THE TURMOIL IN CHINA

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 190, 14 May 1928, Page 9

THE TURMOIL IN CHINA

CESSATION OF FIGHTING AT TSINAN-FU SOUTHERNERS CONTINUE DRIVE TOWARDS PEKING APPEAL TO LEAGUE AGAINST JAPAN’S DESPATCH OF TROOPS

Fighting in the vicinity of Tsinan-fu has ceased, and negotiations between Chinese and Japanese for a settlement and the fixing of the blame have commenced. The Southern forces are continuing their drive on Peking, which is believed to be doomed, and the Northern; militarists are reported to be preparing to flee to Manchuria.

(United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph. Copyright.)

(Australian Press Assn.—United Service.)

Shanghai, May 11. Fighting in the vicinity of Tsinau-fu is believed practically to have ceased, and negotiations for a settlement and the affixation of blame have started. Mr. Nakayama, chief of the first section of the Asiatic Affairs Bureau, is proceeding from Japan to Tsinau-fu to meet the Chinese delegates. Four thousand Southerners are reported to be remaining in the walled section of Tsinan-fu. Their attitude is uncertain. The walls have largely been demolished by Japanese artillery. A telegraphic complaint/has been received from the Chinese telegraph staff at Tsinan-fu, alleging that the Japanese imprisoned forty members in the telegraph building and let them starve for four days without food. They are appealing for assistance and foreign intervention. The Northerners are withdrawing in accordance with Chang Tso-lin’s instructions, relieving the tension.

New Light on Tsinan-fu Incidents.

Eye-witnesses accounts of Tsinau-fu incidents throw a new light on the affair. They declare that the trouble started when the Southerners captured Tsinan-fu and found that the Japanese had arrived first and had barricaded Sections of the city. This angered the Southerners, and from that moment a strong anti-Japanese feeling was in evideuce. An official list of Japanese military casualties in various encounters has been issued by the "War Office. It shows that twenty-one were killed and seventy-nine wounded. The Chinese casualties are not stated, but it is believed that the killed and wounded number several thousand. The Japanese are taking precautions against outbreaks here. Sentries are posted at important points in the Japanese quarter. NATIONALISTS APPEAL TO LEAGUE (Australian Press Assn.—United Service.)

Geneva, May 11.

The Chinese National Government has sent a letter to the League, of Nations denouncing the Japanese violation of China’s integrity and independence, involving the League Pact, and requesting the Council to end a situation prejudicial to Sino-Japanese peace. It is pointed out that the Chinese National Government is not a member of the League, and therefore the application is out of order. It would be regularised if Peking endorsed it. In the meantime, the Secretariat is communicating with all members of the Council. It is expected that Japan will also submit the matter to the Council. STATEMENT BY JAPANESE PREMIER MORE LIVES LOST IF TROOPS NOT SENT (“Times” Cables.) (Rec. May 13, 5.5 p.m.) Tokio, May 12. The Prinie Minister, General Tanaka, interviewed, said it was now hoped to transfer the Tsinan affair to diplomatic negotiations. Japan had no intention of obstructing the Nationalist revolutionary movement. The dispatch of Japanese troops was merely for the protection of Japanese residents and the Kiaochow-Tsinan railway. It was certain that the massacres in Tsinan were committed deliberately, as they were at Nanking last year. Many more Japanese Ilves would have been lost if Japan had hesitated in sending troops. He believed that the British, American, and other foreigners might have been molested but for the presence of the Japanese Army, and that Europe and America recognised that Japan’s mobilisation was opportune. So far no untoward incident has occurred in the Yangtze Valley, but the Japanese and other naval authorities were exercising proper precautions in that area. Regarding the reaction of the Shantung affair on domestic politics, General Tanaka said he was willing to cooperate with the Opposition for a solution of the Shantung problem.

DEFENCE OF TIENTSIN CONCESSION

DISCUSSED BY POWERS’ REPRESENTATIVES

Cheefo dispatches to the Foreign Office state that a conference of the Consular body has decided to guard the Consular quarter with 500 Japanese, British, and American marines. Foreign nationals will be concentrated on Yentai Hill, in the Consular quarter.

AUTHORITY TO AMERICAN REPRESENTATIVE , TO ATTEMPT MEDIATION (Australian Press Association.) (Rec. May 13, 5.5.p.m.) Washington, May 11. Mr.' Ernest Price, at Tsinan-fu, has been given authority by the State Department to attempt mediation between the Japanese and Chinese Nationalists, or take any other course in the interests of a pacific settlement of the situation he may consider advisable. Mr. F. B. Kellogg (Secretary of State) has denied, however, that the United States has, notified the Japanese or Chinese that it is willing to mediate in the controversy. He added that the Government had not sent any correspondence direct to the Japanese and Chinese upon the matter. Officials are otherwise reluctant to discuss the situation, except to reiterate that the United States will not attempt to mediate unless requested by both parties. It is stated that it is difficult for the Departments to obtain information, and they had no accurate statement of what had occurred since the first days of the clash at Tsinan-fu.

JAPANESE IN CANTON REPORTS OF EVACUATION DENIED (United Service.) Hong-Kong, May 11. Chinese reports here stated that the Japanese were evacuating Canton, fearing trouble, but the Japanese Consul at Hong Kong denies this, saying that the Japanese have confidence in the tranquil situation under Li ChaiSun. It is stated, however, that some Japanese living in the native city have gone to Shameen. All is quiet at the coast ports, Swatow, Amoy, and Foochow.

(United Service.) (Rec. May 13, 5.5 p.m.) Shanghai, May 12. With the exception of occasional sniping, Tsinan-fu is completely clear of Southerners, who have retreated to Taianfu, except those portions which proceeded north from Tsinan-lu to Yencheng, fifteen miles beyond the Yellow River, where the positions are static. Chang Tso-lin, in accordance with the telegraphed suggestion to cease fighting for the purpose of combination against the Japanese, is withdrawing his troops, _ unless they offer a truce and ignore the South. Fighting is practically at a standstill in the Shantung area. In the meantime, Feng Yuhsiang has sustained a severe defeat at Changteh, leading to a rupture of friendly relations with Wuhan. The Government is depriving Heng of Hankow as a port for the receipt of supplies and the protection of the rear against malcontent commanders. Coincident with the strenuous endeavours to provide adequate defence for the concession at Tientsin, a meeting of representatives of the Protocol Powers at Peking on Thursday discussed the advisableness of taking steps to ensure an open railway from Tientsin to Peking, in accordance with the Boxer Protocol, together with the establishment of a seven-mile neutral zone around Tientsin. It is understood the diplomats were unanimous, with the exception of one representative, that it was insufficient for the Powers to agree. The arrival of eight Japanese destroyers at Shanghai, where the situation, though quiet, has disturbing elements, raises the number of Japanese warships in the port to ten. Similar precautions arc being taken in other treaty ports. Nanking is appealing to the League of Nations, claiming that Japan is guilty of an overt act of war in the despatching of troops to Shantung, to which it blames the outrages on Japanese, including the alleged murder and mutilation of the Commissioner of Foreign Affairs at Tsinan. They ask that Japan be instructed to quite Shantung immediately, and offering to submit the dispute to arbitration. PEKING BELIEVED TO BE DOOMED NORTHERNERS FALLING BACK (Australian Press Association.) (Rec. May 13, 5.5 p.m.) Shanghai, May 12. The Tsinan-fu affair is regarded as being in the background in view of the latest reports from the north stating that the Southerners are completely evacuating Tsinan-fu and crossing the Yellow River, continuing the drive against the Northerners, who arc reported to have fallen back on

PEKING

MORALE

(United Service.) (Rec. May 13, 5.5 p.m.)

Shanghai, May 12.

Tehchow, the last of the Northern strongholds, the capture of which is believed to be certain. Chang Chung Chang, the Shantung military Governor, is preparing to retreat to Tsangchow,. 50 miles south from Tientsin, and 1-10 miles from the Southerners’ goal, which is Peking. It is expected that Peking is doomed. Northern militarists who are occupying it are reported to be preparing for flight. Chang Tso-lin himself is reported to have departed for Manchuria, but this is not confirmed. Tientsin is occupied by the Sixth Regiment of the United States Marines and a few troops of other nations. ' Precautions have been commenced to prevent a repetition of the Tsinan-fu incidents.

LAST STAGE OF ADVANCE ON

NORTHERNERS’ LACK OF

The Nationalist armies. under Feng Yuhsiang 'and Chiang Kai-shek, have commenced the last stage of the advance on Peking, entering the Chihli Province, following the abandonment of Tehchow. Chang Tso-lin and his son are preparing to flee lo Manchuria with the Fengtien armies intact. They are proceeding behind the Great Wall at Shanhaikuan, and there wiil make a stand for the retention of llanchuria. Foreign reports from the north indicate that the lack of morale among the troops has now spread lo the commanders, and it is not unlikely that the withdrawal from Chihli may degenerate into an undignified retreat.

(The cable news in this issue accredited to the London •"limes" Ims appeared in that journal, but only where expressly stated is such news the editorial optuiou of ('The Times.”)