PEKIN COUP D'ETAT

Gisborne Times, Volume LXI, Issue 9846, 27 October 1924, Page 5

PEKIN COUP D'ETAT

GENERAL FENG COMMANDS

CAPITAL

PALACE SUll ROUNDED. NEW PARTY "DETERMINED TO END WAR, PLIGHT OF PRESIDENT. United Press Association—Copyright. HONGKONG, Oct. 24. The naval authorities have been ireformed that General Eengyuhsiang deserted 1 Wupeifu, and or.' Thursday seized Peking with his division. —Sun Cable.

PEKIN, Oct. 24. ' The Pelcin public slept peacefully last night, unsuspecting the coup d’etat, which was carried out during the night secretly and quietly, with dramatic suddenness. A group of generals having decided to bring the hostilities to an end, recently arranged 1 for General Fengyushiang to return to Pekin and take command there. *

Early this morning the Pekin garrisoni' troops opened the gates to allow 1 , the entry of Feng’s men, who immediately cut all communications and took charge of the official departments and public utility services, after which the whole of Peng’s eleven/ divisions were stationed in various quarters of the city. They surrounded the palace., and arrested the Minister of Finance, Wangkehming, also General Leyenchir.g, Director of the Military Council attached to the Presidency. While roost of the Cabinet members are not concerned in the plot, a group of prominent young Chinese, ir.clud_ing the Minister of Education, Huangfu, and Dr. Ctwang, participated inside of Pekin and are now endeavoring to actively carry out the measures necessary to restore normal conditions. As soon as this group asserts itself it is determined to bring the hostilities to an end, after which it is intended to call a round-table conference, to which Chang Tsoi in. Sun.Yat Sen, and other leaders will he invited, with the object of instituting a sound Government and relinking China. They hint that a foreign loan will be necessary.

Wang asserts that Chang Tsolin is ready to comply with their wishes. The palace is surrounded, and the streets leading to it are held hv Feng's men. A circular telegram has beer/, issued hv Ecngyuhsiang and others, saying: “It is shameful. Is the .army maintained in order to promote internal strife instead of safeguarding the nation 1 .? Since 1911 there lias been much unjustifiable warfare in China. If the Government authorities had consciences they would advocate peace, but, on the contrary, since the outbreak in Kiangsu the whole national army has been mobilised and thousands of lives ■expended, but for what reason do we fight.. Who is the ringleader? None can answer this question. In 1924 drought and floods visited the country. We should be relieving people. Instead, fighting goes on. We intend to organise a, national army, which will he devoted to the welfare of the people. The intelligent classes of the whole country should make efforts in l view of reformation,” TOKIO- Oct. 24.

A message from Tientsin states that President Tsackan has fled from Pekin.—Reuter.

A COMPLICATED POSITION

WILL WUPEIFU CONTINUE

FIGTIT?

WHO WILL BE OPPONENTS—CHANG OR; FENG P

HOPES OF STABLE GOVERNMENT FROM PRESENT CHAOS.

(Received Oct. 26, 5.5 p.m.) PEKING, Oct, 25

It is hardly an exaggeration to say Tengyuhsiang’s defection from MuPeifu’e side complicated the political and military situation which already is almost beyond foreign comprehension, if not beyond the Chinese. The question arises, will Wupeifu continue the fight, and if so against whom, Chang Tsolin or Feng? The probabilities seem to point that he cannot do so, for no other reason than that Feng controls the railway leading from one of his chief arsenals. Moreover, the success of Feng’s coup caused further dissension in Wupeifu’s camp for the Chinese proverbially aic prone to desert a losing general. Un the other hand Wupeifu is known to be a brave man who unless there aie further serious defections is unlikely to accept the present state of things lying clown. Then there is the question of the attitude likely to be adopted by the military governors of various provinces ", who have supported Wupeifu hitherto, especially along the Yantze and around Shanghai. Will they continue to support him? If so and lie succeeds in linking up forces with them, the war may continue indefinitely, though it is more probable his followers will fall away and his power speedily collapse. Much depends upon what money and power lie still commands. With Peking cut off, the financial question must now bo serious for him

Among other important consequences of Feng’s intention to hold a conference may be another lease of power in the South for Sun Yat Sen, whose political fortunes since the burning of Canton have been at the lowest possible ebb. Altogether things in China have never been more in the melting pot than now, and foreigners and the best type of Chinese hope that a stable Government, with above all some degree of security for life and property, may emerge from the present chaos. Feng requested Tsaokun to issue two mandates, firstly, ordering the immediate cessation of ho.stiliies and secondly, ordering the punishment of Wupeifu. Tsaokun agreed to the former but declined the latter. Feng then took measures to secure compliance and later it was announced Tsaokun had ordered the cessation of hostilities and the dismissal of Wupeifu from liis present posts.—Renter.

PEKING CABINET RESIGNS. CHANG ANNOUNCES END OF WAR, (Received Oct. 26, 5.5 p.m.) PEKING, Oct. 24. President Tsokun’s order suspending further hostilities instructs the Fcngtienitos and Ohihliites to return to their original stations, pending further orders from the central government. It is reported Tsaokun has taken refuge in the legation Quarter. The Peking Cabinet resigned after counter-signing the mandate. A. communique from Chang Isolm announced the ending of the war with v the Central Government.— Router. X NO SHOT YET FIRED.

DIVERSE REPORTS OF WUPEIFU (Rcctived Oct. 26, 11.25 p.m.) PEKIN, OvA 25. Perfect order has been maintained up to the present. Not a single shot has been fired during or after the coup. Cabinet is nominally carrying on under- the Premier Yen. A vernacular paper reports that Chang Tsolin 'was treated similarly to Wupeifu by Tsaokun. This is not confirmed but Peking papers assert Lichinglin, general of the first Fcngtien army who secretly conferred with Fen", is marching on Mukden with the object of ousting Chang Tsolin. (Continued at. foot of next column.)

Later messages state that, Wupeifu is in full flight. The retreat of the Central Government’s armies at Shaiihaikwan oct M It is stated authoritatively that WuPeifu is launching a heavy attack on the Shanhaikven front, endeavouring to turn Cliang Tsolm s right flank. Wupeifu is apparently determined to bring a quick final decision there by an attack rather than attempt a retreat.—-lienter.