The producers news., 1927-04-08
SHORTAGE OF COAL MAY FORCE
WARSHIPS TO ABANDON PA
TROL.

-
agitation, taking the form of a strike
and boycott of American goods, has
broken out at Changsha, capital of
the province of Human, in southern
China. A wireless dispatch from
that place today said the strike and
boycott went into effect at noon Mon
day, and reported that the American
consul has gone aboard the United
States gunboat Palos, on the Slang
river, preparatory to leaving Chang
sha. The whole province of Human
will be evacuated by foreigners
shortly because of labor and anti-for-
eign manifestations.
Kiukang, on the Yangtze river in
Kiangsi province, reported a general
strike against all foreigners has
been called to begin at noon today,
while at Hankow, headquarters of
the Cantonese, or Nationalist govern
ment, all business was virtually at a
standstill.
Cantonese Adavnce
While the state of affairs south of
the GangtZe river caused by the anti
foreign agitation, appears to be
growing steadily worse, the civil war
situation north of the great river is
becoming more precarious as the
Cantonese armies progress further
toward the Northern capital, Peking.
For the moment the objectives of the
Cantonese are Tsinanfu, capital of
Shantung, and Tientsin, strategic
railway center of the north.
Marshal Chang Tso-Lin, the North
ern war chief, it is felt here, can
hold Peking so long as he is able to
retain possession of Tientsin, for that
railway center provides the only
means of communication with the
Manchurian base of the Northern
forces.
Americans and Britishers in the
territory through which it is expect
ed the Cantonese now will make their
way are hastily seeking points of
safety, fearing a repetition of the
outbreaks which followed the Can
Cantonese victories in the Yangtze
valley.
WarshiDs Lack Coal
Washington, April 6.-Fears of an
interruption to shipping on the Yang
TIE river which would hamper acti-
vlties of American and other gun
boats engaged in evacuating foreign
ers to the China coast were commu-
nicated today to the navy depart
ment.
Rear Admiral Hough of the Ameri-
can Yangtze patrol force, reported
that virtually all ships in the Yang
tie area are coal burners, and a
shortage Of fuel, caused by serious
labor troubles, may require that the
craft be sent to Shanghai.
The only alternative, it was said.
would be the shipment of coal from
Shanghai to the river patrol vessels,
which, in the opinion of navy depart
ment officials, would seriously embar-
rass those in charge of the Yangtze
evacuation.
"There is much difficulty assemb-
ling coal supply due to serious la
Dor troubles" Admiral Hough's re-
port said. 1T may be necessary to
have sufficient coal shipped from
Shanghai to get the coal burning
ships down the river and for this
reason it may become necessary to
send all coal burning gunboats thru
to Shanghai as soon as they can be
assembled at Hankow."
Conditions at HankOw were describ-
ed by Admiral Hough as Every bad"
Business at StandstiIl
Practically all business at Hankow
has come to a standstill and Japan
ese are evacuating by steamers, the
report continued. About 100 French.
Belgian and Swiss civilians remain.
The British and American civiIi-
1ans TAT Hankow) are living close To
ne water front and are preparing to
evacuate on short notice." Admiral
Hough said. "The present number
OF Americans at HankOw is approxi-
mately 105 but it is expected that
this number will be reduced within a
week to 35 or 40, these people being
business heads required to remain IN
til the end with the understanding
Chat they remain at their own risk.
IF the situation grows worse, it
will require them to remain on board
ships In the harbor except for nee
essary business ashore. l do not con-
slider it desirable to evacuate until
the British leave"
Admiral HOugh reported that the
godown" evacuation (at Hankow)
was well in hand and unless hurried
too much he believed most of the
property there could be saved. The
go-down is a warehouse.
In a dispatch dated April 6, Admir-
al Williams, commander of American
forces in China, said he had been ad-
vlsed that the Japanese expect to
eyacuate Chungking as soon as a
steamer is available. Nineteen Amer
leans ne said, still remained in Szech-
wan province, 16 at Changtu, two at
1anchow and that the location of an
other was unknown.
Raid Soviet Embassy