FIGHTING BEGINS IN CHINA

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21966, 15 December 1936, Page 11

FIGHTING BEGINS IN CHINA

♦ NANKING FORCES FACE REBELS MARTIAL LAW IN SOME CITIES JAPAN ADOPTS A WAITING POLICY (UNITED I'KKSS ASSOCIATION —COPVRIG HT.) (Received December 14, 5.5 p.m.) NANKING, December 13. The Government, after a conference lasting all night, issued a manifesto denouncing Marshal Chang Hsueh-liang, commander of the troops which have revolted, as a traitor, relieved him of the Shensi command, and ordered his troops to ally themselves with the Central Government. Chang Hsueh-liang has massed a strong force in the Tung Kwan Pass between Shensi and Honan. . Martial law has been proclaimed in Nanking, Hankow, and othei cities. Fighting is reported on the Lunghai railway, where Nanking troops are attacking the rebels. The correspondent of the British United Press says that an Australian journalist, Mr W. H. Donald, who acts as adviser to Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, is expected to fly to Sianfu, the capital of Shensi and headquarters of the revolt, to-mor-row in the hope of securing the lelease of Chiang Kai-shek, who is a prisoner of the mutineers. General Fengyu-Hsiang. vicechairman of the Military Commission, has offered himself as a hostage for Chiang Kai-shek. A Tokyo message says that a long conference of the Foreign Office decided on a policy of watchful waiting toward the revolt in China.