TROUBLE IN CHINA

Southland Times, Issue 19335, 29 August 1924, Page 5

TROUBLE IN CHINA

FEAR OF CIVIL WAR. SIGNIFICANT MOVEMENT OF TROOPS. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) PEKING, August 27. There is no train communication between Shanghai and Peking except that of the military local Chinese Defence Commissioner, who, under General Tuchun Lu, having assumed control of part of the line, despatched four trains laden with troops last night for an unknown destination.

Fighting has not yet commenced. There is still a chance of no war. Much depends on whether General Wu Peifu, without whose permission and funds Chi cannot fight, considers war worth the heavy financial price he will have to pay. So far as the foreign population and property in Shanghai are concerned, it does not appear there is much danger, but all possible precautions are being taken to meet the possibility. Tens of thousands of Chinese regulars are coming into the foreign settlement. British and American warships from Wei-hai-wei and Chefoo respectively are expected tomorrow.

VIEWS OF A MISSIONARY.

A CLASH INEVITABLE. TWO RIVAL FACTIONS. (Special to the Times.) CHRISTCHURCH, August 28. After 29 years of mission service in China, Rev. A. R. Malcolm, brother of Hon. A. S. Malcolm, returned to New Zealand in July, and was interviewed here. Mr Malcolm was at one time minister at Ormond (Poverty Bay) Presbyterian Church, and from there he went to China, spending 17 years at Anhuei, Central China, on mission work, and 12 years at Chefoo, 500 miles north of Shanghai, in the district where the trouble mentioned in the cable is taking place. In his remarks on Chinese politics, Mr Malcolm said that none of the leaders in China had any patriotic spirit, but were concerned with adding to their personal power. For the last few years the position had been dominated by two cliques, the Chihli and the Anfu. For a time the Anfu clique was in power, but about two years ago, the Chihli faction, under General Wu Peifu, won a decisive battle, in which 500,000 men were engaged on each side. The losing General went tnto hiding after his defeat, but he appeared to be a fairly active force still.

“Wu Peifu is a great general but he refuses to take political office. Even without that, he is a force and the President is not able to go directly against him,” said Mr Malcolm.

Well-informed people believe that a clash between Chang Tso and Wu Peifu is inevitable, and when it does come, Chang will probably -be victor. It is said that Chang is in touch with Dr Sun Yat Sen, so Wu Peifu has to watch Chang in the North and also endeavour to secure himself south of the Yangtse Kiang River against Dr Sun Yat Sen.