1926-09-04 — Page 5

Page

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS,

VILLAGERS' HATRED OF MUTINY OF WU PEI FU'S

די

PICKETS.

REWARDS FOR ATTACKING

THEM..

ELEVEN BICE MILLS CLOSE.

DEMANDS OF THE LABOUR UNIONS.

[FROM OUR CHINESE CORRESPONDENT.)

According to Kiang Tze Kui, an elder in one of the Samchun villages, A few miles from the Hongkong border, all the villagers hate the pickets. Kiang Tee Kui is being held by the Canton Strike Committee on the charge that some of the young men of his community. interfered with pickets on duty...

SUBORDINATES.

.:

AN ECHO OF THE STORM.

MARSHAL DEPOSED FROM HIS BOULDER'S CRASH INTO NO. 3

COMMAND.

CANTON CELEBRATION. REPORTS OF THE CAPTURE OF HANKOW.

A large parade is being organised in Canton to-day to celebrate the capture of Wachang and Hanyang by the Kuo- mintang forces.

.4

It is reported in Canton that Hankow also has been captured, but there is no confirmation of this from the North Some oredence, however, is given to the ramour by the official announcement that Marshal Wu Pai Fu has been deposed by his subordinates and is virtually a pri- The Reuter message is dated Shanghai, September 3rd, and says:

soner.

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PUMPING STATION.

SOFTENED GROUND CAUSES

FALL 7..

ENQUIRY CONCERNING WORK- MEN'S DEATHS.

1

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4m 1926

was satisfied that the stone that was re- moved, if any, was taken practically: from the site of the station itself, prob ably for the station itself, but it was not taken from the hillside at the rear of the station.

Mr. Lindsell: According to appear. ances the stone quarry at the rear of the station was at one time a very large. one!

Witness: Yes. I think it may have been used in confection with the forts. The stone is weathered so," and it takes years for it to do so.

**

200 Feat.

In reply to further questions by Mr. Lindsell, it was ascertained that the boulder fell from the highest point,of the top of the face of the cliff, a matter

Mr. Lindsell: Are there many boulders of just over 200 16 projecting from this place?

Witness: There is "one other boulder

One of the incidents of the great storm of July 18th-19th, the crashing of a huge boulder, weighing several thousand tons, into the rear of the No. 3 Pumping Station at Pokfulam, was recalled at the Central Magistracy yesterday afternoon, which this boulder was resting against.

ying further down and slightly project- where Mr. R.. E. Lindsell, sitting as There appears to be other large boulders. Coroner with a jury, opened an enquirying from the face of the cliff. We can concerning the deaths of four. Chinese not tell the extent of them because they coolic Workmen who were killed in conie- are covered with earth.

.. Peking correspondent says it is offie quance of the fall of this immense did you visit the top and so this place ? |

The North China Daily News's ally reported in Peking that his sub- ordinates have deposed Wu Pei Fu from his command at Hankow and he is virtually a prisoner on warship in the Yangtze.

boulder.

De

rest

It may be recalled that about a fort- night ago a village near the Sumchur

This boulder fell, on the morning of Station on the Canton-Kowloon Railway

July 19th, from the hillside at the reur board of the pumping station, from a height of to rescue volunteers.

BO220 rent out

over 200 feet, and obliterating trees and travellers from Chinese territory to

As the successes of the Southern forces other things in its downward fight it Hongkong who had fallen into the hands

seem to have been gained by the com-hurtled through the east end of the of the pickets. The villagers took some paratively simple process of incorporat pumping station practically demolishing

section, finally of the pickets themselves into custodying in their army the troops who were this und it now transpires that regarding supposed the opposing them, there is no solid ground for disbelieving the the pickets as a great nuisance, the report that Hankow has come under their villagers had "banded themselves together jurisdiction.

At any rate the troops loyal to Wu Pei to suppress them as far as possible. Ar are, according to the vernacular fund of $14,000, to which firms and in paper, fleeing in all directions and if this dividuals contributed, had been raised is so the fall of Hankow can only be a and a villager was to be rewarded with qucation of a few days even if it is not

already occupied $10 for attacking a picket and with $100. for killing.one.

Rice Mills Closed.

HANYANG ARSENAL. According to Canton reports the South ern troops after the capture of Wuchong planned to cross the river to

attack

Mr. Lindsell: Prior to this collapse

Witness: No.

Mr. Lindsell: Is there any access to the plaed

Witness: You can get to the top from the conduit, but these boulders were covered with a considerable amount of earth.

Mr. Lindsell: This boulder which fell was one which lay side by side with an- other boulder at the top of the quarry face! A

Witness: Yes

on top of the main pump, which was The store rooms completely wrecked. were crushed like match-box and one was

Mr. Lindsell: You are satisfied that it totally demolished.

Four bodies were subsequently recover.must have been covered with a consider- ed from the debris, while there is possable amount of earth?

Witness: Yes, and from which grew ibly a fifth still buried there,

undergrowth and trees, etc.

Opening the enquiry Mr. Lindsell said that as the result of the fall of the

boulder there were the casualties man- tioned: It would be for the jury to determine whether this was an act of God, which could not be prevented, or whether foresight as to the danger of

occasioned steps to be taken to prevent

its fall.

Multiple Injuries.

Rice mills in Sunwui City and 2008 Hanyang but were delayed owing to bad the position of the boulder could have į moon, number eleven altogether, are now suspending operations, because of the demands of the three labour unions which control the workers there. The workers want an increase of from 30 to 70 per cent. in wages and demand a bonus as cording to the amount of rice milled daily.

The Commercial Press, Canton Branch, has been ordered by the Kuomintang in Canton not to sell any more school certi- ficates and diploma forms, as the sale of these forms has been reserved to the Kuomintang public printer. It is the intention of the Kuomintang public printer to insert the picture and last testament of the late Dr. Sun Yat Sen in every diploma and certificate.

Communist Club Rooms.

The Central Labour Union in Canton has again petitioned for the release from Police custody of its eight leaders who were arrested on August 8th on a charge of having incited the attack on the Kue mintang Workers Delegate Conference. The Central Labour Union especially emphasises in its petition that it bas never received any aid from Mr. Chan Lim Pak, former commandant of the Canton Volunteers.

The arrest of the Central Labour Union leaders has had the effect of discouraging the smaller unions from further identify ing themselves with that body. The Communist Party in Canton, under the advice of M. Borodia, is opering a number of club rooms in the Western Suburb to attract the workers.

REQUEST TO PROHIBIT THEM FROM PRACTISE.

weather conditions. Then Liu Teo Lung, commander of the 19th Division of the Hupeh, Army, declared that he would lead his troops to attack Wu Pei Fu. At the same time he sent a delegate to Wuchang to welcome the Southern forces, In this way Hanyang fell without a single bullet being fired. It is reported that everywhere in Hanyang flags of the Kuomintang Party are to be seen "glori- ously dying."

It is stated that General Liu Tso Lups

with was always dissatisfied

Wu's tyranny and for long had the inten- tion of submitting to the Kuomintang Government. When the news reached time of the fall of Wuchang he at declared martial law and prevented Wu Pei Fu's troops from retreating along the Peking Hankow Railway.

Dr. J. C. Craig, Government Medical Officer in charge of the Victoria to Mortuary, gave, evidence relative carrying out a post-mortem examination and said that the three dead coolies whom he examined had all received very bad multiple injuries, including crushed limbs and badly lacerated bodies. Death was due to the shock, and their injuries were consistent with having fallen below a heavy fall of debris.

Partly Demolished.

Percolated Through.

Mr. Lindsell: I think that during the early morning of July 19th something like 18 inches of rain fell, which is pheno menal Was there any sign of water going where this boulder was?

Witness explained that the boulder which fell formed the apex of a small water shed, and from observations be formed the opinion that the water would drain off on either side of the boulder. It was possible, however, that water hid percolated through between the two boulders, and thus have softened the ground underneath, although it must have taken years to do so. He imagined that a certain amount of water had percolated betwen the two stones into the earth, loosened the ground below, which gave way and caused the boulder to fall. There was no evidence of any great sub- sidence or washout of earth below the boulder, but the surface might have been weakening for many years as the reck below deteriorated.

No Undue Projection.

MrLindsell To your personal know- ledge of the quarry face was there any signs of undue projection at the top?

Mr. C. J. Tacchi, Inspector of Works Department, P.W.D., and engineer in charge of No. 3 Pumping Station, said that he lived in the "quarters above the In reply to a further question by the Pokfulam Pumping Station. About 9 SUN CHUAN FANG.

a.m. on July 19th he went with the No. 1 Coroner, witness said that he did not There seems still to be some consider Chinese of the pumping station to theece how the collapse could have been pro-

vided: against or prevented. áble doubt regarding the attitude of scene of the calamity and found that a Marshal Sun Chuan Fang. At one time large boulder had come down from the it was thought that he would throw his billside and practically demolished the whele weight into the scale on the side east end of the pumping station, and had come to rest on top of the large pump. of the Northern troops. According to messages from the North, however, Mar- The storerooms had been wrecked by the shal San has just issued a proclamation fall of the boulder, one being totally pointing out that too mary false and demolished and one partially so. malicious rumours are rife, all of which In the course of the day three dead tend to disturb the peace. There is no bodies of ceclies were extricated from foundation whatever to them, he says, the wreckage and some days later the He, Marshal Sun, has hitherto adopted body of a fourth. a policy of "pas ching an min" (armed neutrality) and this is al stand which be

Not Unsafe.

Witness: No, your Worship..

Witness: I do not think" there was. It was set back from the edge of the slope quite a considerable distance. There was' actually a level ledge between it and the top of the quarry face, and at the present time this ledge is about 20 feet wide. At the point where the boulder fell the quarry face was not sheer, but sloped.

Inspection by Officers.

Mr. Lindsell: Is there any inspection will continue to take. Rumours cannot Mr. Lindsell: Has it occurred to you by your department at all of dangerous. be permitted to pass. with impunity and that any projection of the cliff was un-slopes of this kind behind buildings in

the Colony 1 so all are strictly warned against dis vafe! seminating false reports, otherwise he will adopt severe measures in dealing with them. The local authorities are ordered to keep watch for rumour-mongers, and to arrest them and punish them to the fullest extent of the law.

Mr. Lindsell: Do you know how that eli eame to be made; why it was 30 sheer

Witness: I cannot say. It does not come within my "personal knowledge.

In reply to a further question, witness said that he understood that one time it had been intended to use this, part for stone quarrying, but the site had been abandoned and not worked.

Witness there is any particularly dangerous spot, such as boulders and cur tings of height," the Building Ordinance Officers keep an eye on all cuttings, and if they notice anything in the course of their visits of inspection, either old or new cuttings, which might be dangerous, they report it. No special examination is made of boulders on the hillside un lesa the attention of the officers is called to them.

In answer to Mr. Lindsell, witness said sand tons. He had visited the scene of that the boulder weighed several thou the collapse for the first time that morn ing, but a P.W.D. engineer visited the scene on, the morning of July 19th.

Diverted Course.

Arrangements for the defence of the Woosung Forts and the Kaochangmiao Arsenal have been completed, due precau- tions having been taken against possible attacks. Chinese gunboats, loyal to Mar- shal Sun, have been posted at Woosung

An Old Quarry. and on the upper reaches of the Huangpu River, near the Arsenal, and no boats are Mr. R. S. Vergette, Inspector of FOREIGN AUDITORS IN CHINA. Dermitted to coor near either of these Works in the Building Ordinance Office, places at night. Arrangements are being P.W.D., questioned regarding the site at made for the search of vessels coming the back of Pokfulam Road pumping from Canton, it being thought that pro station, said that two permits had been fessional Bolshevik propagandists have obtained for quarrying, stone in that

Mr. Lindaell, referring to the course the been arriving with Red literature and vicinity, but not in the particular area

of the quarry in which the boulder fell.rock took in its fall, asked whether Mr. At the back of the pumping station there Vergette could explain why it should was an old stone quarry, which, accord- swerve in a left-handed direction on its ing to records, had not been used for downward flight. at least twelve years, and personally he Witness replied that there were other understood it had not been work in for boulders about halfway down and be at least twenty years. The two permita formed the opinion that the boulder in were issued between 1917 and 1919, but falling struck these rocks and was thus neither of them actually affected this diverted from its original course and then site. The permits applied to a site lower fell on to the pumping station. down, and on a much lower lever. He boulder turned lengthways, after striking

the rocks below.

AN APPEAL FROM PEKING AND TIENTSIN ASSOCIATION,

(Asiatic News Service.)

TIENTAIS.

The Auditors' Association of Peking and Tientsin has submitted a petition to the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of Agriculture and Commerce, requesting that foreigners should be prohibited from "ucting as auditors for the Chinese,, and that Chinese auditora should be treated in a similar way to lawyers. It was pointed out that in other countries po person of foreign nationality was allow ed to be an auditor.

In the 1st article of the Provincial Auditors Law, it was expressly laid down that only a Chinese citizen of over 30

$205."

WHITE RUSSIANS WANTED. Marshal Chang Chung Chang, Tupan of Shantung, is understood to have seat agents to Shanghai to recruit unemploy ed White Russians for his army. These men are being paid 830 apiece for ex- penses whilst on their way to Tsinaniu Already some 80 have been enrolled. Marshal Chang has 3,500 White Russians in his army at the present time.

WU PEI FU BETRAYED." All the advices, received from the North tend to show that Marshal Wu Pei Fu was taken completely by surprise and betrayed by his own men.

A message from Hankow, from the Asiatic News Service on August 25th

BLYS:

Marshal Wa Pei Fr returned here this early morning and he immediately, pre- sided over a special conference of North- ern commanders for the discussion of the Hunan situation. Although Marshal Wu assumed Chief Command of the combined Hunan and Hupeli forces he does not as really serious. regard the situation

Fears of age should be allowed to prac The resignation of Generals Chao Heng tise as na duditor, and that no foreigner Ti and Li Chi Tseng was rejected by of any nationality should be engaged as Marshal Wu and they have left Hankow auditor. Of late, however, foreign audi- for Tungchen and Pachi to assume.com- Two divisione of mand at the fronts. tors had established their offices in Tien- Kiangsu and Chekiang troops have ar tsin, and Shanghai, and had been engaged rived at Pinghsiang; but without special orders of Marshal Sun Chuan Fang, they to andit account of the Chinese firma in will not cross the borders to support the the interior, signing certificates and Northern troops. ksuing notices in the press.

MUKDEN'S OPINION.

In connection with the Kuomintang success in Hunan, General Yang Yu Ting,

(Continued on next Column.)

Arsenal, is quoted as having declared to interviewers as follows

As the strength and equipment of the Kuomintang troops in Human are much weaker than the Kucminchun in the North-West, the situation in the Central Yangtze districts admits of no pessimism in apite of the initial reverses suffered by the Northern troops at Yochow. General Yang expressed his belief that. Marshals Wu Pei Fu and Sun Chuan Fang were capable of denl ing successfully with the Kuomintang: but in case of need, in the pursuance

+

The

The Foreman of the Jury asked whether the boulder projected over the top of the cliff face at any time before the accident.

Witness replied that he did not think it possible for it to have projected over... If it did it would only be a small por- tion, because it was covered with earth,

In answer to a further question, witness said he did not consider that the boulder would have been dangerous as it was covered with earth and to all appearance before the collapse the two boulders referred to were one.

.11

„Turned Over." Replying to a further query, witness of the Chang-Wu- co-operation agree said the boulder feil either by turning. ment, he said, Fengtien would render over or by slipping out from underneath. the water softened all possible assistance in arms and In his opinion funds. Furthermore, if the actual aid the ground beneath the boulder and of the Fengtien army was required by turned it over, and it thus fell. Marshal Wu, Mukden would not hesi Further evidence was given by Chinese tate to despatch those crack regiments, workmen at the pumping station regard- which recently captured Nankow and ing the fall of the boulder and the ex- Kuyuan, to Hankow for the subjuga. trication of the dead coolies form beneath tion of the Cantonese. The Fengtien the debris

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The Ministries were requested to issue à Proclamation to the provincial autho. rities that foreign auditors should not be Chief of Staff to Marshal Chang Tao Lin | August 28th, and obviously the situation the scene immediately after the collapse that morning.

allowed to practice in China.

and Director-General of the Mukden (Continued on next Column.)

WEB

very difficult for Mr. leaders, therefore, saw no cause for Another Export to be Called. anxiety or alarm'

Mr.. Lindsell commented that it was Vergette to do more than form an opinion The above message is dated Peking, desirable that the engineer who visited when he had not visited the scene until In reply to a question by Mr. Lindsell has now materially changed through the on the morning of July 19th should be

it was stated that the question of com defection of Wa Pei Fa's own troops. (Continued at foot of nert Column.)

pensation to the deceased coolies' rela- tives was under consideration by the Governmtnt.

At this stage, Mr. Lindsell adjourned the enquiry, and left with the jury visit the scene of the collapse.