TROUBLED CHINA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20222, 7 October 1927, Page 9

TROUBLED CHINA

SWIRL ROUND PEKING. POPULACE PANIC-STRICKEN. (Frees Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.) SHANGHAI, October 5. Advices from Peking declare that the capital is panic-stricken as the result of the reverses suffered by the Fcngtsin forces at the hands of the Shansi army, under Yen Shi-shan, who recently declared for the Nationalists. The enemy is advancing without resistance, and there is little actual fighting yet. The Northerners, taken by surprise by the Shansis’ action, propose to make a stand at Huali, on the Peking-Hankow railway, 120 miles from Peking. The Shansi developments are responsible for the halting of Sun Chuan-fang’s programme in the Lower Yangtse regions. Sun is now concentrating on the task of holding back the Nankingites from advancing to join in an attack on Peking. — A. and N.Z. Cable. OFFENSIVE AGAINST PEKING. LED BY YEN HSI-SHEN. (British Official Wireless.) (Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright ) RUGBY, October 5. An offensive against Chang Tso-lin, who holds Peking, has been started by Yen Hsi-shen, the Tucluin of the Shansi province, who has hitherto refrained from active participation in the Chinese wars. He is claimed to have a force of 150,000 at his disposal, and to bo co-operating with Feng Yu-Hsiang, whose army is situated in Honan, faced by the troops of the Ajikouchum Northerners. Yen’s hostile movement has met with preliminary success, and Kalgan has fallen, but the Northerners are sending forward reinforcements, and declare themselves able to stem his advance and protect Peking. BRITAIN’S POLICY. NO CHANGE CONTEMPLATED. LONDON, October 6. (Received Oct. 6, at 7.35 p.m.) The British Government does not at present intend to change its policy owing to the changed situation in China. It is felt in official circles that the uolicy of patience has been a success and remains the only policy capable of producing concrete results. For example, the Government is satisfied that the Reds have hoen exterminated, at least momentarily. The policy o{ taking military protective measures purely on defensive lines rebounded to Britain’s credit, and also the antiforeign feeling is no longer aimed specially at Britain. The Government will not attempt to restore the Nationals at Hankow, but it is believed that nothing would he gained thereby. It is considered preferable to allow "the Chinese to establish their own control. —Sydney Sun Cable.