CHINESE WAR.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 October 1924, Page 1

CHINESE WAR.

WU AT TIENTSIN. [Keutkus TELEGRAM9.] PEKIN, Get. 27. The city was denuded of its troops last night, except for the guards surrounding the Presidential palace and a small party guarding the telegraph ofliee. A Tientsin message states that Wu Pei Fit, who arrived at Tientsin yesterday, established temporary headquarters in the city and issued a message to the diplomatic corps denouncing Fengytihsiang as a traitor and an ingrate, asserting that Tliaokuu specially instructed Wu to take steps to cope with the situation. Therefore, lie assembled his army of one hundred thousand to eliminate Feng and restore the situation. AYu holds the railway to Pekin as far as l.ofta States.

Kiangsau and Shantuligites are coming up by rail via Tsinanfu, the Hupesile.s liy rail from Hankow. The Shamvaikwan front at present ibeing held on the defensive.

A COMPLICATED S ITU AT 10 X. I’EKIXG, Get. 2d.

Tt. is hardly an exaggeration to say that General Feng Yu-lisiang’s defection from General Wll Pei-fu’s side has complicated the .political military situation, which already is almost fieyond foreign apprehension, if not heyoml Chinese. Tlio question arises: \\ ill Wll Pei-fu continue to tight and. if so. against whom—Chang Tso-lin, or Feng? The probabilities seem lo point that he cannot do so, if for no other reason than that Feng controls the railway leading from one of his chief arsenals. Moreover, the success of Feng’s coup has caused further dissension in AYu l’ei-fn’s camp, for the Chinese proverbially are prone to desert a losing general. On tlie other hand, AYu is known to lie a brave mail who, unless there are further serious defections, is unlikely to accept Ihe present state of things lying down.

Then (here is the question of the attitude likely lo he adopted by the military governors of the various provinces who have supported AA’u l’ei-fu hiherto. especially along the Ynngtso and around Shanghai. AA’ill they continue to support him? If so, and if he succeeds in linking up forces wiU them, the war may continue indefinitely. though it is more probable that his followers will fall awav and his power speedily collapse. Much depends upon what money power he still commands. AA'ith Peking cut off. the financial question must now lie serious to him. Among other important consequences of Feng’s intention to hold a con-

ference. may he mini her lease of power in the soulli for Dr Sun A’at Sen, whose political fortunes since the burning of Canton have been at Hie lowest possible ebb. Alogether. tilings in China never have 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 nf security for life and property—may emerge from the present chaos. Feng requested President I’siio-Kiiii lo is-ue two mandates; First, ordering (I) liiiinccliatc cessation ol lio-tiliiies.

and (2) punishment, ol V n Pei-ftt. Tsao-Kim agreed to the former, but 1 the hitter. Feng then look measures to secure compliance, and later it was announced that Tsiio-liiui bad <inler'*d a cessation of hostilities and the dismissal <>l' Wu Pei-I’u from Ids present post. The order suspending further hostilities instructs. the opposing forces to return In their original stations pending further orders from the I'enlral Gnvcriiincut. || j . i, )...t ied I bat Tun kun ba-. taken lefllge ill I lie Legation qiUllter Ilf Peking. Cabinet resigned after counter-signing (he mandate. A communique from Chang Iso-lin announces the ending of the war with the Central Government. GETTING RID OF WU. PEKTXG. Oct. ‘Jo. By President Tsao-Kun’s order, the posts of Coinmander-in-f'liief and YicoC'onimander of the Expeditionary Forces are abolished, and General till Pei-l’ti is dismissed from bis posts and appointed Chief Commissioner for the development of Knkn Nor. which is a large saltwater lake in North-East Tibet. The remainder of l'Vng-l u--1,-mug's troops have reached Peking. :i!sn ITi.IMK) SluMisi tnmps. jjpvinji I* * * ll a total command of upwards ol 40.0:)D. . . . Perfect order lias been maintained tip to the present. Not a single shot was Prod during or after the coup, and Cabinet is nominally carrying on under tln- Premier (Wu Yen). The vernacular papers report that Cham' Tso-lin was treated similarly to Wu Pei-fu by Tsao-kun. This is not eniiiirnied. but Peking papers asser that Uiehiiig-lin. a. General ol the hr-.t I'Vngtien Army, who secretly conferred wih Feng, is marching on Mukden with the object of noising C hang Tsolin. . ~, . f T.nlo rinossn<coß stnl<* tlwit Vi u i is i'll full flight, and the retreat of the Central Government’s armies at Sluilighaikwan cut off.