CHINESE BATTLE LINES

Northern Advocate, 24 May 1928, Page 5

CHINESE BATTLE LINES

STAND AGAINST SOUTH

CHANG TSO-LIN’S EXTREMITY.

PEKING OFFERED AS BRIBE

(Australian Press Association.) (Received 10.30 a.m.) SHANGHAI, May 23

An announcement made by Chang Tso-liu, the (Manchurian Dictator, %>f his determination to stand and fight the Southerners has seemingly altered the complexion of Northern affairs and considerably alleviated the panic in Peking and Tientsin.

It has also caused the vSoutherners to readjust their plans. Reports from the North state that the Southerners are meeting stubborn resistance at -points where they have clashed with the Northerners.

Feng Yu-hsiang’s forces' flanking necessitated a slight Northern retreat, otherwise the battle lines are unchanged.

It is rumoured that Chang Tso-lin has made overtures to the Shansi Governor, Yen Hsi-hsan, offering Peking in. return for an alliance} .against the South, confirming the general belief that, without assistance, Chang Tso-lin is doomed.

BRITISH CONTINGENT.

AVAILABLE FOR DEFENCE.

RUGBY, May 22.

When making a statement in the House of Commons regarding the situation in China Mr G. T. Locker-Lamp-son, Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs, said that no great progress had been made by the Southern forces in their advance on Peking and Tientsin, and the latest reports showed that the Northern foi'ces were offering resistance south of Paotingfu. He added that recently a battalion, less two companies, of the Shanghai Defence Force, had been dispatched from Shanghai to Weihaiwei, where for some time past there had been one company. This movement had been undertaken primarily for training purposes, and in order to give the troops the benefit of a more congenial climate. They would be available for the defence of British lives and property at Tientsin, if necessary, as they were only about a day away.

JAPAN’S FOREIGN POLICY.

CO ORDINATION PLANS,

(United Service.) (Received 12.5 p.m.)

TOKIO, May 23.

The domestic political situation which has resulted in re-formation of the Tanaka Cabinet, with the installation of a new Home Affairs Minister, Mr Keilsuke Moehizuki, and a new Communications Minister, Mr Fasanosuke Kuhara, has temporarily diverted attention from China.

The Cabinet changes, however, are not considered essentially important, being largely merely a reward for party workers and personal friends of the Premier. The fact that no Foreign Minister has been appointed, the Premier continuing to occupy the Foreign Affairs portfolio, is criticised in a considerable section of the press, ■which assents that the present time is most vital for careful diplomacy and broad-gauged visualisation of foreign! affairs, which the Premier cannot bo expected to obtain in the multiplicity of his duties. There is no change in Baron Tanaka’s China policy, and with regard to Manchuria it is indicated in today’s dispatches that plans for •co-ordination of the defence of Peking by international forces are being worked out in collaboration with the Peking Legations, and any dissensions will be eliminated.

The American forces, however, are remaining independent and are unwilling to consider any suggestion of unified command.

In the meantime itlio threatened major battle between the Northern and Southern Chinese forces is developing only slowly, with scattered clashes over a wiide area.