The Wanganui Chronicle SATURDAY, MAY 14, 1927. THE CHINESE SITUATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19840, 14 May 1927, Page 6

The Wanganui Chronicle SATURDAY, MAY 14, 1927. THE CHINESE SITUATION

Of late, the news from China has dealt mostly with diplomatic affairs, there having been little of a military nature to record. Now, the contending generals appear to have livened up again and the signs appear to point to a renewal of fighting on a fairly considerable scale. The progress of the military operations is somewhat difficult to follow in detail, but it is plain that the Northern forces are showing a revival of vigour. The successes they have recently had do not, however, indicate that the Southerners are done with yet. Chiang Kai Shek has considerable resources behind him, despite his break with Canton, and will probably put up a good resistance, though on the whole the present incations appear to be in favour of the North. An interesting recent item is that the old veteran Wu Pei Fu has come to light again and is co-operating with the Northern troops. The Canton Government now seems to be entirely discredited and can hardly be considered a factor in the situation. Apparently it consisted mostly of its mouthpiece, the voluble Mr Eugene Chen, but now that he has lost his chief inspiration, the Soviet agent, Borodin, he is more or less impotent. The chief ruling power among the Southerners undoubtedly rests now with Chiang Kai Shek who, having got rid of the Communist element, is in a position more truly to voice the aspirations of the South than Chen ever did. It need cause no surprise if the Southern commander came to terms with Chang Tso Lin, though that probably will not happen immediately. Meanwhile, the Communists, having let their dupes down, are in a much less favourable position- to cause further trouble among the Chinese and the prospects of a reconciliation between North and South, though not bright, are at all events better than they were a month or two ago.