WAR LORD IS DEPOSED

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23323, 5 October 1945, Page 5

WAR LORD IS DEPOSED

Action By Chiang Kai-shek Fighting In Kunming By I’eiegrapn —N Z hirss * «n»..-mli (7.40 p.m.) CHUNGKING. Oct. 4. Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek is reported to have deposed the war lord, Lung Yun. as Governor of Yunan Province, and has also taken over Lung’s army, which has long been the best fed and best equipped in South-west China. Lung is also removed from the post of director of Generalissimo Chiang’s Kunming headquarters and vice-commander of Chinese Supreme Headquarters. A division of National troops has moved mto Kunmmg. The American commander ordered an 8 p.m. curfew in the Kunming area. American troops are forbidden to enter the city. Bitter and widespread street fighting broke out in Kunming between National and Yunnanese Provincial troops, following Lung Yun’s removal from office, says the Chungking correspondent of the “New York Times.” The fighting began at dawn yesterday, when National troops marched into the city to take over Lung Yung’s forces. Casualties are believed to be heavy on both sides. An eye-witness reported that machinegun fire was heard in the northern part of the city and added that National troops are armed with Ameri-can-made cannon, bazooka, machineguns and Tommy-guns. Kunming is the terminus of the American overland supply line to China and has been spared from fighting during wartime.

The correspondent points out that this is Generalissimo Chiang’s first action against the war lords in an attempt to unify china.

Return To Normal

(12.54 a.m.) CHUNGKING, Oct. 4. Major-General H. S. Aurand, Commander of the United States supply unit, announced that the Kunming fighting has ceased and the situation is returning to normal.