FIGHTING IN CHINA

Southland Times, Issue 20497, 28 May 1928, Page 7

FIGHTING IN CHINA

NORTHERN SUCCESSES AMBITIOUS CAMPAIGN PLANNED ELIMINATION OF FENG (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) Shanghai, May 25. Fighting on the Pekin-Hankow railway has assumed serious proportions. During a four days’ engagement the Northerners encountered the first Kuominchun army, winning ground in every encounter. They are now nearing Chengtino. The capture of Suiyuan is reported due to the Northerners’ withdrawal. The Heilung kiang cavalry is now passing through Tientsin for the purpose of dealing with the raiders’ centre line between the two railways, while the reorganized Shangtung armies are moving southwards from Tsang-chow through empty territories lately abandoned by the Southerners. The general impression of the situation seems to be that the Northerners are concentrating for a swift campaign against Feng Yu-hsiang in the hope of complete elimination. Eight hundred Japanese troops, the vanguard of the Nagoya division, have arrived at Tientsin. Three thousand more arrive to-morrow.—United Service. ARMISTICE HOPED FOR. DIPLOMATIC AGREEMENTS PROPOSED. JAPANESE PROTECTIVE MEASURES. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Tokio, May 26. In connection with Tientsin reports that Chang Tso-lin’s armies started a general offensive against the Southern allies there ; is a growing impression that some form of armistice may yet be arranged, permitting either a continuation of Chang’s regime in Pekin or the creation of a buffer area between the Nationalists and Chang in the Pekin-Tientsin zone. While Japanese officialdom continues pessimistic regarding Chang's success it is . known that efforts are being exerted in some quarters to arrange a 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 the ! strengthening of the whole Japanese posi- ! tion between Mukden and Shanhai-kwan. Tsingtao despatches state that Rear-Ad-miral Mukaida, commanding the Second Japanese-China Squadron, issued a summary order preventing Chinese warships at Tsingtao and Kiachow from engaging in belligerent operations on the ground that foreign nationals would be uselessly endangered. Similarly General Vasumitsu, commanding the Nagoya Division, requested both Northern and Southern forces to retire beyond the 20 mile line on either i side of the Kiaochow-Tsinan railway on the ground that the presence of Chinese forces in this area threatens foreign interests. The military also ordered the cessation of all anti-Japanese propaganda in occupied areas.—Australian Press Association.— United Service.