WAR IN CHINA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 4, 28 October 1924, Page 3

WAR IN CHINA.

POSITION MORE COMPLICATED.

FENG CONTROLS PEKING

PEKING, Oct. 25

It is hardly an exaggeration to say that Feiig-Yuh-Siaiig’a defection from Wu-Pei-Fu’s side lias complicated the political and military situation, which is already almost beyond foreign comprehension, if not beyond the Chinese. The question arises: Will Wu-Pei-Fu continue to light and, if so, against whom, Chang-Tso-Lin or Feng* The probabilities seem to point that he cannot do so, if for no other reason than that Feng controls the railway leading from one of his chief arsenals. Moreover, the success of Feng’s coup caused further dissension in Wu-Pei-Fu’s camp, for the Chinese proverbially aye prone to. desert the losing general. On the other hand, Wu-Pei-Fu is known to be. a brave man who, unless there are further serious defections, is unlikely to accept the present state of things lying down.

Then there is the question of the attitude likely to be adopted by the military governors of the various provinces, who have supported Wu-Pei-Fu hitherto, especially along the Yang-Tse and around Shanghai. Will they continue to support him ? If so, and he succeeds in linking up forces with them, the war may continue indefinitely, though it is more probable his followers will fall away and his power speedily collapse. Much depends upon what money power he still commands.

With Peking cut off, the financial question must now be serious for him. Among other important consequences of Feng’s intention to hold conferences may be another lease of power in the south for Sun-Yat-Sen, whose political fortunes since the burning of Canton have been at the lowest possible ebb. Altogether things in China have never been more in the melting pot than now, and foreigners and the best type of Chinese hope that a stable Government with, above all, some degree of security for life and property, may emerge from the present chaos. Feng requested Tsao-Kun to issue two mandates, firstly ordering the immediate cessation of hostilities, and, secondly, ordering the .punishment of Wu-Pei-Fu. Tsao-Kun agreed to the former but declined the latter. Feng then took a measure to secure compliance and later it was announced that Tsao-Kun had ordered the cessation of hostilities and the dismissal of Wu-Pei-Fu from his present posts. President Tsao-Kun’s order suspending further hostilities instructs the Fengtien-ites and the Chihli-itcs to Veturn to their original stations pending further orders from the Central Government. It is reported that TsaoKun has taken refuge in the Legation quarter at Peking. Cabinet resigned after countersigning the mandate. •V communique from Chang-Tso-Lin announces the ending of the war with the Central Government. PRESIDENT’S FINAL EFFORT. MILITARY COMMANDERS CASHIERED. PEKING, Oct. 25. By President Tsao-Kun’s order the positions of Commander-in-Chief /and vice-commander of the expeditionary forces have been abolished, and Wu-Pei-Fu dismissed from his post and appointed chief commissioner for the development of Kokonor, which is a large salt water lake in the north-east of Tibet.

The remainder of Feiig-Yuh-Siaug’s troops have reached Poking, also 15,000 Shensi troops, giving Feng a total command of upward of 40,000 men. Perfect order has been maintained up to the present. Not a single shot was fired during or after the coup. Cabinet is nominally carrying on under the Premier, Yen. Vernacular papers report that Chang-Tso-Lin has been treated similarly to Wu-Pci-Fu by Tsao-Kun. This is not confirmed, but Peking papers assert that Li-Ching-Lin, general of the first Fcngtien army, who secretly conferred with Fong, is marching on Mukden with the object of ousting Chang-Tso-Lin. Later messages state that Wu-Pei-Fu is in full flight. The retreat of the Central Government’s armies at Shanhaikwan is cut off.

WU-PEI-FU TAKING OFFENSIVE

AS LAST HOPE.

PEKING, Oct. 26.

It is stated authoritatively that Wu-Pei-Fu is launching a heavy attack on the Shanhaikwan front, endeavouring to turn Chang-Tso-Lin’s right flank. Wu-Pei-Fu is apparently determined to bring a quick final decision there by an attack, rather than to attempt to retreat.