War Clouds Gather

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 926, 20 March 1930, Page 9

War Clouds Gather

CHINA MILITARY LORDS BUSY Government Attacked TROOPS MOBILISE AGAINST NANKING W AK clouds are gathering over China, and Nationalist »» iorces are being mobilised hurriedly in order to defend Ihe Nanking Government, under the President, Cliiang KaiSliek, against the military ramifications of Yen Hsi-Shan, Governor of the province of Shansi. . Ten is reported to be aspiring to establish an independent Government at Peking and to oust the Republicans from tlie former capital.

United P.A.—Bn Telegraph—Copyright Reed. 11.5 a.m. SHANGHAI, Wed.

The continued withdrawal of Nationalist troops from the north to Nanking, in accordance with the announced refusal of the President, Chiang Kai-Shek, to resort to war against General Yen Hsi-Shan, is reported to be only a temporary retirement along the Tsinpu railway to enable a concentration of Nationalist forces to defend Nanking against a threatened attack by Shansi troops, who have already advanced over a considerable area, and who are now massing for the purpose of launching a general offensive. Yen’s troops have already disarmed the Nationalist garrison at Peking, and have expelled the Nanking nominees and seized the telephones and telegraphs. The Shansi press gangs, which have previously been working secretly, are now openly forcing thousands of coolies into service. The entire rolling stock of the Peking railways has been commandeered by the Shansi War Lord and the former capital is assuming the greatest military activity since the Nationalist occupation three years ago. MAY LOSE TERRITORY Every train leaving southward carries thousands of.northern soldiers. Nanking’s position is seriously threatened by two spheres of influence, though it is generally believed by foreign observers that Chiang Kai-

Shek’s military and monetary resources are sufficient to prevent Nanking’s fall, though joint uprisings may result in the loss of Hankow and considerable territory in the north, and in the probable establishment of a provisional Government at Peking under’Yen Hsi-Shan. The Central News Agency reports the official propaganda organisation of the Nationalist Government today stated that General Yen Hsi-Shan is planning to establish an independent Government' at Peiping (Peking.), bringing the former capital to its erst while status, reintroducing the name Peking and recalling its former dignity, to the exclusion of the Republicans. WU PEI-FU REAPPEARS According to the report, Marshal Wu Pei-Fu will become War Minister, Marshal Tuan Shi-Jui, a former Premier, will become Minister of the Interior, and Liang Shih-Yi, who is known as the “God of Wealth,” will become Minister of Finance. The announcement is regarded as a furtherance of the plans of the Shansi War Lord to withstand, at all costs, the encroachment of Nationalist influence in the North, and the determination of YenHsi-Shan to fight a determinate engagement with the President, Chiang Kai-Shek. Wu Pei-Fu, since his retirement, had been living a monastic life, and his name had not been mentioned until today in the present political turmoil.