CHINESE SITUATION

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 193, 17 May 1928, Page 9

CHINESE SITUATION

SERIOUS POTENTIALITIES

SEEN BY AMERICAL ADMIRAL PROCEEDING TO TIENTSIN The Commander-In-Chief of the American Asiatic Fleet gees serious potentialities in the situation in China, and is proceeding, to Tientsin.

(United Press Association.— By Llectric Telegraph.—Copyright.) 1 United Service.)

Tokio, May 15.

Owing to the gravity of impending events in North China (, Admiral Bristol, Coinmander-iu-Chicf of the American Asiatic Fleet, who is in Japan on an official visit, informed a correspondent that he was leaving Yokohama on Wednesday night for Shiinonoseki, where he will board an American destroyer on Thursday night, proceeding to Tientsin. Admiral Bristol’s flagship, the cruiser Pittsburgh, will remain tit Yokohama for some days, later sailing for Chingwantao, which is the regular summer headquarters of the American fleet. While Admiral Bristol cannot be quoted, it is known that he sees serious potentialities in the China situation, and will bend every effort to prevent the American forces becoming involved. It is believed that Admiral Bristol is in full accord with the Washington State Department’s programme of evacuating American nationals to the warships in event of its being impossible to defend them in the Tientsin area without endangering the lives of Chinese civilians.

Japanese and competent foreign observers, howewver, think fighting in the Tientsin area unlikely. They do not expect any repetition of the Tsinan incidents, since they feel that the geographical situation of Tientsin 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 that it will be necessary tb remove the foreign Legations and nationals from Peking to Tientsin, and there are no indications that the Japanese Government is even considering such an action.

NANKING MESSAGE TO AMERICA

(Australian Press Association.)

Washington, May 15.

A message sent by the Chinese Nationalist Council of State in Nanking, asking the United . States to make known its attitude towards Japanese intervention in Shantung, was received by President Coolidge to-day and sent to the State Department, where it was said the appeal would be filed for future reference. There was no indication that an answer or acknowledgment would be sent to Nanking.. . NORTHERN TROOPS PREPARING ITO RETREAT TO MANCHURIA (United Service.) / Shanghai, May 15. The latest reports indicate that the Fengtien troops are already preparing to retreat to Manchuria. Guns and troops are passing through Peking and Tientsin in sufficient quantities to indicate that a general withdrawal has commenced. Japanese reports state that the Fengtien forces, however, are

preparing three lines of defence against the advance of the Shansi forces, under Ten Shi-lisau, but these are unlikely to avail owing to the retermiued movement against Tientsin, which, if successful, will cut the main line of the Fengtien retreat, forcing a movement via Kalgan over a long and circuitous route.

A report that Feng Yu-Hsiang intends making a general iZtack on the Japanese forces in Shantung is not regarded seriously in local Chinese circles.