RACE FOR PEKING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 136, 11 June 1927, Page 9

RACE FOR PEKING.

THREE-CORNERED CONTEST. SHANGHAI, June 4. The recent reports of the capture of Hsuchowfu, an important station on the Tientsin-Pukow railway, are now proved to Ik? another example of the Southerners' mendacious propaganda. Undoubtedly, General Chiang Kaishek is trying hard to secure this city, which would afford him a "point d'appui," whence he could make his final burst for Peking, the race for which is proving the most exciting phase of the present stage of the war. The "Christian General." Feng Yuhsiang. Tang Sen-chi (Marshal Chang Tso-lin's chief of staff*, and Chiang Kai-shek, are all striving to reach the capital first, for whoever holds Peking will be able to dictate political terms to the other two friendly enemies. To all intents and purposes, Feng at present stands the best chance of reaching the corridor to Peking, thereby re-1 establishing the passage to the sea. of which he was deprived at the end of 1925, by the action of Chang Tso-lin. The position being thus established, the only question is: What will Feng do! As he is dependent on the Soviet for support, he may be expected to endeavour to force Hankow to submit to his domination, thereby bringing it back t" the Communist foid. Conditional on l»is success in this direction, he will pr)bably proceed to squash Chiang Kai-shek, and hand over the whole of China to Communist control. On the other hand, he may agree n a division of influence with Chiang, thereby establishing a new Tuchunate a# !iad as the old one.