The Montgomery Advertiser
- Floodwaters take two lives as Kansas is swept
- Shoot-to-kill orders issued for protection of the mails
- Three warlords plan combination against Cantonese
The Advertiser's Kansas dispatch describes flooded streets, boat rescues and people escaping to higher ground, with at least two deaths and damage estimated above a million dollars. Another report turns postal robbery into a campaign of armed defense, including the possibility of recalling Marine guards. Its China dispatch says three military leaders are considering an alliance against the Canton government, presenting their shared hostility to Bolshevism as the proposed coalition's motive.
Translation
Floodwaters take two lives as Kansas is swept
Streets in the business section of Emporia inundated by swollen rivers; damage more than a million.
Neosho Falls submerged, with rainfall of 14 inches. Bank cashier stands waist-deep in water on the second story to telephone.
EMPORIA, Kansas, September 12 (AP).—Heavy rainfall in eastern Kansas today sent swollen rivers out of their banks and flooded several towns, with a toll of at least two lives and property damage estimated at more than $1,000,000.
Flooded streets in business and residential districts forced many to escape from their marooned places in rowboats. One boy lost his life at Madison, near here, when his craft capsized.
Rivers and creeks within an area of […] square miles became raging torrents after a record-breaking rainfall which lasted nine hours. The precipitation ranged from five to 11 inches. Rock Creek, flowing through the heart of the business district of Burlington, sent a stream of water six feet deep down the town’s main street. Damage to stores and their stocks was heavy.
A wall of water hit Saffordville after most of the population had reached safety on high ground. One merchant marooned in his store donned a bathing suit and swam ashore.
Boats were used to rescue people stranded in parts of Emporia, Madison, Strong City and Cottonwood Falls, all of which were damaged by the floodwaters.
Shoot-to-kill orders issued for protection of the mails
[…] Marine guard duty may resume. Steps taken to tighten up handling of valuables; move to stop banditry.
WASHINGTON, September 12 (AP).—A command to “shoot to kill” was sent out today by the Post Office Department to its army of 22,500 railway mail clerks to protect from bandits, even at the cost of their own lives, the millions of dollars’ worth of treasure handled daily in the United States mails.
The command, which applies to thousands of other postal employees, also constitutes a warning to the underworld that the postal service means war and anyone found attempting to rob the mails may expect a cold-lead reception and no mercy.
In issuing the command, it also was indicated that if this means of protection should fail, the United States Marines again might be called to guard the mails, as they did late in […] when banditry was prevalent.
This drastic move was determined by Postmaster General New at a council of war with his lieutenants as a result of the recent holdup near Chicago in which bandits stole $135,000 in currency.
Three warlords plan combination against Cantonese
Common hatred and fear of the red menace of Bolshevism cement Chinese leaders into a new alliance.
PEKING, September […] (AP).—Three warlords who have divided the bulk of China among themselves are planning to unite their forces to resist the encroachments of a fourth—Chiang Kai-shek of the Canton government of the provinces of Kwangtung and Kwangsi, southeastern China. Their common hatred and fear of the red menace of the Bolshevist Cantonese are cementing them into a defensive and offensive alliance.
Context
When streets became rescue routes
The flood account moves from regional rainfall to the practical problem of getting people out of buildings. Business districts as well as homes were inundated; a bank employee tried to telephone from an upper floor, and boats reached people cut off in several towns. Stores lost stock as well as access. These details show how one storm could interrupt rescue, communication and local trade at the same time.
Why soldiers were guarding letters and valuables
The mail carried cash and valuable goods along an extensive railway network, making it attractive to armed gangs. Postal inspectors lacked the manpower to guard the routes, and Marines had already been deployed in 1921. After further attacks, they returned in 1926. The newspaper’s threatened escalation belongs to this struggle over secure transport: its “shoot to kill” order concerned the protection of a national distribution system, not ordinary counter service.
Northern Expedition: a challenge to the warlords
Launched in 1926, the Northern Expedition sought to overcome the regional armies that obstructed China’s political reunification. That advance explains why rival warlords could contemplate cooperation against Chiang Kai-shek. The dispatch presents their shared fear of Bolshevism as the binding force. It combines a military struggle over territory with the anti-communist language through which the threatened leaders—and this report—interpreted the southern challenge.
Original
FLOODWATERS TAKE TOLL OF TWO LIVES AS KANSAS IS SWEPT
FLOODWATERS TAKE
TOLL OF TWO LIVES
AS KANSAS IS SWEPT
Streets in Business Section of
Emporia Inundated by Swol
len Rivers: Damage More
Than Million
JltOSHO FALLS SUBMERGED
WITH RAINFALL 14 INCHES
Bank Cashier Stands Waist
Deep in Water on Second
Story to Phone
EMPORIA, KAS., Sept. 12.—
(AP)—Heavy rainfall in eastern
Kansas today sent swollen rivers
out',of their banks and flooded
several towns with a toll of at
least two lives and property dam
age estimated at more than $1,
000,000.
Flooded street! in business end res
idential districts forced many to es
cape from their marooned places In
roar boats. One boy lost his life (it
Madison, near here, when his Craft
capsised.
Rivers and creeks within an area
of ISO square miles became raging tor
rents after a record breaking rainfall
which lasted nine hours. The precipi
tation ranged from five to 11 inches.
Rock creek; flowing through the heart
of tlve business district of Burlington,
sent a stream of water slz feet deep
down the town’s main street. Dam
age to stores and their stocks was
heavy.
A wall of water hit Saffordville aft
er most of the population had reached
safety on high ground. One merchant
marooned in hia store, donned a bath
ing suit and swam ashore.
Boats were used to rescue people
stranded In parts of Emporia. Madi
son, Strong City and Cottonwood Falls,
all of which were damaged by the
flood waters.
SHOOT TO KILL SAT ORDERS ISSUED FOR MAILS PROTECT!
SHOOT TO KILL SAT
ORDERS ISSUED FOR
MAILS PROTECT!
Posto^^jl'Department Directs
Postal Clerks to Take
>7_
Threaten resumption
7 OF MARINE GUARD DUTY
Static Action to Pre
vent Robberies
Steps Taken to Tighten Up
Handling of Valuables; Move
To Stop Banditry
_________
WASHINGTON, Sept., 12.—(AP)—A
command "to shoot to kill" wn aant
out today by tha postofflca depart
ment to its army of 22.500 railway
mall clerka to protect from bandits,
even at the coat of their own llvea,
the' mtlllona of dollara worth of treas
ure handled dally in the United Statea
malls.
The emomand, which applies to the
thousands of other postal employes,
also constitutes a warning to ttie un
derworld that the postal service means 1
war and anyone found attempting to
rob the malls may expect a cold lead
reception and no mercy.
In Issuing the command It also was
Indicated that If this means of' pro
tection should fair, the United States
marines again might be called to
guard the malls as they did late In
1*21 when banditry was prevalent.
This drastic piove was determined
by Postmaster General New at a
council of war with his lieutenants as
a result of the recent holdup near
Chicago in which bandits stole $135,
000 in currency. 4
THREE WAR LORDS PLAN COMBINATION TO BEATCANTONESE
THREE WAR LORDS
PLAN COMBINATION
TO BEATCANTONESE
Common Hatreds and Fears of
Red Menace in Bolshevism
i Cements Chinese Leaders
Into New Alliance
pbkino, sept. i*.—(ap)—Three
war lords who have divided tha bulk
of China Itmotia themselves are plan
ning to unite their forces to resist the
encroachments of a fourth—Chank
Kai-Shek of the Canton government
of the provinces of Kwantung and'
Kwangsl, southeastern China. Their
common hatred and fear of the red
menace of the Bolshevistic Cantonese
is cementing them Into defensive and
offensive alliance.
Source: Holding institution