POSITION IN CHINA.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1924, Page 6

POSITION IN CHINA.

TROOPS CHANGE SIDES.

ADVANCE ON HANGCHOW. By Telegraph— Press Assn.—Copyright. Peking, Sept. 18. A Presidential mandate has been issued ordering the subjugation of Chang-Tso-Lin. * COAL SHORTAGE. Peking, Sept. 18. With the stoppage of trains Tientsin is faced with a coal shortage which will soon be serious. The worst aspect of the position is that the Haiho Conservancy and shipping lines will soon be unable to obtain bunkering. It is believed that the Con&ervancy will have to cease dredging at the Taku bar, with the result that the river will silt up, preventing the entrance of steamers. CHEKIANG TROOPS BRIBED. EUROPEAN SETTLEMENTS. Peking, Sept. 18. The Chekiang southern troops, having been bribed, went over to the Fukien side, which is advancing towards Hangchow. The Chekiang troops on the Ihing front have also gone over to the enemy, ih this case to the Kiangsu side. The civil government of Hangchow has proclaimed its independence to save the city from the two armies. There are now only the Shantung mercenaries ot the Chekiang army holding out on the Liuho-Hwangtu line, but it is expected to surrender to-night, leaving the Shanghai Chinese city at the mercy of the Kaingsu-ites. Nc fear exwte regarding the safety of the European settlements in view of What are considered the adequate precautions taken. Volunteers have been called out and the police and naval guards are prepared . Thousands of refugees are pouring into Shanghai. Lu-yung-hsiang is at Lunghua Yamen, headquarters of his subordinate Hapengling, defences commissioner at ♦Shanghai. The Peking mandate appoints Wu-Pci-Fu commander-in-chief of the forces engaged in the suppression of the rebels.

An official bulletin says that the Fcngtien forces are entrenched at Chaoyansu. near Chaonyang. and Fengtien. Aeroplanes dropped eight tombs at Sbanhaikuan this morning, but did no damage.