CHINESE FIGHT AGAIN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 454, 8 September 1928, Page 9

CHINESE FIGHT AGAIN

NORTHERN RESISTANCE BATTLING NEAR PEKING (United I\A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) SHANGHAI, Thursday. Heavy fighting between the forces of the Nationalists and the provincial armies of Chihii and Shantung is reported- to have broken out recently on the outskirts of Peiping (formerly Peking). It is said that the situation is becoming worse. Dispatches to hand to-day say success is attending the Nationalists. They are driving the hitherto unconquered Northern troops further north and causing the hasty erection of barricades by General Chang Hsuehliang, the new ruler of Manchuria. The latter is the late Marshal Chang Tso-lin’s son and successor. Chang’s orders to his forces are to prevent the Shantung troops entering Manchuria, by force if necessary. Since the Nationalists captured Peiping the position has been ma.de insecure by the presence there of the Shantung forces who have resisted all efforts to disarm them. The present campaign has been launched by the Nationalists in the hope of permanently removing this menace. The Nationalists accuse the Japanese forces at Shantung of having aided the Shantung army. It is freely stated that Japan is assisting Marshal Chang Tsung-chang, formerly military governor of Shantung, to renew military activity in that province, where there are immense Japanese interests.