To the Editor of the Nonru-Emma Datty News."
'Sit,—From September 2 last _up to the 18th of this month, if I am not mistaken, war raged between the Kiangsu' and Cheki: armies, quite close to Shanghai, near in fact, that the booming of. guns could be clearly heard in all Parts of this city.
During the war and up to time of writing, refugees from the fighting areas and points of. danger elsewhere, have flocked into the Concessions and are still coming in thick, until it appears that there is no more space to accom-iodate them, and after the barriers are closed at about 6 p.m, hordes of poor countryfolk, men, women and children, together with their bag and baggage are barred out and left to roam about the streets in Chinese Shanghai territory bordering the Concessions, until some charitable person oF organization can find temporary shelter for them. Of course, the Concessions are not meant for giving accommodation to unfortunate Chinese refugees of war and the authorities naturally, are compel-Ted to admit only such numbers that they can handle, without endangering the safety of permanent residents, so those who have already got in and are enjoying the hospitality of the Concessions should be more than thankful.
What misery and suffering. thi short war has caused to the Chinese inhabitants, round about these parts, and in Shanghai itself, owing to the stoppage of works and factories and other business concerns, ete, the very near future will tell T dread to think of it. Besides this, what must be the extent of loss already sustained and to be suffered later, by the Foreign and Chinese merchants here and abroad through the general location of business, non-fulfilment of deliveries and contracts, and other business complications This will run into millions and millions of dollars and no doubt, this is worrying the life out of the foreign merchants, who, together with their governments, have been compelled to watch ith folded arms, for the sake of keeping strict neutrality.
Now, if the Powers have thought fit to' maintain strict neutrality: during this war, it stands to reason that their subjects are bound to keep neutral also and should any: foreign subjects be found guilty of aiding either telligent, he is involving his country and committing a very grave offence, which should not be allowed to go unpunished. An instance of this offence has already been made by one Dou Yueh-sung, who claims Portuguese Citizenship, and it will be interest ing to know what will be done with him.
At the moment when host lit ceased (on the 13/10/24) I believe, and when peace loomed in ight again to the delight of al most everybody, what happened? Little Hsu and his party of plotters were scheming within the Concessions and they tried to take command of the Chekiang troops loft stranded and abandoned Ly Lu Yung-hsiang and Ho Feng-lin, to continue the struggle with Kiang-ssu, and these troops hemmed in within five miles of Shanghai. Fortunately, his plans were nipped in the bud, when he and his party, of schemers motored into the International Settlement, and were a rested at the Honan and Paoshan Road barrier, directly after leaving their War Council meeting, held in tone of the godowns of the Railway North station. We therefore have to thank the. Intes national Settlement police force for having averted a calamity. which might have turned out to be of much greater dimensions than
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.