Evening star., 1927-05-08
YANGTzE REFUGEES
NOW LIVE IN BOATS
Trip From HankoW to Shang'
shai Takes Longer Than
Il Transatlantic Voyage.
by VINCENT SHEEAN,
Correspondent of The Star and North Anne
can Newspaper Alliance.

can Newspaper Alliance.
STEAMSHIP KUNGWO, ON THE
y.ANGTZE. April 29.-The Yangtze
<iang is a river of turmoil from
Shanghai to Hankow with American,
British and Japanese gunboatS pro-
tscting what is left of foreign lives
and property. All foreigners in the
valley are living in boats under the
shadow of their own big guns, while
Chinese troops of all factions occupy
the European and American houses,
ilcluding the consuates.
sThe river trip now takes longer than
=stransatlantic journey, as it is neces-
sAry to proceed with great caution un-
der the protection of a warship. We
left Shanghai two days ago. and have
rot vet reached Nanking. We are
obliged to anchor throughout the
night, all eight ships of our convoy
huddled together in the middle, o. the
river under the wing of the British
gnnboat Cockchafer, which is escort
Ing us.
Fired on Twice.
yThe Chinese troops fired on us twice.
both times with rife shots, no ma
chine guns having been used. The
forts occupied by Nationalist troops
ontthe south bank of the river did not
tife on us, although three days ago
they used their heaviest guns on the
american gunboat Penguin.
sChinkiang, where we spent last
night, is typical river town, where
foreigners have been doing a thriving
Business for the past so years in the
British concession. The only foreign
business now existing there is that of
the Standard Oil and the Asiatic Pc
troleum Co, which are side by side
oh the waterfront.
THE American destroyer Paul Jones
and the British destroyer Sirdar lie
anchored directly in front of the huge
Oh tanks, with Lewis guns trained on
the shore. The oil company officials
live in launches lying alongside the
destroyers. No foreigner has dared to
walk outside the oil comany's build
ings during the past few weeks.
sAll houses have been occupied and
looted by Nationalist troops. One
group of officers of the 9th army, COM
uianded by Gen. Chen Chen, is living
in the British consulate, but have
omitted to remove the flag, which still
tiDats from the hill in spite of the fact
that all of the British have taken to
the water.
Sailors Play Foot Ball.
FAmerican and British sailors, al
though restricted to a few yards of
shore, have organized foot ball teams
and play every afternoon. The field
Isl small and the sailors kick power
fRlly so that the ball frequently goes
oyer the wall into streets patrolled
by Chinese. Each time this happens
ah international incident is created.
British and American authorities are
obliged to communicate with the
Chinese generals to get the foot ball
hack. Usually it is sold by the
Chinese authorities for 81, but on
ope occasion this week it was re-
turned free.
sThe Nationalist army between
Chenkiang and Marking is apparently
disintegrating. Gen. Chen Chen re-
fuses to obey orders from Chang Kai
Shek, who is now proceeding to dis
arm most of the regiments of the
9Th Army on the ground it is commu-
rast. The 9Th Army with the 4th
division of the I'd Army was respon-
sible for the Nanking outrages March
~ and 25.
THE few Americans still remaining
slong the river are exceedingly bitter
against our own Government. They
6nploy a tone seldom heard from
Americans anywhere. Some of them
Dst everything they possessed and
stood a good chance of losing their
lives as we'll
! Almost daily incidents of Chinese
troops on both sides firing on Ameri-
can and British flags have aroused the
bitterness Of all foreigners, who de-
care the flag will never be respected
again unless some action is taken now.
M Is undoubtedly true that the Ameri-
dAn flag Is no protection whatever on
this river, where American warships
Have been fired upon regularly.
Northerners and Southerners agree
on one thing, which is that foreigners
make good targets. This boat has been
fred upon from both sides; which is
the common experience of all boats
fNing foreign flags.
Wopyright. 1897. In United States Great
BRIAN SnIa-sasI ana ~ countries by North