CHINA

Evening Star, Issue 17957, 2 May 1922, Page 4

CHINA

PARTIAL LAI AT PEKING. LEGATION TAKE PRECAUTIONS. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. NEW YORK. May 1. Following upon tho declaration of martial law at Polling tho -diplomatic body met to discuss precautionary measures. It was decided to wait a reply from the Chinese Foreign Office in regard to the warning against lighting in Peking. The commanders of tho allied troops at Tientsin reported that they were ready to echo tho Pcking-Ticntsiu Railway if traffic is interrupted. Tho American Legation suggested that Washington should send an additional gunboat to Tientsin. The President (Hsu-Shi-Chana) has issued three proclamations—the first ordering the opposing forces to withdraw in view of tho” demoralisation of the Nation’s industries'; the second asking the Peking gendarmerie to take adequate measures to protect the Poking metropolitan area; and tho third emphasising the need, for protecting the lives and property of foreigner;;.—A. and N.Z. Cable. CHANG’S FORCES BLOCK RAILWAYS. PEKING, May 1. (Received May 2, at 8.59 a.m.) Chang-Tso-Lin’.s forces turned back a train which was carrying the American Embassy officials to Mukden. The foreign Powers protected to Chang-Teo-Lin against l-hoblocking of the railways, stating that it is a violation of the 18C0 Protocol.—A. and N.Z. Cable. HEAVY FIGHTING PROCEEDING. NEW YORK, April 30. Tho ‘ Chicago Tribune's ’ Tientsin correspondent states that heavy lighting continues at three points, the heavier being at Chang Sin-tun. The fighting consists chiefly of rifle and machine gun firing across tho waterways, indicating that neither side, is able to effect a, crossing. Heavy troop movements continue through Tientsin, both to Langfa.n and Machang. Tho French gunboat Garonne lias arrived. A British volunteer corps will be mobilised to-day. Arms and equipment have been issued, and the men have- been ordered to report for -duty on Monday afternoon. —A. and N.Z. Cable. v FIERCE FIGHTING EVIDENT. REVERSE FOR CHANG SUGGESTED. PEKING, May 1, (Received May 2, at 8.50 a.rn.) Wu-Pei-Fu's army lias reached a point on, the railway between Peking and Tientsin. Other forces are marching across the country to attack Chang-Tso-Liu south of Tientsin. The fighting around Peking has diminished as the result of Chang’s retirement. ’The wounded and dead found outside the city indicate the fiercest fighting.—A. and N.Z, Cable. AMERICAN TROOPS REINFORCED. WASHINGTON, May 1. (Received May 2, at 8.50 a.rn.) The Stale Department lias been advised that additional American forces from tho cruiser Albany have been sent to Peking. Another gunboat is going to Tientsin.—A. and N.Z.- Cable. - A MUCH DIVIDED COUNTRY, POWER OF MILITARY GOVERNORS. A recent, writer in ‘Current Opinion’ describes the divisions in China. There i.s a Government. so-called, in the South, under Dr Sun Yat. Sen, and another in the North. The real power in the North, however, is lodged with liner of tho strongest provincial military governors, Generals Chang, Tsao-Kun, and Wn Pei-Fu. General Chang, a former bandit, semis forth his orders and decrees to Peking from Mukden, tho capital of tho Province of Manchuria. General Wu (Yangtse provinces) is his chief rival, with control of the richest and mast populous provinces. His control Is no more than precarious, however, in the face of local divisions. There is a Cabinet, which is a variable quantity, and a Parliament which never meets, and could 'do nothing, in this writer’s opinion, if it did meet. The same divisions and -rivalries exist in the South. As to the prospect of war between the two Governments, we are told that, in spite of warlike preparations -on hoik sides, tho chance of real fighting seems small. “ Either an invasion of the North by .Sun or of (lie .South by Wu would cost more than -either has to spend. . . . Sun will have (o force to on the country, and the country is in no condition to welcome it after several years of famine and flood.” The writer concludes: “The chief need of a Government iu China is to govern the Governors, for, after all, they are tho trouble-makers. They have been and will bo a constant danger to any central Government, not, merely until tho power of raising troops is taken from them, Iml, until the Chinese people as a whole change their entire code of personal and political morality, and practise the nationalism they arc now preaching everywhere.” In the latest report Sun Ya't Sen baa Ijoeii capturing the Peking -Government's navy, and General Wu, now at war with Chang, lias attacked Peking, , ARMS FOR CHINA. PROHIBITED BY UNITED STATES. Shipments from the United States of arms or munitions of war to China, was prohibited by President Harding in an official proclamation issued in March. The proclamation was issued in accord, mice with a joint; resolution approved January 51, 1922, by Congress, which provided “ that whenever the President finds that in any American country, or in any country in which the United States exercises extra territorial jurisdiction, conditions of -domestic violence exist, which are or may bo promoted by the use of anus or munitions of war procured from the United .States, and makes proclamation thereof, it shall bo unlawful to export except ■under such limitations and exceptions as the President; prescribes, any arms or rnnniirms of war from any place in the United States to such country until otherwise ordered by the President or by Congress.” Tho proclamation states (hat, whereas it is provided by the joint resolution that whoever experts any arms or munitions of war in violation of the proclamation •shall, on conviction, be. punished by a fine not exceeding IO.OOMoI or by imprisonment not exceeding two years, or both, “I do hereby warn them that all violations of such, provisions will be rigorously prosecuted.” Power of prescribing exceptions and limitations to the applications of the resolution by Congress were delegated by the President to the .Secretary of State.