CHINESE WAR

Evening Star, Issue 18741, 17 September 1924, Page 4

CHINESE WAR

WU AND CHANG A STRUGGLE FOR SUPREMACY. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright PEKING, September 16. (Received September 17, at 11.5 a.m.) Chang Tso-lin to-day issued a proclamation of his intention to fight against ,A>aokun (the President). He has decided himself to proceed to Chin-chow, whore he will assume command of all his forces. Chang’s troops have crossed the frontier at Ohao-yang, and an early clash is expected. Chang telegraphed to Tsao-kun an enumeration of Wu Pei-fu’s crimes, for which he must bo brought to justice, adding; “As your Excellency is surrounded by Wu Pei-fu’s traitors, I will send aeroplanes to inquire regarding your health and ask if you ar© still a-t liberty. Ronter.

(Received September 17, at 11.20 a.m.)

The present war in Cho-kiang and Kiang-su is nob the result of provincial rivalries and ambitions, hut is tho first stage of an inevitable conflict between Wu Pei-fu and Chang Tso-lin. Since his defeat in 1922 Chang Tso-lin has concentrated on' the creation of a dominating army. Favored by good seasons and prosperous business conditions, he has collected enormous revenues. He has established a modern arsenal, bought aeroplanes, and created an efficient force of 150,000 men armed 'with modern engines of warfare, and lacking only in capable leaders, which Wu Pei-fu has in plenty. Chang’s preparations, however, were timed for completion in 1925, when he undoubtedly contemplated establishing himself dictator at Peking. _ _ Since his defeat of the An-fmtes in 1920 Wu Poi-fu has bent all his activities on reunification by force. He has, conquered Honan, Hunan, Sze-chuan, and Fu-kom, and is now negotiating with Tang Clu-yao for the return of Yun-nan to the Peking fold; hub, in view of the threat_ of Chang’s spring expedition, tho Chih-li lead ora wanted to remove the Che-kiang thorn in their side, and persuaded tho Government not to interfere while they placed themselves in a position to meet Chang alone in 1925, or at the present time, when ho is hampered by floods in North China. The decision in this connection rests with Chang, and it seems that he has chosen to fight now. . In their ideas of control there is little difference between Chang and Wu. Both rule with an iron hand, and each advocates a strong Central Government controlling the national army, and able to subdue tho recalcitrant provinces, whose so-called autonomy has so far been marked by the seizure of the salt, Customs, and the wine and tobacco revenues, which are pledged to foreign countries, as well as the revenues rightly belonging to the Central Government, which is thus impoverished and flouted. The elimination of either Wu or Chang would give the survivor an opportunity to apply methods of rule to Chips, which would 'be understood by all the Chinese. —Reuter.

NORTHERN CHINESE HOSTILITIES

WD PEI-FU MOVING.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright,

PEKING, September 15. Tien-tsin reports that Wu Pei-fu’s troops continue moving from Poo Tingfu towards Shan Hai-kwan, fully equipped with artillery and aeroplanes, while a Tien-tsin firm has received instructions to manufacture gas masks. It is reported on reliable authority that the railway is cut on tho Manchurian side of the Great Wall to prevent invasion by the Chi Li-ites. It is believed that hostilities may commence at any moment. Mukden declares that tho reports of firing in Han Hai-kwan are untrue—Reuter.

AN-HWEI PROVINCE INVOLVED,

PEKING, September 16,

(Received September 17, at 1.20 a.m.)

The Chinese Red Cross Society has received a telegram stating that hostilities have started in Northern Ghc-kiang, on the An-hwei border, where the An-hwei forces are attacking Che-kiang.—Reuter.