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property and trade to the utmost, but, although the Yunnanese were short of ammunition, being better soldiers than the Cantonese, he hoped they might win through.
These Yunnanese troops are mercenary forces recruited from Yunnan by the late Sun Yat Sen, who, in order to keep them loyal, granted them monopolies of certain revenues in Canton. The Cantonese desired to regain control of these revenues.
C. C. Wu, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, went to Swatow and enlisted the services of General Hsu Chung Chi to lead the Cantonese army against the Yunnanese. Hostilities opened on the 6th June, and on the 13th June the Yunnanese were defeated and were fleeing from the city. left behind were ruthlessly massacred by the mob; many of these atrocities were Any unfortunate Yunnanese who were committed on the Shaki Bund, close to the French bridge leading on to the Shameen.
The general strike in Hong Kong and South China ports commenced on Saturday, the 20th June, when the different labour guilds decided to call a strike. It is known that the vast majority of the workers in Hong Kong were averse to leaving work, but were intimidated into doing so by threats to themselves and their families.
The first movement of the strike in Hong Kong was made by the senior students of Queen's College, who absented themselves on the 18th June. Meantime, nervous Chinese, anticipating trouble and rises in prices of food-stuffs, began to leave the colony for Canton; household servants left their employment one by one.
Then it became evident that matters had reached a head.
Onwards from Saturday, the 20th June, the following classes of workers began to
come out
June 20.-Some cargo-carrying coolies.
11
>>
፡
+
21
17
**
35
21. Electric Tramway Company drivers and conductors; some crews of
ocean-going and coastal boats.
22.-Chinese crew of steamship " Empress of Asia"; printers and compositors
of newspapers; butchers and pork staff fokles.
23.-Crews of notor-boats; employees of roast pork stalls and shops and cooks in restaurants; boys, cooks and amalis in employment of Europeans; poultry-stall employees; shoemakers; tailors. 24.-Clerks and office-boys of Messra. Butterfield and Swire's and some
other European firms: employees in beef and mutton stalls; bakers. 25.-Coal coolies; tallymen and other workmen employed at Kowloon godowns; clerks and office-boys in European firms who received threatening letters; fish-stall and vegetable-stall employees. 26.-Lift-boya employed by European firms. 27.--Seamen and engineers in some river steamers; "Star" Ferry Company's crews and staff; launches' crews; furniture makers; additional motor-boats' crews; silversmiths; clog makers; tea-box makers; Imports and Exports Guild coolies; carpenters.
29.-Employees of fruit dealers; waiters in tea-houses,
30.-Meter readers and meter workers of Electric Light Company,
The "Star" ferries were taken over by naval ratings, who were later relieved by civilians from amongst the officers and engineers of the China coast mercantile marine. Launches for essential harbour services were manned by naval ratings and volunteer Europeans.
The Hong Kong police received information on the 22nd June that ten of the leading strike agitators are Bolsheviks. Some of them have been to Russia this year, and it is reported that the Russians have given 600,000 dollars to the various labour unions in Hong Kong and Canton to go on strike. Eight of these are executive officers of the Chinese Seamen's Union. It is also reported that some members of the Dare-to-Die Society have been or will be sent down from Canton to set fire, throw bombe, &c.
A proclamation mobilising the Hong Kong volunteers for actual military service was issued by the Hong Kong Government; emergency regulations were introduced for the protection of life and property and the safeguarding of food supplies; rewards are offered for the apprehension of persons disturbing the peace of the colony; food, labour and transport controllers and a censor were appointed; special constables were enlisted, and the loyal public were generally called upon to render such assistance as is necessary to the life of the colony; military guards were posted at vital points, and naval and military demonstrations were organised; naval ratings were detailed for all
27
dockyard essential services, if required, the running of the electrical installation at Hong Kong, and manning and running of the harbour ferry service.
Canton.
A monster demonstration was organised to take place at Canton on the 23rd June. It was learned that a procession would march round the city, not as a mark of sympathy with the Shanghai students, but as an outward profession of anti-foreignism. The consul-general, Canton, sent a very strongly-worded letter of warning to C. C. Wu, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs. In this despatch he warned Wu that his Government must see that the procession was orderly.
The following ia the report of the senior naval officer, West Hiver, of the events of the 23rd June:-
"Commander Scott to Commodore, Hong Kong.
"Sir,
H.M.S. Tarantula, at Canton, June 24, 1925. "I have the honour to report that all Chinese employees on Shameen were called out on strike on Sunday morning, the 21st June. Launches' crews remained until the evening.
"On Sunday, the 21st June, the outlook for Shameen if trouble developed was not at all reassuring. The back creek was full of sampans and the water- level high.
"It was most important to get the creek clear, and the Chinese police promised to do so. They, however, did nothing, and next day the vice-consul called on Tscheu Wa, the Commissioner of Police, who at once, and in his presence, gave the order to have the creek cleared.
"Still, however, nothing was done, and it became obvious that the Chinese authorities would not do 80. I refrained from clearing it by force because of the great danger of precipitating trouble and giving the authorities a handle.
"On this day the Shameen special police were placed under my or lers, and I landed two Lewis gun detachments under command of officers, and placed one by the British bridge and one at the north-west corner of Shameen.
"Newa was received that evening that a monster demonstration would pass Shameen next day, and threats of attacking Shameen were made. C. C. Wu (Foreign Secretary) was seen by the vice-consul that day and again warned of their responsibilities; he rather ridiculed the idea, and said he knew nothing of any demonstration.
"I arranged to land our complete defence force for Shameen next day directly we got any definite news of the demonstration taking place. The night was quiet.
About 10 A.M. on Tuesday, the 23rd, the demonstrators were seen assembling, and the defence scheme was put into force. As the naval parties and the Shameen special police took up their posts they were hidden away as much as possible. My orders were that fire was only to be opened as a last resource if attacked.
"In the event of a few hot-heads trying to storm the gates or cross over to Shameen by means of any of the many sampans our men were to come out on to the bund and push them back again with rifle-butts, &c., but not to fire unless I
the order and in the case of extreme necessity.
gave
"The procession started to pass about 2:30 P.M., many thousands taking part, carrying the usual banners, &c. A few unarmed Chinese police were stationed outside the two bridges, and at the last moment a few armed soldiers were distributed along the far pavement about 50 yards apart. Everybody, except the consul-general and myself and four or five others, kept out of sight, and our side of the creek appeared empty to onlookers. We took up our position alongside the British bridge.
"All went peacefully, in fact peculiarly so, for some time til, at last, the doubtful element-viz., the students-appeared.
Behind them came a large
number of soldiers fully equipped. I could not see how far they extended, but understand they covered about half mile of ground,
"When the head of the students' contingent had just passed the British bridge, they halted. I noticed a man with the usual Red' emblems get up on the coaming just opposite us. He waved to others farther down and there was A few moments afterwards the leading
some commotion in the nearest side street. soldiers suddenly opened out; their head was then opposite the Victoria Hotel,
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