CHINESE TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 October 1927, Page 2

CHINESE TROUBLE.

REDS IN CHINA

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON; Oci Mr Percival Phillips, the “Daily Mail” Shanghai correspondent says: “Moscow’s hand is seen in a new joint offensive of the Communist leader, General Feng Yuli Hsiang and General Yenhsishen, the Governor of the Shansi Province, against Chang Tso Lin, who is the arch-enemy of Bolshevism. M. Borodin (the Russian) before proceeding to Siberia, profited by bis long stay in General Feng’s and General Yen’s territory to prepare this campaign. General Chang’s trpops wore faced by the Shansi forces 130 miles north-west of Pekin, and subsequently retired along the railway towards Peking. This has already dealt a damaging blow against the Bolshevik harrier, which General Chang had maintained.

There is a severe censorship in Peking, which prevents the obtaining of exact news, but it is understood General Chang’s troops are beginning to drift into the city in an ominious sri* of discouragement. In the meantime, General Fong lias made ready to move north towards Peking with frankly Bolshevik armies. General Chang’s southern allies have been ordered to defend their territory, but they are notoriously unwilling to withstand any determined thrust. Though General Feng is weak in munitions, the moral effect of General Chang’s defeat is quite sufficient to influence his unstable allies.

Moscow’s agents are gaining headway with a new Communist campaign in South China, and agitation is increasing in Shanghai, with artificially inspired strikes, accompanied by the usual terrorisation and assassination. The provinces of Kwangtung and Kiangsi are honeycombed with, new Bolshevik groups well organised. At Swatow a force is preparing to sweep the coastal provinces in the direction of Shanghai, and further west, in the area south of Hankow, the Moscow agents have reorganised military units, and the present crops are showing extreme activity. Despite the efforts of the Soviet emissaries to keep under cover, their activities are fully known.

THE CHINESE AVAR. SHANGHAI, Oct. 3. Advices from Peking declare the capital is panic stricken as a result of the reverses suffered by the Fengtien forces at the hands of the Shansi army under Yenshislian, who recently declar r ed for the Nationalists. The enemy is advancing without resistance. There is little actual fighting as yet. Tlie Northerners were taken by surprise by Shansi’s action and propose to make a stand at Hauli, on the PekinHankow railway, 120 miles from Pekin. Tlie Shansi developments are responsible for halting on Sunchuanfang’s. As a result of the programme in the Lower Yangtsze region, Sun is now concentrating on the task of holding back the Nankingites from advancing to join in the attack on Peking.