MAKING FOUR-FOLD ADVANCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 17 March 1927, Page 9

MAKING FOUR-FOLD ADVANCE.

Chinese Military Operations ONLY MIRACLE CAN SAVE SHANGHAI. .By Cable—Press Associalion —Copyright. Australian ami N.Z. Cable Association. (Received March 16, 7.55 p.m.) LONDON, March 16. Chinese news, received in official quarters, indicates that the Cantonese are making a four-fold advance on Nanking, in order to sever railway communication with Peking. The “Daily Express” declares that northing short of a miracle can prevent Nanking and Shanghai falling into the hands of the Southerners. The Northern forces suffered heavy casualties in a. surprise attack, at Tung-li, which is the beginning of Hie Southerners’ great drive on ilu; Nanking-Sunkinng fronts. Ten thousand troops are now advancing on Sunkiang, where only 6500 Northern troops remain. Seven thousand Northerners, with a force of White Russians, have been rushed across the Yangt.se, in an attempt to protect Nanking. CHALLENGE TO U.S.A. AMERICAN VESSEL FIRED ON. ft;.' r«oie—Press Association —Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. PEKIN, March 15. The Chinese soldiers interfered with the Standard Oil Coy’s, launch near Wuhu. The United Stales destroyer Peebles intervened and put an armed par tv aboard.

Later she was escorting the launch when soldiers fired on the vessels. The Profiles’ bridge was bit twice, but there wore no casualties. HEAVY FIGHTING REPORTED. TWENTY MTLE FRONT. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. PEKIN, March 15. Heavy fighting is proceeding. The Nationalists launched a desperate offensive on a 20-mile front. Thus far no details of bow the fight is going hare been received. The acting Chinese Commissioner of Customs at Wuhu was dragged through tile strectis on two successive days, with a placard reading “Ho accepted a bribe from the Jardine Mathcson Company to release a steamer wherein were British refugees.'-' The mob beat and stoned him.