CO129-490 - Public Offices - 1925 — Page 674

men664

the direction of Sungkiang so that in a very short time Chang Yun Ming's position was quite hopeless and his men were pressed back on the Siccawei creek which forms the

The line of defence boundary of the French Concession. established here last Autumn was quickly manned with volun- teers and police, and later in the day the International Settlement sent a force of volunteers and armoured cars to assist. At one time the French defences gave way and several hundred armed men poured into the French Conces- sion and for a time it seemed as if an extremely serious situation might arise until the line was restored and the

disarmed. On Monday the 12th, the fighting appeared to be over but 4000 of Chang Yun Ming's men had surren- dered to the French who requested the International Settle-

Further fighting, ment to assist in their interment.

men

however, broke out on the 13th. Chang Yun Ming, who had of course fled into the French Concession at an early stage of the fight, continued to direct operations from the house and office which he had prudently maintained there with the result that some 1500 men continued to hold out in the Siccawei Creek, while Chi was hampered by the French Consul-General's threat that his gun-boat would fire on any force attacking them. These men eventually also surrendered to the French authorities and the fighting finally ceased although looting and burning continued for some time longer in the native city, suburbs and

surrounding villages.

During all this time remnants of Chen Yao San's defeated IVth Division had retreated to various places between Sungkiang and Shanghai, their only anxiety being to remain neutral and to avoid being involved in further fighting. This led to a curious and unprecedented develop- ment on the 14th January when a complete and very well

equipped