The situation en the Yangtze, especially on the middle river, appears to be growing steadily worse, with the spread of the communist menace. Ships coming down river note the red flag more and more in evidence, while firing on the ships takes place daily.
Shipping circles are also viewing' with apprehension the approach of winter and low water in the middle river, in view of the absence of aids. to navigation. The river inspectors ceased their work in July and Rave net returned, and in consequence shipping is exposed to more dangers. of going aground. Th€ subsequent danger of attacks by bandits, against whom the guards at present carried on ships would be of little avail, is the chief item which now faces the shipping companies. appears that a convoy system, for groups of steamers, may have to be Put in force, so that no stranded vessel will be left without protecting. gunboat, The str. Kiangwo, of the Indo-China Steam Navigation Ca., arriv-Shanghai yesterday from Tehang, and reports having been fired en below Shasi, and that several up-bound steamers had reported a similar occurrence. The guard party of the 2nd Green Howards on board the Kiangwo returned the fire with good effect en one occasion, while on another occasion the effect of the fire could not be observed.
After leaving, little in the way of communists was observed. At Wansi there were a few men in government uniform, at Tuhechow 8 few armed civilians and at Shasi government troops. Below however, every Heehia to No. 7 Crossing, inclusive, was in the hands of communists or flying red flags and banners to show sympathy with them—or occupation by them.
Sze Pa Kow (at No. 4 Crossing)
as evacuated, as were the villages in the hinterland. All their inhabitants had moved over to the south bank of the river, while those fon the ship counted nine big. fires blazing, the empty villages being. well alight.
Several thousand armed—communists were seen on the march at various places, the general trend being up-river. Large groups were seen at the following places: Tien Kien Mow, 100: Hsinhokow, 300 to 400: Kienli, 500 to 600: Sun*Chi Wan, 1000.
Up-bound ships informed the Kiangwo that they had been fired upon, stating that the attacks oc-Crossings, 1, 8 9, 11, 14, 19, 22 and at Kien!
At Crossing 22 the Kiangwo was fired upon from the north bank, by rifles only. 'The armed geard' replied immediately with rifles and a Lewis gun, but could not observe any casualties on shore. Nobody was hit on the steamer.
At Kienli more firing occurred. A party in the vicinity of a hotel, using bales of cotton as a breastwork, was responsible, and fired 50 without anybody. The armed guard replied with rifles and a Lewi ud as a result of this 20 to 26 fies were observed on shore. to be growing attacks, but the Treaty Ports, no daube because the gunboats are on the alert to protect them. The country people between Yochow and Ichang have suffered so much from communist bands who live on the land that they are no longer gro ing beans, but cotton instan cotton.
Hungry marauders cannot eat.
After the Kiangwo's passage all the way from Ichang to Shanghai passing through a communi infested region and having suffered attacks from the reds, an incident Woosung yesterday morning seems rather incongruous. The Kiangwo was ordered to stop at Woosung Forts, and a party of Chi nese soldiers came on board "to search for communists.
Execationers in Wuchang were kept exceptionally busy on September 26, reports a telegram appearing in the Chinese press on September 28, no fewer than 44 Communists were taken from their cells and shot publicly.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.