WILL STAND AND FIGHT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 362, 24 May 1928, Page 9

WILL STAND AND FIGHT

Chang and His Northerners STUBBORN RESISTANCE ALREADY (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian Press Association.) Reed. 9.30 a.m. SHANGHAI, Wednesday. rE Northern leader Chang Tso-Lin’s announcement of his determination to stand and fight the Southerners has seemingly altered the complexion of the Northern affairs, and has' considerably alleviated the panic in Peking and Tientsin, It has also caused the Southerners to readjust their plans.

Reports from north state that the Southerners are meeting subborn resistance at the points where they have clashed with the Northerners.

Feng Yu-Hsiang’s forces, flanking, necessitated a slight Northern retreat. Otherwise the battle lines are unchanged. It is rumoured that Chang Tso-Lin has made overtures to the Shansi Governor, Yen-Hsi-Hsan, offering Peking in return for an alliance against the; South. This confirms the general belief that, without assistance, Chang Tso-Lin is doomed. JAPANESE CABINET REFORMATION ADJUSTED GRWECISM OF TANAKA (United Service) Reed. 9.5 sa.m. TOKYO, Wednesday. The domestic political situation, which has resulted in a reformation of the Tanaka Cabinet, with the installation of a new Home Minister, Mr. Keisuke Mochizuki, and a new Communications Minister, Mr. Fusanosuke Kuhara, has temporarily diverted attention from China. The Cabinet changes, however, are not considered esesntially important, being largely merely a upward for party workers and personal friends of the Prime Minister. The fact that no Foreign Minister

(The cable news in this issue accredited to "The Times” has appeared in that Journal, but only where expressly stated is such news the editorial opinion of “The Times.”>

has beeh appointed, the Prime Minister continuing to occupy the foreign portfolio, is criticised in a considerable section of the Prfss, which asserts that the present time is most vital for careful diplomacy and a broad-gauged visualisation of foreign affairs, which Baron Tanaka cannot be expected to obtain, owing to the multiplicity of his duties. No change in Baron Tanaka’s China policy, and with regard to Manchuria, is indicated. THo-day’s dispatches indicate that plans for co-ordination of the defence of Peking by the interntaional forces are being worked out, in collaboration with the Peking legations, and any dissensions will be eliminated. The American forces, however, are remaining independent, and are unwilling to consider any suggestion of unified command. In the meantime, the threatened major battle between the Northern and Southern Chinese forces is developing only slowly, with scattered clashes over a wide area.