CIVIL WAR IN CHINA

Gisborne Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5537, 20 July 1920, Page 5

CIVIL WAR IN CHINA

FIERCE FIGHTING BETWEEN RIVAL FACTIONS.

600 CASUALTIES NEAR LIULI-

HOE

ALLEGED INTERFERENCE BY JAPANESE.

PEKIN ISOLATED

United Press Association—Ooarrlclii. PEKIN. July 17. Fighting between the troops of the rival factions broke out at IvwainliuW. The wounded are arriving here. The capital is quiet. Mediators sent out to attempt to reconcile the contending parties returned to Pekin, their mission having failed. A message from Tientsin states that a train bearing foreign military commanders, proceeding in tlie direction of Yangstun, halted at Peisang, where the commander of the Chih-li forces stated that lie was forced by Japanese troops posted at Yangstun to remove his troops two miles distant from either side of the railroad, thus creating a four-mile Japanese front. He added that he was compelled to retreat to Peisang to avoid a China-Japanese incident. NEW YORK, July 17.

The New York Times’ Washington correspondent says that .the State Department lias been advised that owing to military troubles between the contending factions in China, railway, telephonic and telegraphic communications have been interrupted between Pekin and Tientsin.—A. and N.Z.C.A.

PEKIN, July 16. Chih-li circles state that the An-fu troops, which attacked the Wupeifu troops south of. Liulihoe, sustained defeat. There were 600 casualties.

■ Fighting was resumed later. A brigade of the Thirteenth Frontier Division was outflanked and surrendered.

A report from the same source states that two brigades of Enkouchang’s troops surrendered to the Chih-li forces.

A later message states that the fighting, which started yestei-eve, continues on the Peking-Tientsin railway. Wounded continue to arrive from Liulihoe.

Foreign diplomats are considering necessary measures in view of the severance of the railway and- telegraph communication since yesterday.—Reuter. PEKIN. July 18. The Chih-lis severely defeated the An-fuites. Six thousand of the latter hastily retreated towards Pekin and are now loot-inn Nanyuan. a few miles from tlie capital. All gates at the capital have been closed. It is reported that the Chih-lis captured Yaiigthmi.—Times. TOKIO. July 17.

The Foreign Office lias issued a communique denying that Japan was participating in the present troubles in China. Japan is maintaining a strict neutrality in internal feuds in China.—A. and N.Z.C.A.