Shipment Missing.

vantage of their friendliness with the Ironsides to increase their power without doing much in the war with the Kwangsi faction. the latter (according to Shanghai| cables) having the support of the Nationalist Government at Nan- king.

The Ironsides are asking Mr. Wang Ching-wei to return to help' their cause.

No fighting has been recorded but it is expected that the Iron- sides will begin moving this week against pro-Kwangsi factions in Kwangtung.

WAR DECLARED,

Calm prevailed at 11 am, but Nanking Government Denounces!

it was whispered that the Can- Itonese Ironsides were due to ar- (rive that sume day (Saturday) by wo routes, one direct and the other from Shekki, the capital of Heungshan district.

***

Ironsides.

Shanghai, Saturday. The Nationalist Government at Nanking to-day, issued an edict dismissing General Chang Fah-

should have arrived at Pakkai | ton forthwith.

from Kum-tau-wan, in the Heung- ehan district-which the Iron-

sides entered on the Kwangsi gar- [rison withdrawing-did not turn Top, and speculation is rife as to whether it has been stopped by the Ironsides or seized by pirates who infeat the neighbouring waters.

partments of the Kuomin- tang headquarters. 1.-Organisation of the Politi-]

cal Committee. 5.-Reorganisation of the N-

tionalist Government. 6.-Confirmation or rejection of the resolutions passed by Nanking and by Hankow. 7-Registration of members of

the Kuomintang. 8.-Convening the third con- ference of Nationalist presentatives. 9.-Discussion of other points

raised.

10.-Fixing the time and place for holding the fourth plen- Iary session.-Reuter.

SHANGHAI DEFENCE FORCE.

£5,000,000 More 'Wanted.

Geneva, Saturday. The Security Committee will meet on February 20 and the Prepara- tory Disarmament Commission meet on March 15. The Disarmament Conference will probably hold its course in 1928.

To find the money, General Yang Sen's officials at. Ichang are' levying a stamp tax, but the full sum has not been collected. This has not deterred the Chinese authorities who are setting out after the outlaws. ·

From the trend of the messages to hand it appears that a tangi- ble, position will have been reached in a day or two.

OPTIMISM ON PROSPECTS OF RELEASE.

Yangtze river.

upper

Expeditions Leaving, According to British Naval Wireless messages sent from

Two members of the Chinese crew were killed and several per- sons wounded when Captain Lalor was captured.-British Wireless Service.

M. Litvinoff, supported by Count

Important developments have lease, and have already establish- London, Yeserday..

Bernstorff, urged that the Prepara- taken place during the week-ended communication with Captain Apparently Mr. Winston, tory Commission should meet on following the capture of Capt. Lalor.

General Yang Sen, who controls Lalor, of the British s.s. "Siang- Churchill's hope to be able to January 10.

this section of the Yangisze, has Lord Cushendun opposed and the tan" by pirates on the pay the cost of the Shanghai De-

at the request of the British, sent by Force fence

operations economies in other directions has proposals were eventually set aside.

It is persistently rumoured that The local Chinese authorities two parties to round up the pirate been frustrated owing to the pro- longation of the situation. Con-Litvínoff satisfactorily interviewed under General Yang Sen have gang.

The British gunboats "Bee" Mr. Jeremiah Smith, the American ordered a levy on native mer- resequently, in the coming week, ask the the Government will

member of the League's Financial chants with which to obtain the and "Mantie" have proceed to where "Aphis" and to voto

Commission regarding an American ransom demanded by the pirates; Ichang, House of Commons Supplementary Estimate from Loan to Rusela in exchange for con- and two British gunboats are due "Gnat" are already stationed.

cessions to the United States. at the scene to-morrow. the War Office to the end of the financial year for an amount in the neighbourhood of £6,000,000. Both deny that they met.-Reuter.

Washington, Saturday. --Reuter.

President Coolidge declared that Litvinoff's disarmament proposals shan" was readily accepted at par could not apply to the United States Ichang yesterday, the local (Chin- (with small silver coins) in as the regular forces had been re-ese) Bank states that it has been which was levied to obtain the several districts and in Macao but duced to a mere police force. He unable to collect the stamp tax did not believe that the entire aban-

necessary funds for ransom. they are refused, now. Shanghai, Yesterday.

However, rumours that the donment of the United States naval

is not forthcoming, the Chinese The troops of Marshal Feng Bank's branch at Kongmocn is in armaments would help the welfare However, even if the full amount Yu-hsiang (the Kuominchun)

. A telegram has been sent re- similar condition, have not been of the world at present. Reuter's military expedition will leave to-

day with what money is available garding Lalor at Paiyang propos claim to have occupied Hsuchow-

to catch up and deal with the ing to effect the release on Mon- being paid out on presentation of fu, in Kiangsu province on Satur- borne out. 'Silver coin is still American Service.

pirates.. day night.

notes, but each individual is re- stricted to So at a time. doors are crowded with people who prefer silver.

Strict Watch on Money.

WHICH IS TRUE? North and South Both Claiming

Successes.

wwww..com

This report is believed to be

but

The

STEPS TAKEN.

Scottish Missionary to Meet Pirates.

day.

Shanghai, Saturday.

appear with

No reply has yet been received.

Arrangements Progressing.

Shanghai, Saturday. The arrangements for the re- lease of Captain Lalor are going forward.

The bandits demanded a ran-, som of $60,000.

Communication has been

Sir A. Chamberlain in Paris. Rugby, Yesterday. Sir Austen Chamberlain, who left

Naval intelligence indicates A Scottish missionary, named The Ironsides did not turn up kuei and General Wong Ki correct in spite of a denial from

London yesterday for Geneva to at that the Chinese authorities are Tocher, will go down in a launch tend the League Council meeting, aware of the pirate leader's iden-until the pirates Jon Saturday, and uneasiness was cheung, denouncing them as Peking.--Reuter.

Peking, Yesterday.

which opens on Monday, spent a few tity and of the district from which Lalor and then commence nego- felt yesterday.

traitors and pro-Communists, and

tiations. According to Northern claims,

An embargo has been placed on hours in Paris, and dined with the the gang came. A large shipment of corn worth ordering the Military Council to

Attempts to communicate with several lakhs of dollars, which commence hostilities against Can- Suchow (in. Anhui province) was the export of silver coin from British Ambassador before proceed-

week ago endangered A

ful so far. A telegram to him This signifies a definite split. Northern counter-attacks repulsed Pukkal, the part of hd to cong by the same train as the French Capt. Lalor have not been success-British Naval Wireless.

The session of the Preparatory was sent to Paiyang but was not On the other hand, the import Commission for Disarmament Con- delivered as it was reported that recaptured Nansuchow and Ku- only $50. between Canton and the Nanking the Nationalists; the Northerners each person being allowed to carry Foreign Minister, M. Briand: Kuomintang members.-Reuter.

chen, the Nationalists withdraw-

February 20 there. [Note: The two dismissed Gen-ing south of the Huai River and of bank notes issued by the ference concluded with yesterday's the pirates had moved on from

Bank's head office in Canton is meeting at Geneva.

Meanwhile, General Yang Sen On arrival there, was fixed na the date for the meet- erals are commander-in-chief and concentrating at Pengpu. second-in-command of the Iron-

Latest news about Marshal prohibited.

Latest Precautions. sides who overthrew the Canton Feng Yu-haiang's Kuominchun is passengers are subject to search ing of the Security Committee set is reported to have left Ichang,

decided to hold the next session of administration, and put them that they are fighting in the vici- by police loyal to the Kwangs up by the Commission, and it was

faction.

on Rear Admiral Tweedie (British established with Lalor through selves in power.]

nity of Kweiteh in Honan pro

Merchants are forbidden under the Preparatory Commission vince.-Reuter.

and it is hoped to effect his release severe penalties to discount the March 16. Hopes were expressed Senior Naval Officer on the Yang- the Paiyang Telegraph Office and

H.M.S. "Bee" The paper that the Disarmament Conference tsze), on

at shortly.-British Naval Wireless, current note issue.

"Mantis" are due dollar is now 40 per cent. below would be held next year-British H.M.S.

Ichang to-morrow, having been

RANSOM REDUCED. hurriedly called to the scene Hong Kong money, whereas de- Wireless Service.

from Hankow, 370 miles further

Hopes Entertained For An Early down the river..

Release. Presumably, to prevent recur-

According to a Reuter's mess- rnilitary authorities have stopped communication between British age from Shanghai on Saturday night the ransom for Captain on the river at Ichang and the Lalor has been reduced to $60,000. shore, no sampans being permitt- The bandits are threatening to

"MOWN DOWN."

Graphic Story of Bandits' Plot.

Subsequent news of the siege of Lai-ngok by bandits-reported in Saturday's "China Mail" is that the notorious outlaw chief, Chan Lut, was at the head of the at-

LIKE THE "EMDEN."

Warship Raider Secures Nine

Prizes.

The Nationalist torpedo-gun- boat "Feiying," which left Canton

POLITICAL WEITER. Earlier Cable About Shanghai Convention.

Shanghai, Saturday.

members were

Thirty-three

FRESH FINE.

BANISHEE BACK. The weather report issued by FIVE RETURN HERE IN TWO rence of similar attacks, the local

Observatory to-day

recently when the Ironsides over-present at the preliminary meet tack and that he received seven threw the Kwangsi military facing this afternoon at which the the Royal wounds. He and six other ban- dit leaders are suspected to have tion, is emulating the German edict against Canton was men-

discussed matters with Ironside jagents in Macao.

cruiser "Emden" in some re- !spects.

tioned, but it was not discussed, though General Li Chai-sum is a belligerent.

stated:-

The typhoon in crossing the Visayas in the form of a shallow depression. It may increase in intensity on entering the China Sca.

fine.

Still loyal to the Kwangsi fac-

Mr. Sun Fo proposed the Caught in a Plantation.

Fresh monsoon may be expert- Seven of the bandits were tion, the "Feiying" has been re-formation of an Agenda Com

ed over the northern portion of mittee which would "shroff" 'the captured. These will be shot ported to have reached Swatow.

the China Sea and cyclonic gales after trial by a military tribunal. Now she is mentioned as hover-resolutions for a plenary session.

over the S.E.' portion. Mrs, Liao Chung-kai strongly As stated on Saturday, the ing along the coast, having cap-

Forecast:-N.E. winds; fresh; bandits suffered about a hundred tured a pro-Ironsides armed opposed this, pointing out that

The following cables from casualties. Through their fleet of patrol boat and eight merchant a similar manoeuvre was carried junks becoming stuck in the mud, ships which she has taken as out by Mr. Sun Fo in Hankow Manila have been received by the U.S. Consulate, General, Hong they fled by way of the palm-tree prizes.

Kong: plantations at Sam-sha, where they wore mown down merciless- ly by the militia and the reinforce- ments of Kwangsi troops.

WUCHOW'S FATE.

Ironsides' Claim to Capture of the Port.

Claims to the "peaceful" cap ture of Wuchow, the first port of Kwangsi, have been made in the Canton papers.

8 HOURS DAY.

TROUBLE IN GERMAN INDUSTRY.

EMPLOYERS' THREAT.

Berlin, Yesterday.

carlier in the year and resulted in the Hankow Agenda Committee foisting a Communist Govern- ment on the Nationalist party,

Nanking Flouted.

A prominent member of the Nanking Government, interview- ed, was most reticent. Asked whe ther it would not be better to de- lay the Canton edict till after the plenary session, he remarked that the Nanking Government had reen flouted and immediate ac- tion was necessary.

A well-known member of the

10.30 a.m. (4th) twphoon in about 190 degrees Long. E. and 10 degrees Lat. N.; direction un- known.

9 a.m. (5th) typhoon in about 124 degrees Long. E. and 13 degrees Lat. N., moving W.N.W., 9.15 a.m. (6th)-The typhoon is crossing between Luzon and the Western Visayas in the form of a shallow depression. It may increase in intensity in the China Seo..

News from the West River, however, is that Ironside units have progressed westwards to Takhing and even to Dosing, but a decree by the Ministry for La-ernment Special Central Com- have not entered Wuchow yet. bour providing that an eight-hours mittee purposely to break up the The surtax of 10 per cent. im-

The main Ironsides camp is day be strictly executed from plenary session. still at Samahui.

January 1, also demanding an in- Meanwhile there does seem to be crease in wages.. some truth in the statement that the Kwangsi leaders at Wuchow are uneasy and ready to withdraw up-country at a moment's notice. HOSTILITIES SOON:

Trouble has arisen in the Ger-ex-Hankow Government express- man iron and steel industry owing ed the opinion that the edict had preciation on silver coin is only to the Trade Unions insisting on been issued by the Nanking Gov-128.4 per cent.

DAYS.

LONGER TERMS IN JAIL.

No fewer than five banisheesed to, go alongside. had returned to the Colony with-

Messrs, Butterfield and Swire kill the Captain if an attempt is The authorities have establish- in two days. This was the in- (China Navigation Company), to made to round them up. formation given to Major C. Will whom the "Siangtan" belonga, son at the Central Magistracy and Messrs. Jardine, Matheson this morning by Sub-Inspector and Company (Indo-China S.N. Vincent, in charge of Police Re- Company), have suspended sail cords, who asked his Worship to ings to Ichang for the time being

Communication Broken.

Shanghai, To-day. make an example of a man in the dock.

which

The

served three

had

ed communication with Captain

presented General Yang Sen, who Lalor and hopes are entertained for his early release. They have is controlling that section of the Yangtaze, with a demand for the immediate despatch of two parties of soldiers to effect his re- accused

Communication months in 1920 for "felony" and been established by the Naval lease, and it is believed that a a similar term in 1921 for larceny authorities with Captain Lalor Naval concentration is taking after which he was banished for have been broken owing to the place at Ichang. His Majesty's a period of ten years. He was pirates, with their captive, re- "Bee" has already gone there found in the Colony during the moving further inland, but the from Hankow. week-end, having returned before Naval authorities believe that his banishment term had expired. they know the new location, and

The accused told the Magistrate

a email naval expedition for that. that he came back to disinter the place is starting from Ichang to-received great prominence here. remains of his parents in Shatin day. and take them to the country.

The Hero of the Hour.

London, Saturday. The capture of Capt. Lalor has

Stories of his career are publish- General Yang Sen left Ichanged and it is stated that he married Sentence of eight months' hard yesterday for an unknown destina- within two hours of sailing for China, a year ago, and that he tion.-Reuter. labour was passed.

left his bride at home, saying that he would return to England to fetch her when China was safe.-Reuter..

In the other Court, Mr. R. E.

Lindeeli had before him a man

PIRATES' THREAT,

Is Capt. Lalor's Life in the Balance.

Rugby, Yesterday.

who had also been banished for Press-Gangs at Work. ten years as recently as last year,

Insurance on Captain Lalor's Life.

London, Yesterday, and had returned after an absence posed by the local authorities on of a few months.

Captain W. H. Coombs, of the This man had three convictions payments to revenue bureaus of

Navigators and General Insurance About Canton.

The Chinese pirates, who cap-Co., Ltd, has informed Reuter Mr. Wang Ching-wei, interview- the Canton Government has been in 1926, and was finally banished The employers contend that the ed by Reuter, stated that the in suspension at Kengmoon since after he had served four weeks

the steamer "Siangtan" whilst insurance regarding the holding tion at Wanchai decree can only be carried out abolition of the Nanking Special the Ironsides' coup and the subse for stealing wood on the reclama-tured Captain Lalor, master of that the Company have arranged His Worship passed sentence of the vessel was at anchor during of Lalor against ransom. He Press-gangs were at work for gradually and that an increase in Committee was assured wherchy quent declaration of hostilities. wages is impossible without a the edict against Canton would

(chang, have demanded $60,000 sider that he is in any great risk, ten per cent. rise in prices, which ipso facto, become null and void the Kwangsi military faction at nine months' hard labour and 20 the night at Itu, en route to added: "Although we do not con- as ransom and have threatened to we to-day arranged with the Lon- would exclude products from the after which the decision of the Kungyick and Kongmoon, coolies strokes of the birch.

kill captive if any offensive den Insurance Market to pay a market. They have fourth plenary session would de being required to work in the

substantial sum should he be kill- steps against them are taken. Attack by Ironsides on Kwangsl world

threatened to close all works on cide the final policy of the Kuo- transport service which has been ordered to prepare for evacuation

The British authorities, how-ed or kept longer than six, Forces.

months-Reuter. January 1, falling a compromise, mintang in regard to Canton.

in the event of an invasion by the Ironsides. General Li Fook-lum's "Paper-which is regarded as very prob-

(Continued on Page 14.) sides" of Honam are taking ad-able-Reuter.

TO-DAY'S DOLLAR. The closing rate of the dollar, on demand, to-day was 2/0 5/16. lever, hope shortly to effect his re