CHINESE WARFARE

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 June 1928, Page 6

CHINESE WARFARE

(United Service.) tßy Cable—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Recd. June 1, 11 a.m.) ' TOKIO, May 31. The Manchurian situation again appears to •ba becoming critical. It is understood that additional military units may be despatched shortly to Pekin, Tientsin and the Manchurian area Japanese semi-official reports state that in view of possible disorder outside the Great Wall, which has become imminent since the Southerners’ occupation of Paoting on Thursday morning, the Tokio Government is reported to have decided to despatch part of the third division, now stationed at Shantung, to the northern fronts. ' President Yamamoto, of the South Manchurian Railway, reached Mukden, after conferring with the Tokio authorities. It is the opinion of competent observers that Japanese military control of all South Manchuria is already a virtually accomplished

fact, and that (developments henceforth will depend entirely on the nai- ture of Chang Tso Lin’s retreat. 11 - the retreat is disorderly, the Japanese - will disarm all the troops, which 1 would mean a necessity for assuming 1 practically the entire administration ' of the country, at least temporarily. 2 NORTHERNERS TO WITHDRAW. TOKIO, May 31. Official advices point to the with3 diawal .of Chang Tso Lin, and to the - speedy evacuation by the Northerners - of Pekin and Tientsin, thus leading to t the restoration of peace in China. The opinion is expressed in well in- - formed circles in Tokio that the - Southerners are not likely to proceed beyond the Great Wall. The only I danger is from the demoralised re- . treating Northerners. i PEKIN EVACUATED. (Received June 1, 1 p.m.) SHANGHAI, May 31. Reports from the North indicate ' that the Northern resistance is breaking down, and orders for a general re- , treat have been given. Following upon a conference of j Northern leaders, Chang Tso Lin has | decided to evacuate Pekin, and its occupation by the Southerners in a few days is expected. This step was decided following the capture of Paotingfu, a key city to Peking, after several days’ heavy fighting. Dissension among the Northern leaders is partly responsible for the Dictator’s decision to evacuate.