Canton, Feb. 3.
Martial law hai been' declared throughout the city from midnight until to-morrow as a precautionary measure due to sundry sensational rumours, including the possible renewal of Japanese activities against South China, Several foreigners moved Into Shameen to-night from Tungshan and Salchuen because of the. nervousness of their Chinese servants, who refused to remain on the premises.
The actual reason for the present nervousness is unknown, although Foreign Ships Asked To Leave Canton Some Chinese sources state that to-day's big Japanese. aerial demonstration in Canton. was timed to coincide with an anti-Government coup alleged to have been organized by the followers of General Chen Chi-tang, ex-Governor of Kwangtung, who rebelled against General Chiang Kal-shek in 1936 and, as a result, was deposed.
Well-informed Chinese sources in the Colony said that " considerable disgruntled clement existed in Canton, which included former members of the 19th Route Army.
Despite denials of internal disseri~ sion in Canton, they added, an undercurrent of tense excitement undoubt tedly existed there, and the Chinese authorities were watch against sub 'The many rumours circulating tu Hongkong to-day included one to the effect that a certain very high oficial was confined to his home with a military guard alt round, and another which said that the house of the Mayor, Mr. Tseng' Yang-fu, was fired upon Yesterday but that none of the occupants was injured.—Reuter, 'A Trying Day Canton, Feb, 3.
The city was plunged into excitement this afternoon as the result of a notification Issued the Chinese authorities advising all foreign vessels to leave the harbour before nightfall. The step was attributed fo "the stress of local " elreumstances," The notice caused consternation among shipping companies in Canton, who Immediately me formed the authorities that they were unable 1 move their ships fat such notice, dt is now hoped that the closing of the boom will be postponed. The reason for the action s somewhat ob-Scure, The situation in South China is still quiet, but it is be+ Tieved in some quarters that it may ba the result of the reported shelling of the Bocca Tigris forts by Japanese warships. The ships fat present in Canton are the Taishan, the Salon, the Kwang-sal, two British gunboats and one American gunboat—Reuter, several wild and unconfirmable rumours elreulated in the city all doy to-day, The notifeation issued by the Chinese authorities this afternoon, advising all foreign vessels to leave the harbour before nightfall, is believed
sion, be partly responsible for the ten-'The reason for the sudden order to all foreign vessels to leave the har-hour is unobtainable, but the Military Headquarters is reported to have informed one source that "something is in the aly without disclosing what, Forelm sources are puzzled at the latest development, but since Canton has experienced several scares recently they are inclined to be sceptical of the possibility of hostilities extending to South China.
It is also pointed out that this is the second occasion that river trample has been temporarily suspended, and that Canton is stil linked with Hongkong by rail and the new motor road,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.