CHINA RESTIVE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 February 1916, Page 3

CHINA RESTIVE.

RESEL ARMY IN YUN-NAN.

FINANCIAL HELP PROMISED

LONDON, January 10

"Owing to tiie censorship, the position in China is obscure," says the '"Times" correspondent at I'ekin. "The Government is moving largo bodies of troops to strategic points, with the object of isolating the Yunnan province and preventing the movement against Yuan Shi-Kai's assumption of the throne spreading to the adjoining provinces. ''Serious developments are possible. Tsaiao, the former Governor, is a stjong character, and has great influence in Yunnan, whore he has an army of MO.(!()() with ample supplies of arms, and has been promised substantial financial support. The mountains render him secure front attack in the winter; therefore the attempt is being made to isolate Yunnan and negotiate for a surrender.

"Meanwhile, the provinces of Szecliuan and Kwantung are notoriously opposed to Yunnan. Kwantung is garrisoned by Yunnanese troops. "The Government lias 250,000 soldiers, who are reputedly loyal, in the Yano'tse region. They are eagerly waiting for Imperial largesse. The commanders have already been ennobled. They know that the success of the rebels will make their titles valueless.

"The arrival of considerable forces at Shanghai has restored the confidence of trade, but the monarchical proposal has revivified the revolutionary element. The future is dependent on the developmnts in the south." Tsaiao was formrly Governor of the Yunnan province, and has since studied military tactics in Japan.