WAR IN CHINA.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19312, 17 May 1928, Page 9

WAR IN CHINA.

FIGHTING UNLIKELY. PREPARATIONS COMPLETED. ' (Received May 17th, 12.58 a.m.) j (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —BT ELECTRIC TELEOBAPH —COPTBIOHT.) SHANGHAI, May 16. Foreign garrisons at Tien-tsin are speeding defence works and expect to have them completed to-morrow. Motor-cycle and cavalry patrols are already operating on the outskirts. Japanese volunteers have mobilised. The Northerners apparently intend to make a stand at Machang, 30 miles from Tien-tsin, though foreipi observers, considering the demoralisation of the Northerners do not anticipate really effective measures to hold the position. Owing to the gravity of impending events in North China, Admiral Bristol, Commander-in-Chief of the American Asiatic Fleet, who is on an official visit to Japan, informed a correspondent that he is leaving Yokohama on Wednesday night for Shimonoseki, where he will board an American destroyer on Thursday night and proceed to Tien-tsin. Admiral Bristol's flagship, the cruiser Pittsburg, will remain in Yokohama for some days, later sailing for Ching-wan-tao, which is the regular American fleet summer headquarters. While Admiral Bristol cannot be quoted, it is known that he can aeu serious potentialities in the China situation, and will bend every effort to prevent American forces becoming involved. It is believed that Admiral Bristol is in full accord with the Washington State Department's programme for evacuating American nationals to American warships in the event of its being impossible to defend them _ in Tien-tsin without endangering the lives of Chinese civilians and Japanese. Competent foreign observers, however, think that fighting in the Tien-tsin area is unlikely. They do not expect any repetition of the Tsinan incidents, since they feel that the geographical situation of Tien-tsin is entirely different, and emphasise that the city will be adequately defended by large international forces, including Japanese, American, British, and others. It is not anticipated here that it will be necessary to remove the foreign Legations and their nationals from Peking to Tien-tsin, and there is no indication of the Japanese Government even considering such action. —Australian Press Association, United Service.

THE NORTHERNERS' RETREAT. (Keceived May 16th, 5.5 p.m.) SHANGHAI, May 15. The latest reports indicate that the Feng-tien troops are already preparing to retreat to Manchuria. Guns and troops are passing through Pekin and Tien-tsin in sufficient quantities to indicate that the ( withdrawal has commenced." Japanese" reports state that the Fengtien forces, however, are preparing three lines of defence against the advance of the Shanßi forces under Yen Shi Shan. The defence is unlikely to be of avail owing to the determined movement against Tien-tsin, which, if successful, cuts the main line of the Feng-tien retreat, forcing a movement via Kalgan. A general attack against Japanese forces in Shantung is not regarded seriously in local Chinese circles. —Australian Press Association, United Service. CHINA'S APPEAL RECEIVED. Washington, May is. A message sent by the Chinese Nationalist Council in Nanking asking the United States to make known their attitude towards the Japanese intervention in Shantung was received by President Coolidge to-day, and was sent to the State Department, where it was said* that the appeal would be filed for future reference. There was no indication that an answer, or acknowledgment, would be sent to Nanking.—Australian Press Association.