MUKDEN WAR LORD DEPARTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 371, 4 June 1928, Page 9

MUKDEN WAR LORD DEPARTS

Peking Open to Nationalists

CHINA IN REACH OF UNIFICATION

(United i’.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian Press Association) Reed. 8.10 a.m. PEKING, Sunday. MARSHAL CHANG TSO-LIN'S two-year dictatorship of North China ended early this morning when he entrained quietly, with staff and cabinet ministers, for Manchuria. This development, which was due to political rather than military considerations, has been expected for several days, and the dictator’s exit was dignified and not hurried. His armies, the cream of which undefeated, apparently decided that, with the elimination of Russian influences from the Nationalist movement, nothing- much was left to fight about, and will follow him back to Mukden in the course of the next few days, leaving Nationalists in control of all China South of the Great Wall.

It Is expected that the capital will be turned over without disturbance to the new masters. A committee of leading citizens is taking the temporary control of affairs. In an interview with foreign Ministers Chang promised that peace would be maintained in Peking. He expressed regret that he was about to

abandon the capital. The Ministers thanked the dictator for the peace and safety enjoyed during his tenure of office. The representatives of the Powers at Peking are now co-operating in defence measures. Troops belonging to the various foreign garrisons are ready to take up their stations at a minute’s notice. Foreign residents are preparing to take refuge in the Legations with their possessions if that course becomes necessary. Deep silence reigns within the walled city. The announcement of the dictator’s departure for Mukden, Manchuria, is expected to be the signal for a general advance on the city by the Nationalists. FIGHT OR PAY? COMMANDERS WORRIED NO MONEY FOR SOLDIERS Reed. 10.10 a.m. SHANGHAI, Sunday. Late telegrams report that Chang Chung-< .'hang, Sun Chuan-Fang and Chang Hsueh-Liang do not intend to relinquish Peking immediately. The first-named hopes to arrange a combination with Shansi in opposition to General Feng Yuh-Siang and the Southerners, and has issued orders to the Northern troops to remain for the purpose of engaging the Southerns in a decisive battle. Probably the truth is the remaining .Northern commanders face consider-

able difficulty disbanding their armies whose pay' is many months in arrears. A TURNING POINT TREATY REVISION NEXT DEMOBILISATION TROUBLES Tim 93 Cable. Reed. 11 a.m. TOKYO, Sunday. Apropos of Chang’s evacuation of Peking, a result for which Japanese diplomacy has worked unremittingly since Tsinan fell has been attained. No Japanese statesman pretends to believe that China’s torubles are over, but it is hoped that a turning point for the better has been reached. The committee of government which has been set up will be composed of representatives of the various parts of China and it is likely that the Powers shortly will be considering the Question of the resumption of the tariff conference and the revision of treaties. The disbandment of hordes of armed coolies, whom civil wars mobilised, is a huge task. Meanwhile, Japan is saved the necessity of acting the policeman. AJI foreigners apparently are safe, and Peking has changed hands bloodlessly, and Nationalism has attained its immediate goal. LOST POWER CHANG’S WANING AUTHORITY Chang Tso-lin, the “War Lord” of Manchuria, for a long time has been a most potent factor in the swirl of China’s politics. When the wave of Republicanism swept the Manchu dynasty from its andient throne, Chang began his climb to power. Early in his career he fought with the Japanese against Russia. As Governor of the rich territory of Manchuria he attained an enviable military strength which enabled him, with the use of shifting alliances, to dominate Peking. Some three years ago he became master of the capital, through Feng Yuhsiang, the “Christian General,” suddenly changing sides and letting his friends down. Feng, however, did not run long in double-harness with Chang, and soon retired to Kalgan to lick his wounds and restore his military power. Meantime the revolution waxed in the South, and the northward thrust of the Nationalists has become steadily stronger. Chang’s main concern now will be to preserve his position in Manchuria, and he will find difficulty in doing this without placing himself more in the power of Japan, to whom he already owes a great deal of his economic and military prestige.