CHINESE STRIFE

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 September 1924, Page 5

CHINESE STRIFE

' THE RIVAL DICTATORS

FIGHT FOR CONTROL.,

(Reuter.)

PEKIN, September 16. -

The present war in Che-Kiang and Kiang-su is not the result of provincial rivalries and ambitions, but the first stage of the inevitable conflict between Wu Pei-Fu and Chang-Tso-Lin. Since his defeat in 1922, Chang-Tso-Lin ha.s concentrated on the creation jf a dominating army. Favoured by good seasons and prosperous business conditions he has collected enormous revenues and established a modern arsenal, bought aeroplanes, and created an. efficient force of one hundred and fifty thousand, 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 as dictator, at Pekin.

. Sinec defeating the Anfuites in 1920, Wu Pei-Fu has bent all his activities on re-unification by * force. He. has conquered Honan, Hunan, Szechuan . and Fukin, and, is now negotiating with Tang-Chi-Yao for the return of Yunnan to the Pekin-fold, but-in view of the threat of Chang’s spring expedition, the Chihli leaders wanted to remove the Che-Kiang thorn in their side, and persuaded the Government not to interfere while they placed themselves in a position ito meet Chang alone in 1925, or at the present time when he 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 the idea of control, there is little difference) between Chang' and- Wu. Both rule by the iron hand, and each advocates a strong central Government, controlling the national army, able to subdue recalcitrant provinces, whose so-called autonomy has so far been marked by the seizure of .salt customs, wine and tobacco revenues, pledges to foreign countries, as well as the revenues rightly belonging to the central Government, which is thus impoverished and flouted, he. elimination of either Wu or Chang would give the survivor an opportunity to apply the methods of rule to China which would be understood by all the Chinese.

Chang-Tso-Lin to-day issued a proclamation of his intention to fight against Tsackun. He has decided himself to proceed to Chinchow, where he will assume command of all the forces. Chang’s troops having crossed the frontier at Chao-Kang, an early clash is expected. Chang telegraphed Tsackun an enumeration of Wu Pei-Fu’s crimes for which he must be 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 are still at liberty.” The Chinese Red Cross Society has received a telegram that hostilities have started in- Northern Che-Kiang on the Anhiver Border, where the Anhiver force are attacking Che-Kiang.

A SHIP SEIZED.

CAPETOWN, September 16

On arrival of the steamer Nortmark at Durban from Hamburg, the Customs officials discovered a thousand rifles, a number of machine guns and a large quantity of ammunition aboard, though the ship’s papers gave no indication that these were on board. It is surmised that they were intended for China. The vessel was placed under an armed guard, and removed to the Congella basin.