Gen. Chen Chi-tang Confirms Previous Report Canton, Feb. 25,
piracy was made to-day by General A reference, tothe' Tungchow Chen Chi-tang, the Commander-in-Chief of the Cantonese armies, the course of a report on paelfeation problems in Kuangtung province at the weekly memorial service.
He said that bandit activities with.
the province had been completely suppressed, the only outbreak' being the. Tungchow piracy.
This outrage, he declared, was unexpected, and it was beyond the ability of the Canton authorities to frustrate the plot beforehand since the steamer was seized while en route to North China, although the Pirates subsequently landed at Wal-yang.
General Chen added that he was glad, however, to announce the suecessful capture of one member of the gang and the recovery of a bundle of unsigned bank-notes, He gave an assurance that continued efforts would be made by the military authorities to bring the rest justice, Turning to the Communist situation {in south Kiangsi, General Chen said that although the main body of Reds under the notorious Chu Teh and Mao Cheh-tung had flew to the west, the whole strength of the 24th division and several independent regi ments totalling ro less than 7,000 still occupied the border of the area.
This, he added, necessitated continued' military operations against them during the last two months, and the Cantonese forces had so far killed over a thousand and captured more than 500 Reds in battles.
conclusion Gen. Chen confirmed the withdrawal of the Canton forees from Kweichow, in compliance with an order from the War Ministry in Nanking—Reuter. jin several places, making it dan~ gerous to cross at certain points Where the current underneath is strongest. The ice is much thinner his year than usual.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.