PEKING IN DANGER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19658, 9 June 1927, Page 11

PEKING IN DANGER.

ADVANCE OF THE REDS. DEFENCE OF THE LEGATION. AMERICA HOLDING ALOOF. NOT A SHOT TO BE FIRED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received June 8, 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. SHANGHAI. June 7. \ The greatest concern is felt in foreign circles at Peking owing to the uncertainty which exists as to the policy of the United States in the present crisis. There are persistent rumours that the American forces aro to be evacuated. The matter is stili in tho balance. The United States Minister to Peking, Mr. J. V. A. Mac Murray, is in favour of defending tho Legation in co-operation with Britain, Japan, France and other Powers, but his orders from Washington insist that not a shot must bo fired on the Cantonese. These are tantamount to orders for evacuation. Defence measures otherwise would bo farcical. Telegrams have been sent from Peking to Washington in the hope of securing authority to hold the Legation by every means possible. In tho meantime Japanese, British, French and Italian forces are preparing to defend tho Legation quarter. Exservicemen are rallying to the assistance of the regular soldiers who have been sent to protect the quarter. Reports from the various fighting fronts are scarce. There is no sign of the Northerners rallying. A compromise between the rival armies is being discussed, but in view of the successes of the Cantonese it is not thought that they will abandon their purpose of taking Peking and ousting the Peking Government. ANTI-RED LEADERS. CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS. TRIPLE ALLIANCE SCHEME. (British Official Wireless.) A. and N.Z. RUGBY, June 7. Despatches from China state that there have been few changes in the military situation in the past two or three days. The officials at the Peking headquarters of Marshal Chang Tso-lin, the Northern war-lord, announce that negotiations are proceeding between Chang, Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, leader of the Conservative Nationalist forces, and General Yen liei-shen, Military Governor of the Shan-si province. It is repotted that the object of the conference is to establish a triple alliance based on tho mutual acceptance of the late Dr. Sun Yat Sen's principles, and j common opposition to the Communists.