1930-02-07 — Page 7

HEAVY FIGHTING EXPECTED IN KWANGSI.

"IRONSIDES" TAKE, AND LOOT, ROCHOW.

PRECAUTIONS BY CANTON HIGHER COMMAND.

ever. The

The situation in Kwangai remains as obscure as fall of Kochow to a force of "Ironsides" is confirmed from the sources given below, but it is uncertain whether this is merely a move by a faiding party of ne ailitary Importance, or the begin- ning of another serious campaign against Canten by the Kwangsi- "Ironside "coalition.

The size and nature of the insurgents' army, remain mysteries.. Canton is optimistic as over and Military Headquarters declares that the situation is well in hand. While there are not as yet many signs of a challenge to the Kwangtung main army, the latter do not appear to be making much headway in the guerilla war fare against the Kwangsi." Ironside remnants, who are always able to disperse into the mountain regents and then re-assemble.

The fall of Kochow seems to have been accompanied by the Jooting which makes the." Ironsides" feared and hated in South "China

ATTACK TO BE MADE ON SUNCHOW.

SOUTH-WEST KWANGTUNG

INVADED.

[FROM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)

-GANTON, Feb.-J.~ The Kwangsi." Ironside forces are making steady advance in south-western Kwangtung. For some days new the main body of Ironsides" have gradually been evacuating the area around Kwe

KOCHOW'S FATE.

[720M OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

CANTON, Feb. 8. A-strong-detachment of the l *Ironsides " under Li Han Wan has appeared unexpectedly in routhern Kwangtung not far from the Kwangsi horder. These trous, some 2,000 strong, are allying them selves with the bandits there and are committing all kinds of depreping and have moved into south- datione, for they are short of sup eastern Kwangi ri Weitlin plies and living on the country.

Meanwhile the Kwangsi forces During the earlier part of this week

are concentrating at Mongkiang they marched into Kochow, driving and Tingyuen but they have not

THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1930.

RECENT FATALITY.

AT RAILWAY YARDS.

INQUEST ON VICTIM.

ENGINE-DRIVER'S STATEMENT

QUESTIONED,

The death of a carriage oiler, who was killed following a mishap in the railway yards of the Kowloon- Cdhton Railway at Hunghom on January 16, was the subject of an inquiry held at Kowloon Magis- tracy yesterday. Mr. T. S. Whyte- Smith acted as Corgner, assisted by a Jury.

Addressing the Jury, the Coroner said that it was alleged that the deceased met his death by being sruck by one of the carriage buffers nt the railway shed at Hunghom. There was little doubt as to the cause of death, but it was for the jury to find if there was any negligence and if so, what degree of negligence.

ATE BREAD SPRINKLED WITH ARSENIC.

NAVAL YARD COOLIE'S CURIOUS DEATH.

REVELATIONS AT "CORONER'S, INQUEST.

VERDICT OF "MISADVENTURE."

An enquiry into the death of a Naval Yard cooke under peculiar circumstances was conducted at the Central Magistracy yes- terday by Mr. E. W. Hamilton, sitting as Coroner, and a jury. It appeared from the evidence that the unfortunate man ate a piece of bread, sprinkled with arsenic, which was left on a table- and intended for rats. Deuth took place 30 hours later.

Medical evidence showed that there were 201 grains of arsenic." in the man's stomach. About. two grains was stated to be a fatal .doac.****

OVER TWENTY GRAINS OF ARSENIC.

Widow's Evidence.

Dr. A. Canton, medical officer in

Sue Mui, deceased's wife, said charge of Victoria Mortuary, stated as follows-On January 19 at noon, that she had a family of three child- I conducted a post mortem examina- ren. On January 18 her husband. tion on the body of a Chinese male, returned from work, bad his meals apparently aged about 45 years, and when to bed. The next morn- which was identified as that of Taming he was ill. Witness procured Hung by Tam Ming, his brother, some Chinese medicine for him.

He continued to be ill and was and Sze Mui, his wife. Police-

present. getting worse in the afternoon. At Sergeant Ritchie was When I made the nation, this time an apprentice came to there was no evidence of organic make enquiries. She was told about disease. The body was generally the bread, and questioned her hus

the abdominal band, who admitted having eaten a well preserved, organs appeared to be somewhat little of it. The apprentice had then congested, and there was nothing gone. She sent for her brother-in- else of nota. In view of certain law, who promised to come the next information I had received, I sent day. Her husband died in the morn- An oil wiper said that he was

the usual organs to the Government ing. working with the deceased in a car-malyst in scaled-jars for examina Mr. R. J. Sourbutts-chargeman riage of a train which had just come

tion.

armament fitters, stated as follows: Questioned by the Coroner, witI have charge of arsenic. At pre- to the yards. The deceased was

neas said that it is not impossible sent my stock is roughly six ounces.

Dr. J. E. Dovey, in evidence, said that he examined the deceased, and found a large tear in the chest. Threa of the rib bones had been broken and pushed against the left lang, tearing it and causing in teral hemorrhage from which the deceased subsequently died. There was also a niche in the shoulder, from which witness deduced that the body had been caught between two

forces.

out the small Government, garrison advanced any further and for the suddenly the engine moved forward for a man's life to be saved after It was kept locked in a cupboard

Every store and house in the city was looted and the wealthier people in the vicinity are hastily moving to other parts of the Province. Some are seeking refuge in Canton The exact purpose of this small isolated expedition is, rot known with certainty. Some believe that)

time being are waiting develop ments arising from the "Ironsides' " invasion of Kwangtung.

standing in front of the buffer when and the deceased was caught he

tween the buffers.

ין

Faulty Laver.

The engine driver if evidence said that he had had five months of ex- perience as a driver following a umber of years as an apprentice

According to the latest report the total strength of the "Iron- sides," now advancing into Kwang tung, is two divisions under the command of Generals Li Han Wan Chang Fat Fuí, leader of the and Tang Lung Kwang (Chang Fat and stoker at the yards. "Ironsides," sent them to obtain Fai's right-hand men) respectively, food and other supplica from the and in addition there are two in-

by General Chen Tsai Tong's men

On the evening in question, he was in charge of No. 8 train and

he had taken 20 grains of arsenic.

In the case of a man addicted to opium smoking, witress was of the opinion that death might be delay

ed."

Mr. E. R. Dovey, Government Analyst, stated:On January 20,

and I had the key. The stock was

part of an issue from the Naval Armament Supply Office, made pre- vious to my time. There were eight

ounces when I took it over from Mr. Welsh

On January 15, continued witness, I received two scaled jars from Mr. Taylor came in and naked for the Victoria Mortuary contain some arsenic, which he required to ing post mortem materials," which kill rats. Witness, had known Mr. I examined. The stuff contain-Taylor for a long time, and gave.

at Yunghui. It is not believed that bortod to have reached a point The stoker got off and uncoupled flamed. The contents were examined used in mixture form for bronizing

Province, for the communications are impossibly bad.

The nows of the report of the

further north where they expect to the engine, and witness moved the

he heard a commotion and shouts

inhabitants, Others think that dependent brigades. Their advance took five carriages and two vans to they retreated there after a defeat quards arrived at Kochow on the the sheds. On arrival at the yard tained. 23 fuild ounces, and the him roughly about a teaspoon of the 3rd inst., and some troops are re- he was given the signal to stop. stomach walls were red and in-drug. In the works arsenic was first and 20.5 grains of arsene was gun sights. During the last eighteen the "Ironside "-Kwangsi coalition |

separated from it. A fatal dose months he had issued it only twice After this occurrence, witness said __is_trying_to_start_another_drive on

to Canton from this part of the join the Kwangsi-troops with the engine away from the carriages would be, grains-I-find-the-in-that special-instractions have been idea of making a combined attack, He was looking the way he was dividual has died from arsenic poi-issued. A separate locked cupboard on the Cantonese forces at Dosing moving at the time, when suddenly soning. It usually takes 24 hours is kept for poisons and Comdr. and Takhing.

Southey keeps the key."

The last witness was Comdr. J. General Chang Fat Fuci will per that someone had been crushed. He on an average for a man to die of fall of Kochow and the plight of its form the rear-guard of the force found that the engine of its own ac-arsenco poisoning. A man habitual-H. P. Southey, who said that bei

sonally lead two brigades which invading Kwangtung.

cord had suddenly gone forwardly used to opium would take about took the bottle of arsenic to Surg. On the Cantonese side, General | although he had put, it in reverse. Chen Tsai Tong has completed pre-He immediately stopped the engine parations for meeting the enemy and backed away. General Li Yang King is to de fend Wuchow, while General Chiang Kwang Nai and General Tsai Ting Koi have been ordered to move to Yunghui, some distance west of Wuchow, with the object of launch- ing an attack on the Kwangsi lines HEAVY FIGHTING EXPECTED. at Tingyuen. Two divisions under

Han Ping have been ordered to

people was received in local official circles with anger and the authori ties are despatching a force of re- gulars and a couple of gunboats to

deal with the situation.

KWANGSI CAMPAIGN.

concentrate at Takhing and other strategic points in readiness to meet the invading "Ironsides" at Loting (to the north of Kochow).

TWO AEROPLANES FROM

30 hours to die.

To Poison Rats.

||

initialled by him and a witness. quantity taken out would be made on the label, the entry, being

whose Comdr. Hunt,

assistant contents in weighed the

his presence. There were six ounces. After the contents had been Mr. Robert Taylor, chagreman at replaced in the bottle, witness Witness paid that this occurred when the engine was about two or the Naval Yard, deposed as follows: personally sealed it and placed it in- three feet away from the carriages. Recently I found evidence of rats the special cupboard and locked it, the key being in his custody. In He attributed the cause" to a loose

it my office. At about 0.30 p.m. lever which he said was too heavy,

on January 10, I was in my office.case it was necessary to issus any and slipped from advance into I placed some arsenic ou a piece of the arsenic, witness said he would have to be present and personally reverse without his knowledge of bread to exterminate the rate see the issue. The bottle would Witness also said that he was

which were a nuisance. I got the Generals Yu Han Mao and Heung unaware that the engine had moved piece of bread from my lunch. The then be resealed and a note of the i from the engine cabin was partly of the Naval Arament Department forward because his line of vision previous day I had gone to the office obscured. He had previously re- and obtained the arsenic for the ported to his superiors regarding specific purpose of poisoning rats.

After & summing-up of the evi- this loose laver. When he got down, Mr. Saurbutts gave it to me, know. dence by the Coroner, the jury re- be saw the deceased being held by ing what I wanted it for. He did tired to consider their verdict. On the last witness and was told that not caution me, nor did he weigh it their return they returned the find- he was caught between the buffers.

ing that the deceased mét his death out, and I did not sign for it. Mr. Smith, of the Railway, who

I intended to leave the piece of by misadventure, the cause of death was present in Court, intimated to the Coroner that to his knowledge bread on my desk, all night. I was being arsenic poisoning. this could not, and did not happen. away for about half an hour. The It was almost impossible for the door was not locked, but I did.

not expect anyone to go into the RINDERPEST AT TAI HANG. office during my absence. On my return at about 7.10 p.m., 1.found the piece of bread missing. I im mediately went to the factory and looked fóri Tam Hung, my office cleaner. He is a. man I always trusted. I knew him three years and had a high opinion of him.

NANKING.

[PRO OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

CANTON, Feb. 5.

According to the vernacular Prces, severe fighting is expected in Sun- chow in the near future.Propara- tions are under way by the Can- tonese troops for an attack on the city. Four big pontoon bridges are under construction between Yung- hui and Tengbeien for the transport of the troops.

It is understood that a general attack upon Sunchow will be launched early next week. A number of aeroplanes have been dispatched to destroy the defensive works erected at Sunchow.

A report from Kwang Chow Wan states that three regiments of the Kwangsi- Ironside "forces have arrived at Khochow in southern Kwangtung. They have taken over the control of all revenue organiza tions in Kanchow and Luichow. A "section of the 60th and 2nd Divi- NEW CONSUL-GENERAL IN have both carriage and engine

sions has been rushed to deal with them.

Help From Hunan?

General Ho, Chien of Hunan, whose troops are on their way to attack Kwangsi, has dispatched his

or forwards.

"The Canton Aviation Bureau was lover to have elipped into revAJAD AS informed to-day that. Marshai it was manipulated by a handle on Chiang Kai Shek is sending two wheel which worked on a screw more bombing planes, the Shang- hai and the Kinkiang, to Canton principle, forcing the lever back participate in the anti-Kwangei campaign. Nanking is very anxious about the situation and wants to see the insurgents "cleared up as soon as possible. The two planes will start for the South as soon as the weather permits..

CANTON.

MR. G. 8. MOSS GOES ON LEAVE.

"

Jury 10 Visit Yards. The Magistrate decided to ad- journ the bearing, and intimated that both he and the Jury would. wish to visit the yards and see the engine in question, and examine

the lover.

Mr. Smith replied that he would ready for Mr. Whyte-Smith and the The party jury this afternoon. would go straight to the yards in the afternoon, returning later to the Magistracy to continue the inquiry.

The hearing was accordingly

chief of staff, Mr. Wu Mien An, to Mr. Herbert Phillips, C.M.G.. | adjourned. ? discuss military affairs with the O.B.E, arrived in Canton by the Canton Higher Command. Mr. Wus. Taisban on Wednesday morn

is expected to arrive in Canton in ing to take over the duties of H.B.M. Consul-General in Canton.

the next few days.

in place of Mr. G. S. Moss, C.B.E.. who will leave for Home on Satur day by the s.. Karmala..

CANTON TROOPS REACH KONG HOW.

"Mr. Moss went to Caston from Foochow last Summer, and during WUCHOW, Feb., B. his short stay in both ports, he It is reported that the Govern- made a host of friends. A man of ment troops have reached Kong charming personality, and one who How, which is situated about 100 exercises great tact in tackling the miles. above Wuchow.

many problems attendant on his Martial law is no longer in force official duties, Mr. Moss will be at Wuchow..

greatly missed.

1

LATE MR. J. WILTSHIRE.

INQUEST TO-DAY.

At 2.15 p.m. to-day, Mr. E. W. Hamilton and a Coroner's jury will hold an enquiry into the death of Mr. Jesse Wiltshire, First Bailiff of the Supreme Court, who was found in his office with a bullet wound in his head on January 19 and died about an hour later.

VILLAGER'S CATILE AFFECTED.

SITUATION, IN HAND,

An outbreak of rinderpest among the cattle at Tai Hang Village, near Causeway Bay, is causing serious loss to the owners of the animals, and it is feared that ot least half the cattle will be lost as a-result.

So far about 30 animals have been lost, and in all, about 200 are afected. The ontbreak, it is under- stood, is not of a severe character, but is fairly widespread through. out the village."

Continuing, witness said that Tam Hung admitted having been to the office to clean up, but denied that he ate the piece of bread. Witness then told him twice. that he would the if he had eaten it, whereupon Tam Hung said he had thrown the bread away: Witness also got his No. 1 fitter to question the man, and he still denied eating it. This satisfed witness, and he did not think about it any more. The next day it did not occur to him to see if Tam Hung was at work. The It is learned that the worst of first time he heard the man was the disease is now over as prompt, obscot was at 4.45 p.m. on January steps had been taken to prevent its 17 when he understood the man was spread. Cattle affected had been nick. They always give this excuse. isolated in a special shed in the The following day witness heard in village. the morning that the man was dead: The flesh of animals affected with He reported it to the police and the rinderpest, if consumed, is Commander of the Dockyard.ne

dangerous, as the disease is not there The Chinese fitter stated in his communicable. Neither is. evidence that when he found Ther danger from the milk supply from Hung was not at work on the animals which might have contract. Friday, he sent an apprentice to ed the discate. An early symptom make enquiries at his house, but of the disease is the stopping of it was not until the following morn- the milk of the animals affected, ing that he saw the messenger this is generally followed by "a again.

slight increase in temperature.

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