1929-11-18 — Page 5

CANTON FIGHTING "BACK TO THE

WALL."

TREACHERY AND, BANDITS AT WORK.

IMPORTANT RAILWAY BRIDGE BLOWN UP..

BATTLE OPENS FOR NORTH RIVER.

THE HONG KONG. DAILY PRESS, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1929.

According to a Naval Wireless message from Wuchow the Kwangsi troops under Lui- Woon-Im, the Kwangsi C.-in-C and Chairman designate of the Provincial Government were disarmed on Saturday by Kwangtung forces. The situation is described us quiet. According to our Canton correspondent the troops were those of Wong Kuen, who has long been suspected of "Ironside sympathies.

Masters of river steamers arriving, from Wuchow, report that outwardly the city is quiet, but river trade is at n standstill. The entire front is nonopolised by junks. lunches and tug boats which the military commandeered and are loading with troops and mili

GREAT ACTIVITY AT WUCHOW. -

tary stores,

The A presor pontoon wharves belonging to the various ship- ping firms are also in the hands-of the military and steamers have had to muchor out in, the river.

On Thursday martial law was proclaimed and no boats of any kind were allowed to leave the waterfront without permission. All that day troops were being embarked and in the evening large numbers left for the North River front.

The Ironsides are estimated, in Wuchow, to be about 16,000 strong.

The Canton troops, have enroldssty allowed irregulars" or -bandita in league with Chang Fat Fui. to blow up an important bridge on the Canton-Hankow Railway, the vitally important artery of communiention. Fighting has started on the Little North River, but reports are conflicting as to whether" Ironsides. or only gaerilla adherents are engaged.

ANTI-BANDIT CAMPAIGN STARTED.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

CANTON, November 17. The situation in Kwangsi is re- ported to be critical. General Wong Kuen, who was bought over by Kwangtung, has finally thrown off the mask and joined the Iron sides. He is now trying to pre- vent the return of Major General

Tani Ting Kai and his men to

Canton and fighting is reported to have broken out yesterday between Kwangsi troops and Tsoi Ting Kai's men in the upper part of the West River. Wong Kuen' action is enusing much alarm to the Canton Higher Command and a military con- clave decided to deal with the new

enemy at once. Wong Kuen's troops are to be attacked by water, and and air and some seven airplanes carrying heavy bombs left Canton early on Saturday morning for Wu Rumours are current that Admiral Chen Chak has also left Canton for Wu how to assist Tsoi Ting Kal's army with his gunboat Astilla.

chow.

fallen to a minimum. Business has Fallen off and the passengers...are few. Military trains are, of course, running more frequently than ever before. transporting soldiers and supplies to the Little North River front. The whole permanent way from Cantor to Shiukwan is now, heavily guarded, the damage having been done!.

ALLIES OF THE IRONSIDES?

The bandits are believed to be in the pay of Chang Fat Fui, the lender of the

Ironsides and

their explosives are said to have been supplied by him with the in- structions to spread terror in the North River Districts preparatory

to his invasion of Kwangtung. Naturally the Canton-Hankow Rail way was singled out for destruction The gang is about 3,000 strong and is said to be, well organized, their leaders being Mok Hung and Liang Sau Ching, ex-aimy officers. They have been terrorizing the Little North River Districts for the past week or more and enll themselves THE IRONSIDES."

the vanguard of the Iron Army."

General Chen Teai Tong is launch- Where the "Ironsides are ating a big campaign against these this time is a matter of conjecture. irregulars realizing that they must General Chen Tani Cong stated in dealt with before the

aules arrive. Generals Yu Han an interview with the local Press- men that the Ironsides" have left Mow. Tau Tao Yuen and Colonel Kwangst and are now concentrating ong In Ching are each leading a in Southern Hunaa. But inforza "tion from independent sources con-

tradicts this

General Chen, Tani Tong's retura to Canton last Friday night was know beforehand to only his closest associates, and a reporter who went to the Military Hearquar- ters to ask Major-General Li Yang King about the return of General Chen Tsai Tong, was told that the General had already safely arriv el in Canton by special train which we had sent to Samshui for the purpose hours ago."

Meanwhile apprehension in' Can- ton is growing and is reflected in a further depreciation of the Central Bank of China notes. A few days they were quoted at 78 per cent. At noon on Saturday one could get as much as 79, cents to the paper dollar. But towards evening their value slumped to about 60 nr 67 per rent.

Iron-

handits and Cantonese troops from brigule of troops against these

Kwangs are being transferred to the Little North River Districts for the same purpose. A large number

bandit troops under Mok Hung ave been located in Kung Hui, town about 30 miles to the south of Lingsban, and fighting is going on

tween the opposing forces.

•

FIGHT ON NORTH RIVER.

of

PIRACY RUMOUR.

JARDINE'S SHIP REPORTS "ALL WELL.”

A rumour current in the Colony yesterday that a vessel had been pirated was investigated by a Daily Press representative. He was in. formed that at 12 noon the No. 4 Police launch or patrol duty ob served a"large steamer going in the direction of Bias Bay.

Apparently the vessel did not re- ply to the signals sent out by the patrol launch, and a message was immediately sent. to the Water Police Station, which WIK com- municated to the Naval duthorities. As a result of action taken by the latter, a message was received at 5.20 p.m. from the Commodore that the venel in question was probably the .. Chipshing, which, however, häd reported that all was well

A later message was received from H..S. Serapis at Bins Bay acknowledging the information sent out by the Police.

2

This is the second rumour during the past week, both of which, hap pily, have proved to be unfounded.

HIGH RENTS IN HONG KONG.

CHINESE BUSINESS MEN DEMAND GOVERNMENT

ACTION.

STRONG COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM.

The high rents prevailing in Hong Kong have been the subject of many complaints from Chinese as well as European- quarters and at-a-special-meeting held-on-Saturday night at the premices of the Twenty Four Trades Merchants' Guild, a Rest Problem Committee was formed to go throughly into the com plaints and into the conditions prevailing in different parts of the Colony with a view to collecting first hand information on the question.

It is hoped in the near future to obtain permission to hold a kaifong meeting at which members of the public can express their views, and, if it is generally agreed that all round reductions of rent, or some measure to prevent unreasonable increase of rent, is desirable, then the Government will be duly approached. "

THE STRUGGLE WITH BAD TRADE CONDITIONS.

Mr. Ho lu occupied the chair on Saturday and was supported by Mr. "Ho Kwong, the Chairman of the Twenty Four Trades Merchants Guild and the secretary of that in stitution. There was a very large ROUND THE COURTS. gathering present, being representa

FOUR WIVES ON $20 PER

MONTH.

A Canton-Kowloon Railway em- player was charged before Mr. T.. S. Whyte Smith at Kowloon Ma gistracy on Saturday with posses- sion of 8 taels of prepared.opium.

The opium was found under his girdle in a tin. He pleaded guilty and was fined $450 of two months

hard labour.

Detective Sergeant Humphreys, who prosecuted, said that the po- lice raided two flats at 62 Chatham

tives of various commercial and labouring organisations in Hong Kong...

Mr. Ho Kwong said that he re- membered that during the rice Wah Hospital sold rice and congee famine some years ago, the Tung

at a loss to relieve the aufferings of the poor and an appeal to the proved fruitful and money kuifangs for assistance had then readily forthcoming He saw no

Was

reason why the kaifongs should not stand together and support the committee over the rent question,

which indeed concerned the whole Colony.

The Chairman said that at the instance of the Twenty Four Trades

High Rents and Bankruptcy. Merchants Guild, A temporary committee with himself as chair. Mr. Cheung Wing, the Chairman man (pro tem), had been formed. of the Tung Tak Guild, made The formation of this committee lengthy and impressive speech in was due to the fact that the gen the course of which he said that eral trade outlook in Hong Kong since the Strike of 1925, the Colony was still very gloomy and com. had passed through a very gloomy plaints from firms and individuals period and the effects were still kept pouring in to the Twenty Four felt, principally among merchants Merchants' Guild and other similar and labourers. One would have bodies, The gist of all these com. thought that during trade depres plaints had been that it was diffi.sions, rents would go down, but in- cult to carry on Lusiness while considerate landlords had made matter of rent increases. These landlords were not restricted in the things more difficult by putting up He drew attention, to the number of failures and increases had been frequent, and re

liquidations in Chinese quarters and.

there had been instances where

failures.

Road and the defendant was ar at times unreasonably high, and said that high rents were no rested on the first floor while at business people had seriously con means the smallest factor in these tempting to escape.Th..defensidered closing down rather than be exploited by their landlords. dant claimed to be the foreman of a gang of coal coolies working for duced, said the Chairman, the

Unless some remedy was

intro

the Kowloon Canton Railway at Calany would probably be faced Hunghom, but the police were of with an economical criais. the opinion that the defendant car; ried on an opium trade. The de- fendant earned only $20 a month but kept four wives at his flat.

HAWKER ENGAGES A SOLICITOR.

Continuing, Mr. Ho Iu said that the matter was of great importance and did not only concern a few in dividuals or any one section of the community but it, was one in which the whole Colony was interested, It concerned the kaifong and it was up to the latter to direct how or what should be done by any committee which might be elected to go into the question. The meet-

A further point touched upon by large number of street sleepers to the speaker was the problem of the

be found in Hong Kong. People who had employment, carga coolies and the like. Frequently slept in the street, because their earnings did not enable them to obtain bath Food and shelter, the rent of houses being so high that even bed spaces could not be rented at a figure within the reach of such people, Something should be done to bring rents down to a reasonable figure.

A Committee Appointed. Mr. Wong Chak Mug, speaking. ing, said the Chairman, was simply as the representative of a big firm, to get the ideas of those who were of importers and exporters, said sympathetic towards the attitude of that the matter was of such wide those who had complained about spread interest that a committee of rents to the Twenty Four Trades public men should be formed to go Merchants' Guild.

into it. This was agreed to and among those elected were the fol lowing

Two hawkers were charged with causing obstruction on the footpath at Kimberley Road, Kowloon. One pleaded guilty and was fined $1.00. It was stated that the other de- fendant through his wife, had in- structed Mr. F. H. Loseby, of Messrs. Buss & Company," to deed the Chairman's remarks. fend him.

Government Action Urged. An interesting discussion follow Mr. Chiu Chic Fan, a well-known Chi- nese merchant, said that in his opinion nine out often business people in Hong ng must be in favour of a decrease in rent, parti- cularly at this time of trade depree-

Detective Sergeant Humphreys told the Magistrate that the defen- dants had been arrested following complaints from the Kowloon Re-xion.

sidents Association!

The Magistrate fixed the bearing for Tuesday morning.

"A" DETESTABLE PERSON."

According to the vernacular press, three brigades of "Ironsides', under Wu Chi Wai, Tang Lung Kwong and. Li Hon-War were on Saturday in conflict with Canton troops under Yu Hon Mou, near Waichap in the extreme east corcer

General Yu sent ar Kwangsi. urgent telegram to Canton asking that Tsói Ting Kn's Division be The Can- sent to Wiichap at once. ton military authorities have in- structed Generals Tsoi and Tan Tao DAMAGE. TO RAILWAY.

Yuen to rush their troops to the Bandits have succeeded in wreek-fighting area without delay, and n number of aeroplanes have beru ing a bridge on the Canton-Hankow dispatched to co-operate with the

Prosecuting a Chinese youth for Railway near Ho Tau Station, a troops, both by scouting and by

unlawful possession of a jar of soy little above Yingtak on the North bombing the Ironsides."

(Chinese sauce), Detective Sergeant River A huge homb was placed on The Ironsides will probably Humphreys told the Kowloon Ma- one of the reinforced concrete sup adopt the plan of attack used bygistrate that the defendant was ports of the bridge and exploded Pei Chung Hsi in the previous inter known to the police as the "most with a deafening noise. The bridge Kwang war: The Canton troops are enved in, and further-passage of aware of this and they have taken The defendant stole almost every detestable man in Tsim Tsa Tsui," trains was effectively prevented. up strong defensive positions. at

His How the tharze was set off is not Tentar, Tsingruen, Bhekkok, and day, but was never caught. known, but it is generally believed Paknai.

Worship could probably remember the young criminal's face.

it was effected by a long-time fuse.

The station master at Ho Tan, upon

learning of the outrage, reported ] ·

the matter to the military at Ying- tak and an armed posse was im

CHEN TSAI TONG'S CONFIDENCE.

The Magistrate convicted and in posed a sentence. of three months' hard labour.

HOUSEBREAKING,

Mess. Wong Kwong Tin, M. K. Lo. Hà Kong. Tả Shi Tiên triệt chairman of Twenty Four Trades Merchants' Guild), Fung Tang, Tam Paw Shiu (Chairman, Compradores' Association), Le Kung Muk (vice- chairman," Compradores' Associa. tion), Sze Wing (Compradore, The speaker pointed out Messrs, Dodwell's). Ho Leung that it was little use expecting (Compradore, Messrs. Jardine's), landlords voluntarily to agree to a Ho Ki (Compradore. Mesirs. Arn. reduction, Further be realised hold & Co.), Chung Tat Ching and that it was casy to say that it was Lan Kwai Sang (Chairman and ex- economically unsound to enforce chairman, Gold & Silver Exchange), rent restriction, but at the same Hin Shing Lo and Mok Ying Kwai time the masses must be consider (Barristers-at-Law). ed, as they formed the backbone of the Colony. The Government

should be approached to consider this ecrious problem.

#

SALES OF CROWN LAND.

KOWLOON, LOTS OFFERED,

It is notified in the Government Gazette that the following sales of Crown land will be held at the Public Works Department, at 3 p.m. on the following dates

On Monday, November 18: In land Lot No. 2010. situated on May Road, east of the Tram Station. It covers about 3,160 square feet and has an annual Crown rent of

22. The upset price is 3,160.

The committee will meet every

Saturday at the premises of the Twenty Four Trade Merchants, Guild,

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

BRIGADE.

LAST WEEK'S VACCINATION.

RETURNS.

The number of persons vaccinated -free of charge-by members of the Ambulance Brigade, up to and in cluding Thursday, November 14, is:

Chinese Y.M.C.A. Divi-

Bion .......

· 2,420 King's College Division

(Old) -

2,43

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Railway Division ....... 082 Indian Division Kowloon Division

15,194 Mongkok Division 2................. 10,642 Shaukiwan Division 2,903 Motor Drivers' Associa

mediately, sent out to search for General Chen Taai Tong on his the bandits. But no trace of return to Canton on Friday, gáve them could be found. The moun the following interview on the tains are being combed by the situation:--

Two men and a woman were soldiers, but it is very doubtful if Kwangsi is peaceful. The rebels anything will result.

have arrived at Koonyang nt the charged with housebreaking, steal The bandhta have of late-been-boundary between Kwangsi and ing and receiving respectively,

Qu Menday, December 2: Kow. extremely active on the North Kwangtung. They will be exter-from 639 Shanghai street, Mong

loon Inland Lots Nos. 2275, 2276 River and this was the second minated, I can assure you, in the kok. The stolen articles which in- successful attack on the permanent very near future, but I can, of gluded a basket, a purse contain- and 2277. Lot No. 2275 is situated way within five days, the first being course, say nothing of our plans. ing 815, two gold ringa, three at the junction of Tai Nan Street the blowing up of 40 feet of track As to the number of the rebels American gold coins, clothing and and Cedar Street. Tai Kok Tsui, near Blackstone Station on Novem- I should say that they leas than ten a gramaphone, were put at a total and has an area of about 16,010 value of $142. The robbery was square feet. The annual Crown ber 10. Fortunately in neither case thousand. The combined troops of

committed on November 11, and the rent is 8190 and the upset price were lives lost. The broken bridge the two Kwangai are many times

$29,068. Lot No. 2276 is in the is being repaired by, engineers and more numerous and we have also woman was found wearing one of

sion, same locality and contains about -workmen sent from Canton. It is the Nanking disision under, General the rings on November 14.

Un Long 3.720 square feet. estimated that four or five days will Tan Tuo Yuen. Hunan and Kwei

Crojwn rent

Victoria Nursing Divi is $42, and the be required. In the meantime; choy troops will also assist. The

Bion YW.C.A. Nursing -Divi- services between Canton and Shiu- rebels are short of

months' hard labour for housebreak is on Cedar Street, between Yu kwan will have be suspended. But tion and clarif money, ammuni-

upset price $89,510, Lot No. 2277 servichy betweez-Gaston and Ying They have been heading fox thing. The other two were respes Chau Street and Ki Lung Atreet. tak are maintained as usual.

Little North River Districts but they tively fined $23, with the alterna- It covers about 360 square feet Since these two explosions traffic will not be able to create troublo tive of three weeks gnol and 850 and has an annual Crown rental of

8109. The upset price is $16,380. on the Canton-Hankow Railway has either in Kwangtung or in Ewangai. For one month's imprisonment.

All three defendants were con- victed by the Magistrate who san tenced the first defendant to six

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