Directory_and_Chronicle_1932 — Page 931

CANTON

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aiming at an end of the strike-boycott and of a

of a situation in which both sides were suffering but they proved abortive. The boycott was maintained, with the help of labour pickets until October 1926 when it was declared ter- minated by the Kuomintang Government. Although the suppression of the pickets gave greater freedom to trade, business generally suffered throughout the year owing to constant labour disputes and the heavy burden of taxation imposed in order to provide financial support for the expedition which Gen- eral Chiang Kai-shek led against the North. With the establishment of the Kuomintang headquarters at Wuhan the Yangtsze became the centre of political and military activity of the nationalists. Compared with 1925 and 1926 the year 1927 was comparatively peaceful and except for political tension and increasing taxation trade continued unhampered. General Li Tsai-hsin, who was in charge of affairs, was driven from office by General Chang Fat-fui in November, but the coup was effected in a day with comparatively little fighting and the change did not adversely influence the ordinary business routine. In December there was a rising of the Red elements. They captured the city and held it for three days, but were then driven out by the Government troops, The city for a short period was given over to wholesale looting, over 5,000 lives were lost and millions of dollars worth of property destroyed. Fires were purposely started by the Reds in more than ten places and blocks and blocks of buildings were razed to the ground.

1928.

During 1928 Canton itself was comparatively peaceful, but general un- certainty prevailed owing to the compaign up country between Chang Fat- fui's "Ironsides", and a coalition of the 8th and 11th Armies under Li Tsai- hsin and Chen Ming-shu, respectively. The latter prevailed and set up a joint. Government in Canton. An era of progress then started. The "strike pickets" were dissolved, all trade unions with Communist affiliations were proscribed, the students were forbidden to take part in politics and "Reds" were vigorously hunted down and executed. Big improvements were undertaken in the city, new maloos being built and slum areas cleared, the installation of a new waterworks and piping system was started, by contracts being let out to English and German firms. A bridge between Honam and the mainland was planned and also a number of Government Offices. Most of these projects have been persistently furthered despite the troubles of 1929. Of equal im- portance was the stern deflation policy, under which millions of notes col- lected in taxes were withdrawn from circulation. In March 1928, the quarrel with Hongkong was finally ended by an exchange of formal and very cordial visits between Marshal Li Tsai-hsin, and Sir Cecil Clementi, Governor of Hongkong.

1929.

Early in 1929 Marshal Li Tsai-hsin went to Nanking to attend the Dis- bandment Conference and to act as mediator between Nanking and his col- league, Li Tsung-jen, military Governor of Hankow, who had recently effected a coup d'etat in the latter city. Marshal Li was detained by President Chiang Kai-shek, on a charge of complicity in the revolt of the Kwangsi militarists. Li Tsai-hsin's colleagues in Canton sent an ultimatum to Nanking, but on the return of Chen Ming-shu from Nanking, the Kwangsi party was ejected from Canton and allegiance proclaimed to the Central Government. An invasion from Kwangsi was defeated on the very outskirts of Canton by the clever strategy of Chan Tsai-tong, the Kwangtung commander-in-chief. A second attempt to take Canton by an alliance between the Kwangsi militarists and Chang Fat-fui's Ironsides was also beaten off after severe fighting round Samshui, along the North River, and just north of Canton. Chan Tsai-tong reserved strong reinforcements of Nanking troops and his gun-boat flotilla played a big part in the riverine battles. Still more important was the as- sistance of twenty aeroplanes, who bombed the "Ironsides" unmercifully, and broke their morale. A counter attack by Canton resulted in the taking of Wuchow, but the remnants of Kwangsi-Ironside troops entrenched themselves at Nanning and resisted all attempts to dig them out.