MOSCOW’S HAND

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 10, 6 October 1927, Page 9

MOSCOW’S HAND

SEEN IN NEW OFFENSIVE IN CHINA CAMPAIGN AGAINST CHANG TSOLIN PREPARED BY BORODIN DAMAGING BLOW TO BARRIER AGAINST BOLSHEVISM Sir Percival Phillips says the hand of Moscow is seen in a new offensive against Chang Tso-lin, the arch-enemy of Bolshevism, the campaign having been prepared by Borodin. Chang’s troops have had to retire before the enemy, and a damaging blow has been dealt against the barrier to Bolshevism which Chang had maintained.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright.

(Rec. October 5, 7.25 p.m.)

London, October 4

Sir Percival Phillips, the “Daily' Mail’s” Shanghai correspondent, says Moscow’s hand is seen in the new joint offensive of the Communist leader Peng Yu-Hsiang and General Yen Hsi-shen, Governor of Shansi Province, against Chang Tso-lin, the arch-enemy of Bolshevism. Borodin, before proceeding to Siberia, profited by . his long are beginning to drift into the city in an ominous state of discouragement, were faced by the Shansi forces, 130 miles north-west of Peking, and subsequently retired along the railway towards Peking. This lias already dealt a damaging blow against the barrier to Bolshevism which Chang had maintained. A severe censorship in Peking prevents the obtaining of exact news, but it .is understood that Chang’s troops are beginning to drift into the city in an ominous state of discouragement. In the meantime Feng has made ready to move north towards Peking with frankly Bolshevik armies. Chang’s southern allies have been ordered to defend the territory, but they are notoriously unwilling to withstand any determined thrust. Though Feng is weak in munitions, the moral effect of Chang’s defeat is quite sufficient to influence his unstable allies. Moscow agents are gaining headway with a new Communist campaign in South China, and agitation is 'ncreasing in Shanghai, with artificially inspired strikes, accompanied by the usual terrorisation and assassination. The province of Kwangtung and Kiangsi are honeycombed with new Bolshevik groups. z\ well-organised Swatow force is preparing to sweep the coastal province in the direction of Shanghai, and further west in the area south of Hankow. Moscow agents have reorganised the military units and peasant corps, showing extreme activity. Despite the efforts of Soviet emissaries to keep under cover, their activities are ' fully know.—Sydney “Sun" Cable. RAKOVSKY TO LEAVE PARIS (Rec. October 5, 7 p.m.) London, October 5. The Riga correspondent of “The “Times” states that the Soviet has abandoned hope of keeping M. Rakovsky in Paris. Tlie newspaper “Izvestia” says the Soviet has no ambassadors other than Communists, therefore a change in persons will alter nothing—“ The Times.”

COMMUNIST OUTBREAKS IN FRENCH ARMY (Rec. October 5, 7 p.m.) London, October 5. The Paris correspondent of “The Times” states that M. Painleve, Minister of War, discounting the seriousness of Communist outbreaks in the army, savs: “Youth has begun to think that military service is finished because manoeuvres have been allowed to lapse for eight years. Though 140,000 were called up for training in 1927, only twentv merited severe punishment.”—“The Times.” TRIED FOR ESPIONAGE (Rec. October 5, 7 p.m.) Moscow, October 5. A Kamenetz-Podolsk tribunal tried fifty accused of espionage in the Ukrainian territory on behalf of Poland. Five were sentenced to death and others to five to ten years’ imprisonment.—A.P.A. and “Sun.”