Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-21

lOTC6 was SIN a. 1CW
from the city.
The Nationalist flag is flying over
the post Office and nearly all the
Chinese shops. The French author
tiles are erecting barbed wire bar
riers across the few streets not yet
barricaded, bordering on the interna-
tional settlement.
A Japanese naval landing party is
patrolling the Bund.
Warships Sent in February.
When the defense of Shanghai
began to falter before the Nationalist
advance early this year the foreign
powers started moving troops and
warships to the great port to pro-
tect their nationals in the event of
trouble developing should the south
erners capture the city, or in case of
other happenings which might en-
danger foreign. lives or property.
Before the end of February Fl war
ships of five foreign countries were
anchored in the Whangpoo River
ready for action If necessary to pro-
tect foreigners. Five of the vessels
arriving early were American.
The foreign forces now at Shang-
hal to protect the international set
tlement from any possible invasion
total about 10000 men. There are
about 10000 British, about 5000 Jap
anese available for shore duty and
the United States has 1900 marines
and 1000 bluejackets on hand. In
addition there Is a local volunteer
force. composed of foreign residents.
The defense of Shanghai by the
northern Chinese armies was merely
a phase of a struggle to stem the
conquering sweep of the Nationalist
armies of the Cantonese government,
whose capital now Is at Hankow,
First Marshal Sun Chuang- Fang.
ruler Of Kiangsu Province, undertook
the task, but his forces crumpled be.
fore the northward drive of the Ma
tionalists, coupled with OBJECTIONS in
his ranks. attributed to Nationalist
propaganda.
Chang Goes to Rescue.
AS Sun Chuang-Fang faded out of
the picture Gen. Chang Isung Chang,
Shantung leader, came down from the
north to the rescue. The Nationalist
quickly put him in difficulties by
Ranking Shanghai toward the north
cutting In toward Chang Tsung.
Chang's long lines of communication
with Shantung. Then they launched
driVe from both the southwest and
northwest. ..r
The capture of Shanghai has hardly
been a major military action. The
characteristic Chinese maneuver Of
setting campaigns by agreements and
alliances instead of decisive batt1as
has figured largely.
The nationalists also have done
much boring from within" at Shang.
nal, as In other sectors of their steady
advance against the allied forces rem
resenting the Peking government. AS
the nationalist troops approached, agi-
tators became active among the work
ers at Shanghai. The strike at Shang
mai IN mid-February was attributed to
cantonese agitators. 1t was quelled
largely by the drastic method of sum-
marily beheading any one caught aei.
tating for the strike. Nevertheless
the ag1tators continued busiIy fonent.
ing Industrial disorders as the strup.
gle for possession of the city conttn.
ued.
Shanghai, paris of the Orient" is
China's biggest port and the eighth
largest in the world. Some reference
works list 1t as China's largest citv.
placing the population of the Shang.
hal area at more than 100000.
5000 Americans There
~ iido u iOACISH colony or 31,I5S. or
whom more than 5000 are Americans.
The cosmopolitan foreign population
has increased rapidly since the port
was opened to British trade in 1912
under the treaty of Marking, after
which the United States, France and
other nations acquired concessions.
These foreign concessions are group
ed In the international settlement.
with the exception Of the French con.
cession, which Is a separate unit.
There Is large foreign investment
at Shanghai, Americans being inter-
ested particularly in Industrial enter.
prises. The numerous American.
owned factories in Shanghai include
tanneries. chemical factories, automo-
bile and tobacco concerns and various
other branches Of international trade.
These establishments, as large en-
ployers of native labor, have been
much affected by the recent strike
activities.
The native town of Shanghai is
rather small. Enclosed by a wall. and
has narrow, dirty streets. But the
city has far outgrown It, On the north
is the international settlement, which
has been surrounded with barbed wire
since the foreign powers concentrated
forces to protect 1t from invasion by
the Chinese soldiery of either side in
the present struggle.
U. s. MARINES LANDED.