BLOODLESS VICTORIES

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 17 May 1928, Page 5

BLOODLESS VICTORIES

——.— * SOUTHERNERS ADVANCE. NORTHERN ARMY HELPLESS. LEAVING LAST STRONGHOLDS. . (AUSTRALIAN PRESS ASSOCIATION—(UNITED SERVICE.) Received- 11.15 a.m. to-day. SHANGHAI, May 16. 1 Northern military and civilians are steadily evacuating Tientsin and Pelting in expectation of the Southerners’ arrival. All reports point to Gang Tso Lin quitting and retiring to Manchuria and not attempting to hold the Northern capital, with the result that the foreign military commanders have ordered the erection of barricades at the foreign concessions at Tientsin to prevent- a possible repetition of the Tsinapfu incident. The Northern armies are on the verge of collapse, and the behavour of the leaders is encouraging the desertion of thousands, who are pawning their uniforms and otherwise destroying evidence of service in the Northern armies. The majority of the officers are imitating Chang -Tso Lin in despatching their families and possessions to the soleremaining refuge from- the Southerners, Manchuria. An astonishing feature of the situation is that the inuchvnunted armies of the Northern dictator Chang Tso Lin are retreating and . are; not firing a. shot.,;,, The: ,on]y. shots" the 1 Southerners "have exchanged are Avith the Japanese troops at Tsinanfu. The rest have been bloodless victories.

DEFENCE OF TIENTSIN

FIGHTING NOT ANTICIPATED.

FACTORS IN THE SITUATION.

TOKIO, May 15. OAving to the gravity of impending events in North iChina, Admiral Bristol, - commander-in-chief of the American Asiatic fleot Avho is on an official visit to Japan, informed a correspondent that he is leaving Yokohama on Wednesday night for Shimonoseki, Avhere he will board an American destroyer on Thursday night., proceeding to Tientsin Admiral (Bristol’s flagship ,the cruiser Pittsburgh, Avill remain at Yokohama till some days later, sailing for -Ohingivantoo, which is the regular summer headquarters for the American fleet. While Admiral -Bristol cannot be quoted, it is knoAA'n that he can see sc-rious potentialities in the 'China situation and Avill lend every effort to prevent American forces becoming involved. It is believed that Admiral Bristol is in full accord Avith Washington and the State department’s pro. gramme for evacuating American nationals to the Avarships in event of it. being impossible to defend them in Tientsin without endangering the lives of Chinese civilians.

Japanese and competent foreign observers, however, think that fighting in the Tientsin area is unlikely. They do not expect any repetition of the Tsinan incidents, since they feel that the geographical situation in Tientsin is entirely different. They emphasise that the city will be adequately defended by lai;ge international forces, including Japanese, American, British, and others.

It is not anticipated here that it will be necessary to remove the foreign legations and nationals from Peking to Tientsin and there is no indication of the Japanese Government even considering such action.

ADVANCE ON PEKING. NORTHERNERS PREPARING TO MAKE A STAND. SHANGHAI, May 15. Latest reports indicate General Eengtien’s Northern troops are already preparing to retreat into Manchuria. Guns and troops have been passing through Peiiing and Tientsin in sufficient quantities to indicate that a withdrawal has commenced.

Japanese reports state that the northern forces, however, are preparing three lines of derence against the advance of the Shansi forces under Governor Yen Hsi .tehan. They are not likely to avail owing to the determined movement against Tientsin,

whLh if successxul cuts the main line of l'engtien’s retreat, forcing the movement -via Kalgan. A general attack on the Japanese forces at Shantung is not regarded seriously by local Cninese circles. loreign garrisons at Tientsin are speeding the defence works’ and expect, to complete them to-morrow. Motoreye.e cavalry patrols are already operating on the outskirts of the city and Japanese volunteers have mobilised. The Northerners apparently intend to make a stand at Machang, 30 miles from Tientsin, though foreign observers, considering the demoralisatidh of the Northerners, do not anticipate that the p-sition will be effectively held. The Japanese Cabinet has definitely decided to accept the American antiwar proposals as a basis for negotiations. A formal reply will be sent later containing suggestions for minor modification.

PR OTECTI ON OF BRITISH RESIDENTS.

DEFENC E MEASURES EXPLAINED

NO UNFRIENDLY ATTITUDE TO CHINA.

RUGBY, May 14. In the House of Commons to-day Sir Austen (-hamberlain stated that the United States, British, drench, Italian and Japanese Governments had 8252 tro:.ps at Tientsin. Japanese and Italian reinforcements were also being sent. The British Government lmd closely watched the situation at Tientsin and should it be necessary to strengthen the British forces there, there would be no difficulty in doing so. In regard to the protection of British communities generally in China, the Foreign Secretary said that nor mnl precautions had been taken and there was a British warship at practically e»ery port along the coast where there were British subjects. Replying t:> a further question, Sir Austen said that the Japanese Government had informed the British Government of its decision to send 501)0 troops to Tsingtao. It was explained that the dispatch of troops was an unavoidable measure of self-protection by no means implying unfriendly intentions towards China and her people or intererence with the military operations of the Northern or Southern forces, and that as soon as the Japanese Government considered it no longer necessary to maintain troops for the pro-

tection of Japanese residents in the affected area the tror.ps would immediately be withdrawn. Sir Austen added that lie' had expressed to the Japanese Charge d’Affairs, who made this communication to him, his sympathy with Japan in the trouble with which she was confronted, and he hoped that later information would not confirm the terrible accounts of outiaees on Japanese nationals vvhrh, lie understood, had been contained in the first reports. He also expressed satisfaction at the assurance that the troops would he withdrawn as soon as safety was assured.