Hankow, July 20.
It seems that the capture of [Changsha was a complete surprise, on Saturday people left the is-Jland to: nttend their offices on the mainland as usual, things being] Jquite normal.
However, chant noon the Asiatic Petroleum Ca, were warned by one of their Chinese agents that a large number of Communists were approaching the city. Jatter inquiries had been made, the [British Consulate advised people return to the island before darkness zct in, About four o'clock concentration on the island bran, Reports stated that th Communists were advancing on (Changsha from the direction of Livlang.
Iino. They entered inthe troops of General Ho Chien, the wrly "hours of Monday and Governor of Hunan, were garrison-began looting and burning at eight ing this district and it was toped a.m. Immediately the troops de {that the Reds would be beaten off. It fending Changsha had retreated the seems that General Ho Chi 's troops city became a mass of red flags. had not been paid for some time Apparently the Red forces were and only that day he had requested preceded by an advance guard in the Chinese Chamber vf Commerce plain clothes. The Reds entered the. to raise $100,000 with which to pay town wearing straw hats and his troops, The Chamber, however, flaunting red rosettes. True to their was only able to raise a quarter of avowed intentions, they began their that sum, which was paid over, activities by burning and looting all This, coupled with the fact that the the official and mission property on troops were net too reliable, did the mainland—Reuter. not promise too well for the defence of the city.
A Soviet Regime On Sunday evening rifle shots Peking, July 20. were heard from the mainland, Later bands of General Ho Chien'
Since the occupation of Chang-troops confiscated sampans and sha by the Communist army which came to the island. These troops has clearly expressed its attitude to were badly seared and lost no time establish a Soviet regime in Hor representatives of Soviet Russia making off to the opp Reports were received that Peking ate daily sending reporte General Ho Chien's troops regarding the Communist activities rendered large numbers of rifles and in that region to Moscow attaching machine-guns ¢ the Reds. great importance to the develop-In the meantime foreigners had ment, while on the other hand the concentrated at different points on leaders of the enlarged: Kuomintang, the island and, later, they embarker including Mr, Wang Ching-wei are motor launches which anchore regarding the activities of the close to the gunboats.
In the early "Reds!" with much apprehension. hours of Monday, fires were obsery-Accordingly, it is believed that different parts of the town. the combination of the Northern 'The flames soon spread and pro-Tenders will become closer in pro: vided a spectacular blaze to the portion to the' development of th: refugees on the boats.
Red movement in Honan, sent a boat to the mai In view of the serious develop-guard and managed to monty in Hohan and the present bring off some nuns from the mai military situation on all the war: land. fronts, it is likely that the Muk-'Lone missionaries in sam a den authorities will refuse to. re-on foot were taken aboard the Aphis! ceive Messrs.
Sich Tou-peh and at the Inst moment. Owing to the Chiah Ching-teh, representatives of [ting water, she forced, after! taking the women on board, to'
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.