POSITION REVIEWED

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 137, 14 June 1927, Page 11

POSITION REVIEWED

TROOPS DESERTING

NEGOTIATIONS TAKING

PLACE

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, 13th June.

Reviewing the military situation in China, Mr. G.: Loeker-Lampson, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, said that the latest reports show that theY Northern forces, about 180,000 strong, are holding the line from Lin Cheng, on the Tientsin-Pukow line, thence to the bend of the Yellow River, north-east of KaiFeng, continuing along the north bank of tho Yellow River to the north-west of Changchow, with a defensive west flank on" the Pekin-Hankow railway. The Southerners are in touch with the Northerners in most places, and are reorganising their forces on the LungNai line for a further advance.' The strength of their combined armies is, roughly, 130,000. . The Fengtien troops are receiving reinforcements from Manchuria and appear to be in good morale. The Shantung troops are deserting plentifully to the enemy, and.the Tientsin-Pukow line remains the weak- spot. The defence of Shantung now rests on a few hundred Russians, who are concentrated on the Southern border. The Nationalists are advancing slowly from the South, but a. more, rapid advance is reported from, the west converging on Yenchow. At the samo time it is reported that negotiations are going on between the North and the South, but the position in: this respect is doubtful. . ! Sun Chuan-Fang's troops are reported to be retreating towards the Shantung border. Yen Hsi Shan, Military Governor of Shansi, has declared his allegiance to the Nationalists. No great change has takgn. place as regards ] the military situation around Hankow. Kiukiang has been occupied by troops owing its allegiance to Chiang KiaShek, and his forces have noVr advanced above that'town.