Evening star., 1927-04-05
Congratulated by Soviet Labor.
PLAN NORTH CHINA EVACUATION
Preparations Made to Remove Amer
leans from Peking Area.

The sweep of the victorious Canton
ese Nationalist armies, which are nfoF-
ing northward TO the accompaniment
OF Increased antiforeign agitation, mas
brought the Washington Government
face to face with the possibility OF
evacuating its citizens in Northern
China. which includes the capital city
of Peking.
Tientsin. a. coast port accessible to
naval craft, has been chosen as the
most likely point for general concen-
tration of refugees should the need
arise. An American force OF 800 sol
diers now guarding the Peking-Tien-
tsin Railroad could be concentrated
there, and Admiral Williams, com
manding American forces in CHINA,
would be able to give the protectlon OF
his fleet to the besieged.
President Coolidge was Informed or
the situation at today's cabinet meet.
ing. during which the condition OF an
Americans remaining in China was
csnvassed He was assured that ade-
ouate protection for them was being
provided.
Would Give Two Bases.
Establishment OF concentration
base at Tientsin would give foreigners
two bases on which to rely, the South
ern base already having been estab-
lished at Shanghai, whose interna-
tional settlement is heavily guarded
by foreign troops and Marines.
The city of Peking had population
of 96S Americans a year ago, While
Tientsin contained 656 Americans. The
province in which Peking and Tientsln
are located had 2,01S Americans with
in its borders.
Nearly all of the powers have lega-
ton guards at Peking, where a force
of $50 American Infantrymen are sta
toned at the call of American Minister
MacMurray. Should disorders break
out generally in Northern China, how
ever, officials here believe that Tientsin
would furnish a safer place of foreign
refuge.
The force at Tientsin was placed
there under the Boxer protocol, with
like detachments of British, French,
Italian and Japanese troops. They
compose two battalions of the 18th In
fantry, under command of Brig. Gen.
Joseph Castner.
Adhering strictly to its policy OF ST.
lence. the State Department today de-
clined to be drawn out on its Chinese
diplomatic course even by dispatches
from London reporting that demands
upon the Cantonese authorities as
result of violence at Marking were
expected to be presented momentarily
by the United States, Great Britain
and Japan.
Meanwhile, the delay in presenting
stipulations for reparations was be-
ing employed by consular officials
throughout China in their efforts to
move Americans from the rapidly
spreading zones of danger.
President Coolidge again called in
Nelson T. Johnson, chief of the State
Departments Far Eastern division,
and consulted him on conditions in
China, the conference being a contin-
uation of that held with Johnson by
the President yesterday.
Reticent As to UItimatum.
At the State Department, 1t was
said there was no official word that
Minister MacMurray, at Peking, was
ready to submit American demands to
the Cantonese leaders. Neither would
the department say how far negotia-
tions between American, British and
japanese diplomats in the Chinese
capital had advanced. There had been
no indication here that the State De-
partment would agree TO an ulti'
matum, rather than simple demands
for reparations and guarantees for
American citizens in China.
AS an indication OF the anxiety TO
remove Americans from the danger
zones 10 ports where they would be
afforded naval protection, Admiral
Williams reported TO the Navy Depart
ment today that the consulate at
Changsha ordered closed April II,
would now be closed 10 days prior to
that period. lie also relayed advices
from responsible japanese" who, he
said, believed the disorders at Hankow,
in which the Japanese were involved.
were "prearranged and organized"
moves against the Japanese.
big Knife" Society Active.
All American residents Of the salt
area along the coast of Shangtung and
| Kiangsu Provinces are believed by the
| State Department to have been
evacuated. Peking reports today told
/ OF looting and Staying by the Ia Tao
Hui secret society in this region.
| Advices here have told of only few
missionaries in the salt district
| The Ia Tao Hui, known as the Big
| Knife" Society, is one of the hundreds
| Of secret organizations in China, and
| the state Department has no record
| Of it's previous participation in the
| present civil war conflict. The salt
area in Kiangsu province begins some
distance north Of Nanking, scene OF
recent anti-foreign outbreaks, and the
| Cantonese troops are believed 20 he
nearing that territory in their march
| toward Peking.
| Reports from the commander Of the
destroyer Bulmer, forwarded by Ad.
miral Williams, showed thas the strike
agitation at Annoy is spreading among
searnen. post Office employees and Gus
/ toms officers.
During the riot in the japanese
| concession at Hankow, Admiral VIII
: !. L.. .a..... lAll.AA