CHINESE SITUATION

Southland Times, Issue 18843, 8 June 1920, Page 5

CHINESE SITUATION

PREDATORY MILITARISM. LEADERS AT LOGGERHEADS. (By Telegraph. -Press Assn.—Copyright.) (The Times.) PEKIN. June 5. Present conditions supply a curious picture of predatory militarism. The quarrel among jealous northern leaders resulted in the retirement of the army upon which the southern army advanced, breaking the armistice which had lasted for two years. Southern leaders are also at loggerheads involving numerous minor conflicts. Meanwhile the Government troops in Shenshi are turning bandit on a wholesale scale. The Central Government is powerless to secure obedience. Provincial satraps are scheming to promote their own interests. It is expected that rural cliques will settle flown after regrouping like a menagerie after a thunderous bout of roaring and rampageousnoss. Further hostilities are possible but on a minor scale. The leaders arc all Vicars of Bray lusting for power and profit. None cares a tinker’s curse about China while the rankers do not want civil war but only opportunities for loot, SPLIT AMONG POLITICIANS. (Reuter's Telegrams.) SHANGHAI, June 5. There has been a serious split between politicians in South. China. A meeting of representatives of the Governments of Shenshi, Szechuan and Hunan decided to declare the independence of these ivovinc.es and to henceforth not recognise the authority of the Canton Government.