1929-12-05 — Page 5

THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1929.

BACKS TO THE WALL. WHERE THE TROOPS ARE HONG KONG'S RENT

FIGHTING IN NORTH CANTON SUBURBS.

BIG PLOT UNEARTHED AND FRUSTRATED.

FIERCE BATTLE ON THE NORTH RIVER.

Simultaneously with a fierce struggle for the passage of the North River a certain amount of trouble has broken out in Can- ton. Our correspondent states that firing was plainly heard from the northern part of the city, but civilians were not allowed in that direction and no information as to what was taking place could be obtained.

A big plot to seize the city has been discovered and drastic precautions are being taken. "A large number of people are under arrest and details of the conspiracy have been extracted from them.

The Kwangsi-"Ironside", troops appear to have taken Lo Bow, a point guarding a shallow stretch on the North Rivor, but so far the line is intact, if one is prepared to dismiss further rumours of the fall of Samshui. The fighting seems to be of a fierceness pew to Chinese warfare, both sides showing exemplary courage and determination under fire. ›

"

CANTON AWAITS THE VERDICT:

STREET FIGHTING IN PROGRESS.

MANY CONSPIRATORS ARRESTED.

[rnou our own CORRESPONDENT.]

at about

LO BOW FALLS TO INVADERS.

WATER TOO SHALLOW FOR GUNBOATS.

Lo Bow, a stronghold on the west side of the North River a little CANTON, December 4. above Samshui, is reported to have Fighting broke out in Canton fallen late on Tuesday before the this morning! It started

combined drive of "Ironsides " 11.30 and is still going on! Inces- sont rifle reports and heavy artil-end the Kwangsi troops. The in- lery fire could he distinctly heard Taders are now preparing to cross

the river by means of hastily con everywhere in the city. A large number of shops in Wing Honstructed pontoon bridges with Tai Hond and elsewhere are locking their iron shutters. Many students of the Sun Yat Sen University Bed "from their classes upon hearing the sound and the schools were nearly all shut down at noon.

Tong, Pei Nai and Chnek Nui as

their objectives, Severe Sighting is going on along the whole North River sector between Samehui and Ching Yuen, and the Cantonese troops are meeting the enemy at- tacks with great steadiness.

The cause of this sudden firing is not known yet. The writer upon The reason why the invaders investigation.found that these re-singled out Lo Bow for attack is ports all came from the north-hecause the river is narrowest and eastern suburb of the city, perhaps | shallowest, at, this point. It is re from Yin Tong or White Cloud ported that the water there is now Mountain. It was impossible to get to these places, as every thorough färe was guarded by soldiers. The writer asked the soldiers what the fighting was about but they refused to say.

RAID BY IRREGULARS?

Some believe that the fight is be tween Canton's regulars and borden

PLACED.

KWANGTUNG LINE READJUSTED.

PROBLEM.

LANDLORDS STATE THEIR CASE.

NO PROFITEERING,

The Kwangsi troops on the West River marched in two directions from Kwongli towards Wingon and Lokong and arrived at these two The Committee of the Property places on Tuesday evening and Owners' Association held a meeting General Wong Shi Hung's head-on Tuesday at their headquarters, quarters are still in Shining It No. 8, Queen's Road Central, to is understood that instead of marching eastward, the troops will Atrike Borthward join the "Ironsides " and the

Kwangsi forces already in Lepao,

The left wing of the

to

consider several letters from" mem-

TO-DAY'S RADIO EXHIBITION.

ACTIVITY IN THE CITY HALL.

The City Hall was, the scenes of nimost fovered detivity yesterday, St. Andrew's Hall was invaded by an army of coolics; hammers in all keys made a deafening noise, and stalis were rising rapidly and being decorated while they were taking. bera regarding the agitation of a shape. Other coolies were swarm- certain section of the Chinese coming up ladders, draping the walls munity in this Colony for rent res-

with bunting, fags and coloured

triction legislation.

paper. In St. George's Hall, another 8ng, in more leisurely fashion, were sorting out decorations in pre- paration for the Radio Ball of Satur-

There will be in all fifteen stands,

Mr. T. N. Chau presided and "Iron-others present were Messrs. Li Hoi sides under Wu Ki Wai has occu-Tang, Li Koon Chun, D. Jackman, pied Samhang and is heading for Ip Lan Chuen, Tang Shiu Kin, Loday night. Yuentum. The right wing and the Yuk Tong, and Tsoi, Ki Nam. Kwangsl division under Yang Teng The Chairman said that represen-containing the wares of various Fai cre attneqing Löpne.

tations had been made to the Asso local firms, As you enter Sincere's The defensive lines of the Kwang-ciation to take action to counteract stand makes a good show und at the tung troops have been slightly a totally wrong impression which end of the hall is the Columbia altered. At present; Tan Tao might be e-read abroad through the stall-

incorrect Assertion that rents gen-afternoon at 6 p.m. by the Hou

The exhibition will be opened this orally throughout the Colony at the Mr. W. T. Southorn, C.M.G., who present time were excessive, will make a short speech explaining the object of the exhibition, which has been organised by the local Broadcasting Committee.

The letters were discussed and a brief summary of what was stated follows below

The rise or fall of rentals can never have any effect whatever: on

After the opening, there will be a programme of European and Chinese music broadcast from the Studio all the time the exhibition remains open. The Band of H.M.S. Hermes will broadcast from the Studio for the dance on Saturday night, and will be heard by mears of the many loud speakers which have been installed in St. George'a - Hall..

Yuen's 50th Division and Chang Fai Chan's 18th Division Inte de fending Yingtak, Linkinnghow and Pakianghow. Yu Hon Mow's 59th Division and two regiments of the 63rd Division are defending Yuen- tam. Ngan Chan Ou, Kuntin, Sun kai and Kaotong along the Canton- Hankow Raliway and also Lung-the state of trade in general in tong. Shekkok and Tsingyuen along Hong Kong, which has admittedly the North River. The Card Divi- been bad since the emergency of 1925; on the other hand the depress- sion under Tsoi Ting Kai is defended condition of business bad been ing Koktai, Poknai, Tsatuai, Tanpo responsible for 4 steady decrease in and Wawobui. Two brigades and rents. During the past four or five years office nad shop rentals have one regiment of Heung Ilon Ping's fallen considerably, and even in the

2nd Division are at Lopao. The Central part of the City to-day. THE LATE MR. A. FORBES. rest of Heung Hon Fing's division, there is no lack of offices or shops to let. However low, office and one brigade of the 3rd Division, shop rent may be this will not tend two regiments of the 31st Division to make commerce any more pros- perous or flourishing. It seems and a battalion of marines are

hardly logical for business men "to "suggest rent control as a panages .News has becu received in the defending Samshui and Sainam on

for the abominable state of trade, Colony of the death of Mr. Andrew the West River.

as rent, after all, is only one (and | Forbes, in Newbury District Hos- not the principal one) of the itemspital on October 19 following A AT SZEWUI. of overhead expenses; it would just motor-car accident.

as reasonable to advocate the con-

Mr. Forbes, who was 37, came to trol of rates of interest, salaries and wages, prices of food and Hong Kong in 1998 and was for necessities, or even the regulating Bradley & Co. Later, he took a some years a partner in Messrs. the cost of merchandise. It was partnership in Messrs. Harry Wick- unanimously agreed that any re-ing & Co., and then he started busi- enactment of rent restriction legisness on his own, with offices in lation would not only tend to retard Union Building. He was, for some the commercial progress of the Colony, but would alan greatly diminish, the value of Hong Kong as a sound centre for the investment of capital.

"IRONSIDES

+

AN UNFAVOURABLE IMPRESSION.

A vernacular Press correspondent writes from Szewui as follows :—

Upon their arrival here, the "Ironsides Occupied moet of the private houses and created great disturbance The merchants, especi ally those dealing in rice, were

Domestic House Rent Falling. The complaint of high (not neces

only about 3 feet deep and only the smallest gunboats can render effective service. Up to the time of writing the insurgents had not succeeded in getting across the molested and suffered to a consider-sary excessive) rent was justified, river, but if they do, Samshui andable degree. The troops bought | perhaps, in respect of the congested Fatshan will be in danger.

large quantities of rive and other foodstuffe but in many cases, they carried away the goods from the shops without paying. Recently, they commandeered all the timbers they could find presumbly for the purpose of making rafte to "cross

Chang Fat Fui has warned the people of Samshui, Fatehan and

of pro Ironside bandits trying other places to leave within 24 to storm Canton Others gave a hours, as he was preparing to take different story. Certainly it could not be due to the "Ironside" re- these places. You remain there gulars or the Kwangsi troops, for, at your own risk," his warning the are believed to be, at least 25 concluded. miles from Canton.

: GALLANT GUNBOAT

CAPTAIN KILLED.

the river.

They wear grey uniforms, as do many of the Kwangtung troops. They lack ammunition but each of them has one or more hand gren ades. When going into action, they wear a red jacket.

With severe fighting going on not more than 30 miles from Can- ton, the people here are most appre hensive and business in practically at a standstill. The fear of the populace was heightened last night when the city assumed the appear aace of an armed camp. Soldiers in large numbers were seen every where vigilantly patrolling the ing at the Canton Sanatorium to in an air raid by the Canton aero- To avoid further serial the battle of planes,

Comdr-bombardment, they hid themselves

The Captain of the Canton gun- boat Chung Yuen, Commander Leung Pan, succumbed this morn..

streets. No traffic was allowed after wounds received at

10 o'clock, all 'buses and ears being Kwongli last Saturday.

banned after this hour. Even

Over a hundred men were killed

pedestrians were not allowed to Leung fought his ship with great in the houses and moved off at

inst.

walk through certain throughfares, bravery, but finally fell under heavy night. They left here on the notably those where Government buildings are located. Armoured are from the enemy. He was at cara manned by picked soldiers were once brought back to Canton in a slowly moving up and down the critical condition, and died a few malous. Any one behaving sus hours later.

piciously was stopped, questioned

and searched. From 9 o'clock on

last night Canton appeared dead!

A BIG PLOT.

TIME FOR A DINNER.

General Ho Ying Chien of Nau-

These precautionary measures king has to-day. assumed the officiał were adopted in consequence of the title of "Commander-in-Chief of discovery of a big plot to overthrow the Land, Air and Naval Forces the present regime. Numbers of Communists and agents of the fighting against the Ironsides!

Ironsides" have been arrested and the Kwangsi Troops." und big quantities of arms and am-

1st

CHU TAK, THE "RED" LEADER, KILLED.

"FOLLOWERS HARRIED IN

FUKIEN

The report that Chu Tak, a notorious Red leader has been kill ed is confirmed. For several years, The and Mo Chak Tung, with their The "Red" rabble, have been terroriz

FORMER H.K. RESIDENT

KILLED IN MOTOR MISHAP

years a Director of the Union In- Suranes Society of Canton, the British Traders Company and the China Fire Insurance Company.

Mr. Forbes went home several years ago, but a large circle of local friends will learn with deep regret of his death and much sympathy will be extended to daughter, Mrs. area in the central part of Victoria, | L.. H. V. Booth, who is well known and the European type of residen- in the Colony. tial buildings in or adjacent to the Apart principal business centre. from these, the rental of domestic dwelling houses in the Colony is low The re-enactment of the Renta at the present time; in fact the Restriction Ordinance would cer rents in some districts have de-tainly not help to increase the creased by from 30 per cent, to 50 supply of houses in the congested per cent. since the end of the pro-area-the only district where the perty boom, early in 1924. Outside position is acuta for the simple the congested area the number of reason that there is no more land which to build; empty houses has been gradually in that area on increasing and landlords are fur on the contrary auch re-enactment from having it all their own way.would have a

most detrimental During the past year or so, especial effect. The source of supply is at the time of the water shortage, greatly dependent upon the capital there was a considerable exodus brought into this Colony by those from Hong Kong to the suburbe of who seek a safe and profitable in- Kowloon, but in all suburbs or rural vestment, and there is no gain"say- districts the supply of houses justing the fact that any restriction of now exceeds the demand, and in rents or undue interference with many cases the property owner is the ordinary rights of ownership not receiving an adequate return on would deter the investor, particular- his outlay. The high rentals in the Chinese quarter of the Central, district in Victoria are not, in most cases an excessive return on the capital invented. Property in this area changes hands so often at"in creased prices, governed absolutely by the law of supply and demand, and if lennata insist on residing in this quarter instead of the cheaper suburban districts, thus keeping up the demand, they have themselves

only to blame.

the Chinese investor, from putting his money in property here. The atmosphere of doubt, unstableness, and insecurity which such restric tion would create would also be fatal in other respects to the in-i terests of the Colony,

munition have been scized. Honam Generalissimo has established Hising the borders of Kwangtung. On the whole, however, the Euro-lord, but there is, of course, an-

reported that the remnants of that

era part of Fukiez.

Should Month's Notice be Increased, Recently a suggestion has been. made that the law should be alter cd to provide for a longer period With regard to the European type than one month's notice when a dwelling houses in the urban or landlord gives his tenant notice to semi-urban areas the position is quit. This law has been in pric ing the supply. Further from the ninety years, and the suggestion much the same the demand exceed. tice here aninterruptedly for nearly

City, European type houses arc

that it should now be altered is a novel one. Buch alteration would being, let at a comparatively low

obviously be of advantage to a rental, and many are still vacant.

tenant over an unreasonable land-

other side to the question. Would protect the patient accommodating landlord from the slippery dis silently removes his furniture and honest tenant who subtly and

belongings without paying the rent ! is to be found in increasing numbers

The conclusion arrived at by the Law of Supply and Demand. “

ineeting was that no legislation can is indisputably beyond the power of lem that the accusation against pro- The regulating of house rentals ever solve the rent or housing-prob- landlords or any other body of men perty owners generally of demand- and is entirely governed by the ing an excessive return on their natural law of supply and demand.outlay is unfounded, and that the. If the supply exceeds the demand, interests of both landlords and rents go down; if the, demand ex- tenants would be, best served it sola ceeds the supply, rent go up. The attention be devoted to reducing only apparent solution of the prob- the cost of construction and increas lem, then, is to increase the supplying the housing discopumodation in

to

build

of late.

has been found to be particularly headquarters in Canton and will Fukien and Kiangai. They were pean type of dwelling house is on infested with Chang Fat Fui proceed to

a less favourable footing than the agents and among those, taken

the front to direct routed and driven to the Kiangst Chinese type of dwelling house; the the new law at. the same time prisoner was a sister-in-law of operations either to-day or

to-border by the Kwangtung troops former costing practically double General Li, who is now living in morrow. Last night he was the two months ago, and their number the latter

over the retirement in Hong Kong. It is guest of honour at a banquet given was reduced to about five thousame area, and until some cheaper method of construction, can be de- General's army have been bought by Genoral Chen Taai Toorg and sand. Then they fled to the west vised, the rent of a European type Unfortunately this class of tenant over by Chang Fat Fui and aro General Chen Ming Shu in Tung

dwelling house must be high when. trying to make trouble in Cantonahan. His taking over the field in to pave the way for the Iron regarded as the turning point of

compared with that of a Chinese type structure, sides." The prisoners have divulged

the startling story that another up the, campaign, either for better or heaval would be staged in Canton-worse.- on the evening of December 0 and that hired automobiles were to be used to cover attacks on the Gov ernment Buildings! The author- itics are busily nipping the plot in the bud, and are taking no risks.

LATER. The prohibiting of all buses and

Reports are current in Canton automobiles from the streats after 10 p.m. is to guard against anything that Samshui has fallen. No de

MORE RUMOURS ABOUT

SAMSHUI.

local troops under Liu Ho Ting In Fukien, they were attacked by

and over They then fed to Shanghang, their old headquarters, and were again attacked by Liu's troops. Chu Tak wa dirceting the fight when he was killed by a stray bullet, ́

The Reds are now in Linsheng the border of and Kutien on

a hundred were killed.

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