NO PAY, NO FIGHT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 25 October 1924, Page 15

NO PAY, NO FIGHT.

TRAGI-COMEDY IN CHINA. WIN OR WALK HOME. MUKDEN, Oct. 3. Private, communications smuggled through the Peking censorship confirms the claims of the Mukden leaders that the Chih-li army, which is supporting General Wu Pei-fu, is largely undependable. Many units are refusing to approach the front until they receive arrears of pay, while some of the troops iii the Jehol area, against which Chang is advancing, are reported to he practically striking for bigger pay. The communications from Peking indicate that many of the residents there are panicky, fearing the collapse of General Wu Pei-fu’s army, and the looting of the city. The withdrawal of General Chang Tso-lin’s troops from Hei-lung-kiang, a town in the province of Chih-li, for the war front, is encouraging - banditryon a large scale. On September 29, a big force of bandits attacked a Chinese eastern train, directing their volleys towards the engine in the hope of killing the crew and stopping the train. 'They failed in this, but a Russian passenger was killed, and seven passengers wounded. The Chih-li forces suffered a reverse in a clash at Tai-ping-chuan. They were driven hack, leaving 100 dead, including a colonel, and they then fled southward. There was another clash near Hsin-miao, where a number of Chih-li soldiers were killed, and 100 captured. Both places are in the Chienping district. TOKIO, Oct 3. Chang Tso-lin must win or ivalk Impie. says the Japanese Foreign Office, explaining that the use of the South Manchurian railway will be categorically refused for the transportation of troops, in case it, results in disorder in Manchuria, and, as a result, threatens Japanese interests. It is pointed outthat retreating troops would turn bandits. „■ The Jaoanese Foreign Minister, Baron Shideliara, told representatives of the Government parties, who asked what he intended to do to protect Japanese in ■ Manchuria, that he was unaware that at present there was any clanger. He re-asserted that Japan must remain neutral.