CO129-499-2 Canton situation- governor's despatches 15-1-1927 - 4-2-1927 — Page 71

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Extract from the South China Morning Post

of 5.1.27.

71

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LABOUR TROUBLES.

Railwaymen Fight With Machine-Guns.

FURTHER INCIDENTS

LIKELY.

(From a Correspondent.)

Canton, Jan. 3.

To-day, the railway labour war was resumed. Three hundred arm- ed railwaymen in iron-clad cars made an attack on the mechanics in the Three Eyed Bridge Station of the Canton-Samshiu railway.

Five hundred mechanics, who oc- cupied the railway station on the previous day, defended it with machine-guns, but retired later in the day.

This morning one hundred armed mechanics marched to Shekwaitong station to attack the railwaymen. They were defeated, however, but both sides suffered heavy, casual- ties, the number of deaths being estimated at over 30.

The railwaymen of the Canton- Samshiu railway have declared a strike, so as to continue their fight with the mechanics.

The workers of the Yueh-han and Canton-Kowloon railway will also stop work, in order to help the Canton-Shamshiu men.

It is reported that a general out- break of hostilities between the two factions of labour unionists in the city will take place in the city, and street battles with rifles and

are by the unionists guns pected this time.

ex-

Both Labour Headquarters will call general strikes of their union and everything in the city will be at a complete standstill.

Alleged "Squeeze.”

men,

The Union of Sincere Company Workers yesterday had three of the staff of the Company arrested, on a charge of "squeezing the com- pany's money."

Hotel Workers.

The hotel workers, who are on a general strike, held a parade yes- terday to demonstrate that they will never return to work unless their demands are granted by the "imperialist capitalists."

Motor-Car Drivers.

The motor-car chauffeurs union has requested the Government to reduce the charge for chauffeurs licenses. They threaten to strike if their request is not granted.

Police Action.

Canton, Jan. 4. General Li Chai-sum, believing the recent troubles among the la- bourers to be agitated by anti- revoluntionaries, so as to disturb the public peace in the city, has ordered the Police Commissioner, Chin Tai-kwai immediately to put a stop to the movement by despat- ching more detectives to search the hotels and boarding houses on the Bund for undesirables.

The Bureau of Agriculture and Labour has given strict instruc- tions to the various labour guilds to stop the workmen from fight- ing.-Wah Kiu Yat Po.