New Britain herald., 1927-02-23
LOOTING OF CITY
OF SHANGHAI NOW
.. FEAR OF NATIVES
Refugees and Deserters Pouring
Into Chinese Quarter in
Increasing Numbers
FRENCH STRENGTHENING
CONCESSION DEFENSES

Public Executions Stopped-Cruisers
Which Bombarded City Captured
But Crews Escape-Marshal Sun
Himself Is Reported to Have
Reached Shanghai Today From
City of Marking.
Shanghai, Feb. 20 Re-Near panic
prevailed in the native quarter OF
Shanghai today as deserters and
stragglers from the broken army OF
Marshal Sun Chuan- Fang continued
to arrive in increasing numbers and
rumors were that they were plan
ming a wholesale looting of the prize
city.
French authorities strengthened
the defenses about their concession
which yesterday was bombarded by
a Chinese warship which had desert
ed Marshal Suns cause and gone
over to the Cantonese. The French
quarter was struck by five shells
and the native section by five more
because of defective guns and poor
craftsmanship. The intention was to
shell Marshal Suns arsenal by firing
over the city and the shell fell short.
Refugees Flock In
In spite of tho incident in the
French quarter, thousands of refu-
gees poured into it from the native
section as the situation outside be-
came more tense.
The French consul general lodged
a protest with the commissioner of
foreign affairs as a result of the
bombardment, but he did not doubt
that the arsenal was the only target
and believed that the sailors were
not trying to hit the French con-
cession.
Meanwhile the strike abatcd ap-
probably. 1t was estimated that &c.
900 of the 100000 which were on
strike yesterday had returned to
work. The majority of the inside
force at the post office went back
and transportation services were
nearing normal operations again.
Public Executions Stop
Probably as result of protests
by Chinese public bodies
public executions in the Chinese city
have been stopped, but it was under
stood that several beheadngs had
taken place inside the military head
quarters, adding to the execution list
which previously numbered some 80
strike fomenters.
Local authorities of Marshal Sun
resumed control of the warships
kiangwei and Kiangkang, which
were in the river at the time the
other Chinese warcraft opened fire.
Crews of the two warships were re-
ported to have joined the Cantonese
cause also, but did not figure in the
bombardment. The rcbellious crews
of the two ships recovered by Suns
forces fed shoreward as the military
authorities approached the craft.
Sun Reaches City
Marshal Sun was reported to have
reached Shanghai today from Nam
king. capital of this province which
he surrendered to Shantung military
forces earlier in the day. The
Shantungese took over the city as
a part Of their plan to bring troops
from the north 10 aid Suns totter-
Ing army in the defense of Shanghai
against the approaching Cantonese
who are lining up south of here.
The reports of Marshal Suns ar
rival here could not be confirmed as
his Whereabouts are supposedly
secret.
Sun Gives Up Again
Shanghai, Feb. 20 up - Marshal
Sun Chuan- Fang, once overload of
five of the richest provinces in China
today surrendered the capital of his
last remaining state to an erstwhile
enemy in desperate effort to pre-
vent Shanghai and the surrounding
important territory in kiangsu pro-
vince, from falling into the hands
Of his mortal foes, the Cantonese.
Meanwhile, the international city
remained on edge because of bonn
bardment yesterday by Chinese
gunboat in the Whangpoo river here
which deserted Marshal Suns cause
and attempted 10 shell his arsenal by
firing over the metropolis. The guns
We're defective. and the shells fell
short five landing in the French
concession and five in the Chinese
section. killing two natives and dam
aging two American residences.
Clash Averted
Two French glnboats trained their
guns on two other Chinese war craft
which were nearby and which also
were reported to have turned against
Marshal Sun in favor of the Canton
ese. The other two Chinese craft
did not open fire. however, and
clash was ayerted.
General Chang Tsung-Chang, the
military governor of ,Shantung pro-
vince, nominally Suns ally but once
his enemy, entered Marking this
morning and assumed control of the
city preparatory to sending $4,000
northern troops to the defense of
Shanghai.
On entering the city, Chang was
given control of the railroad leading
southwark, thus enabling him to rap
idly throw his northern army into
Shanghai's defense.
Sun In Tears
Sun in addressing a gathering of
notables in Marking prior to Chang's
entry, wept declaring that disloyalty
OF his officers alone caused his de-
rcat.
Chang's move tends to confirm
the declaration two days ago of
Yang Yu-Ting. right hand man of
the Manchurian dictator, Chang Tso-
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