The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY. MAY 3, 1928. AFFAIRS IN CHINA.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 May 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is in corporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY. MAY 3, 1928. AFFAIRS IN CHINA.

Aekaiiis in China are again taking a turn of general interest to outsiders. The country is sadly wracked hv revolution and counter revolution, and the marvel is that it is able to stand such upheavals, and retain sonic solidarity as a nation. Ci late, matters were rather at a standstill, for which no doubt seas::no I conditions were accountable. Within the past w eek dramatic and startling developments have been reported from the Far East. For months past the Northern armies, controlled by Chang Tso-lin. and the Nationalist forces, directed by Cliinug Kai-shek, have been facing eacli other on or near the Hwang-ho. the great “Yellow River" south of Shantung. Chang Tso-lin, having routed portion of the Shantung levies, which are cooperating with the Nationalists, seems to have attempted to outflank the Nationalist left wing. But in so doing he exposed himself to a counter-stroke from Feng Yu-h.siang the “Christian" general who struck a, sudden blow from the west at the Northern right wing which threatened Chang T.solin's communications and forced him into precipitate retreat, The posi-

tion of 'Cluing Tso-lill’s forces seems at present precarious in the extreme. It is reported Unit the Manchurian “war lord’’ will he compelled to throw the whole of bis forces into the firing line in a desperate effort to save Poking. Even Ibis expedient may not suffice and it is quite conceivable that the Nationalists may speedily realise the highest object of their ambitions by entering the Imperial City. In the meantime the situation has been complicated dangerously by the intervention of Japan. At Tsinan, the chief city of Shantung province, are a large number of Japanese residents and mer-

chants. The. Nationalist armies are advancing rapidly on Tsinan, and are already reported to be shelling and bombing the city. The Japanese Government has therefore decided to dispa till 50(10 troops to llie war-zone, with the assurance that the object of the expedition is' merely to ensure the safety of Japan’s “nationals.’’ and that the troops will be withdrawn as soon as that object is secured. Naturally. Japan has taken some pains to make it clear to the Chinese Government and to the European Powers, comments an exchange, that there is no ulterior motive behind the expedition. Peking lias been definitely informed that the dispatch of Japanese troops is merely “an unavoidable measure of self-pro-tection,” and that it does not imply an unfriendly attitude towards China or any desire to intervene in the conflict between North and South. This may be true for the moment, but in view of the disordered state of Chile it is impossible to prediet bow far Japan’s policy may be modified by the course of circumstances later on. Meanwhile. the Peking Government, evidently alarmed at Cluing Tso-Lin’s defeat, seems to he changing its tone, and though in the first place it protested against the dispatch of Japanese troops, it lias now decided to propitiate the Japanese Government, and latest reports represent Peking as “suddenly becoming more friendly to .1 a pan.”