CIVIL WAR IN CHINA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 29 December 1925, Page 4

CIVIL WAR IN CHINA.

METHOD OiF RAISING FUNDS. SIDELIGHTS OF THE CAMPAIGN. SHANGHAI, Nov. 8. The Chekiang General, Sun Ohuangfang, whoi ,sitanted out from Hangchow, the capital of Chekiang, on October 16, with the avowed intention of driving the forces of Marshal, Chang Tso-lin out of the provinces of Chekiang and Kiangeu, is still continuing his victorious career. Marshal Sun, the day before he started, demanded one million dollars from the merchants and gentry of Hangchow for “war purposes.” Sun calmly informed the citizens that if the money was not forthcoming in the morning he would simply go through the city and make it. It is reported- -that half a million dollars were provided, early next morning, foi him to go on with.

Shanghai was captured by the Chekiang forces on the afternoon of October 16, the Northern, forces of Marshal Chang Tso-lin hurriedly retreating. A number were taken prisoners and disarmed. The general in charge o>f the Northern Army, preferring death to the disgrace of being captured, committed suicide while oil the train between Shanghai and Nanking. Shanghai up to the present has not been materially affected 'by its “capture” ; aIL the serious fighting has taken -place north of Nankins;. There- have been several changes in the local Chinese officials and a number of criminals who were awaiting execution by the Chinese authorities have been returned to the settlement as the Northern General -stated “that he was too ’busy to attend to such matters at the present time,” ACTIVITY OF PRESS GANGS.

The press gangs have been busy in the Chinese territory adjoining the Foreign Settlement of Shanghai; a huge fire broke out the other evening in Chepei, the Northern Chinese suburb, which proved a godsend to the military. The authorities cast their nets, and -oped in over 500 coolies in less than two hours. The unfortunate victims were simply tied together in bunches and marched off to the nearest recruiting station. Cases have been reported of the press-gangs forcibly entering the houses of the poor Chinese, dragging their victims put of bed, and despatching them by train to the ‘‘front.” Following the capture of Shanghai, the town of Nanking, on the Yangtsze River, was taken by Chekiang on October 19. The town passed through a night of terror prior to its capture, street fighting taking place between the two opposing factions. Finally the northern forces retreated in disorder. The Centrail Provinces have now combined to form what they call the “Allied -Army,” in opposition to- Marshal Chang Tso-lin. Marshal Wu Pei-fu, who was defeated by Chang at Tientsin just a year age and “retired” to his native home, has arrived in Hankow and is in supreme “Allied Army’ were engaged; the Mukshal Chi, who has been “resting” in Japan since his defeat at Shanghai hist February, has returned to China, to get his share of the pickings. CHRISTIAN GENERAL’S ATTITUDE The attitude of the Christian General Marshal Feng Yu-hsing, is still uncertain, Feng at present controls Peking, and is too wary a bird to back the losing side, if it can be avoided, and is accordingly sitting on the fence, playii\g a “wait-and-see” Both sides a.re anghng for Feng’s support. The whole, of Central and North China is now engaged in the struggle on one •:L or the other.

According to the latest reports a big battle has been fought at Tsingkiangpu, an inland town on the Grand Canal, north of Nanking. Over 50,000 of the “Allied Army” were engaged; the Mpkden forces of Marshal Chang Tsolin gained ah initial victory, but . were afterwards badly defeated; a large number of prisoners were taken and huge supplies of guns and ammunition captured. The defeat is stated to be due to mutiny and disaffection in Chang’s army; ‘this victory has greatly strengthened the so-called “allied cause.”