BIG BATTLE IMMINENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 624, 28 March 1929, Page 11

BIG BATTLE IMMINENT

CHINESE FORCES MUSTER (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) (United Service) Reed. 9.5 a.m. HONG-KONG, Wed. The Nanking Nationalist Government is massing troops under the President, Chiang-Kai-Shek. It is believed that great fighting is imminent. It is already reported that 60,000 Nationalist troops are moving against the Ping Shan and Chang-Sha districts. Forty thousand others are pressing against Wuchang. Chiang Kai-Shek is personally leading the right flank. Hankow is being attacked from Anhui. The attackers are receiving support fom Canton. It is believed that the future existence of the Nanking Government depends upon the outcome of the present struggle. Twenty thousand Canton troops are marching rapidly toward the border of the Kiangsi province to reinforce the Hankow troops, who launched their attack on the Nationalist Government’s troops to-day. Communists are reported to be arming and preparing to join the antiNanking forces.

BRITISH COMMANDS REORGANISATION ANNOUNCED British Official Wireless RUGBY, Tuesday. The War Office announces that the North and South China commands are to be amalgamated next month. Major-General A. E. Wardrop, at present commanding the British troops in North China, will return home and the combined command will be assumed by Major-General J. W. Sandilands, now* commanding at HongKong. He will remain at Hong-Kong with an augmented staff. The Shanghai area will be commanded as at present by BrigadierGeneral O. C. Borrett and the Tientsin area by Brigadier-General Heath.