AFFAIRS IN CHINA

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 140, 28 May 1928, Page 5

AFFAIRS IN CHINA

CHANC STARTS JAP. PREPARATIONS IN MANCHURIA. [Australian Press Assn.—United Service.) Tokio, May 26. In connection with Tien-tsin reports that Chang Tso-lin’s armies have started a general offensive against the Southern allies, there is a growing impression that some form of armistice may yet be arranged, permitting either the continuation of Chang’s regime in Pekin or the creation of a buffer area between the Nationalists and Cbang in the Pekin zone. While Japanese officialdom continues pessimistic regarding Chang’s success, it is known that efforts are being exerted in some quarters to arrange for the cessation of the China war on the basis of diplomatic agreements, rather than finish the fight. Meantime Japanese military preparations in Southern Manchuria are continuing apace, with daily troop movements and strengthening of the whole Japanese position between Mukden and Shannaikwan.

Tsingtao despatches state, that Rear-Admiral Mukaida, commanding the second Japanese China squadron, issued a summary order preventing Chinese warships at Tsingtao and Kiaochow engaging in belligerent operations, on the ground that foreign nationals would be uselessly endangered. Similarly General Yasumitus, commanding the Nagoya division, requested both the Northern and Southern forces to retire beyond the 20 mile line on either side of the Kiaachow-Tsinan railway, on the grounds that the presence of Chinese forces in this area threatened foreign interests. The military also ordered the cessation of all anti-Japanese propaganda in the occupied areas.