THE FAR EAST

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18879, 24 February 1933, Page 5

THE FAR EAST

WARFARE CONTINUES. TERRIFIC BOMBARDMENT. JAPANESE ATTACK CHAQYANQ. PEKING DENIES ULTIMATUM. CHIANG KAI-SHEK TO FIGHT. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. SHANGHAI, Feb. 23. Reports from Peking state that fighting in the Jehol province continues. There have been terrific aerial bombardments of Chaoyang, Naniing and Peipiao by the Japanese. These air attacks apparently are aimed at the destruction of communications. Only the telegraph station' at Chaoyang now remains standing. It is believed that a general Japanese attack will be commenced to-morrow. Other reports state that both the Chinese and the Japanese are enforcing a strict censorship, which renders it difficult to ascertain the true position in Jehol. The Peking authorities say they have no knowledge of a pending ultimatum. They declare that if one is presented it will be returned, unopened, to the sender. Referring to reports that certain nations are in favour of an arms embargo, a Nanking Foreign Office spokesman declared that an embargo should be limited to Japan alone, since China was acting in self-defence. To prevent China from securing arms and supplies for the present struggle would he tantamount to stabbing her in the back. The acting-Premier, Dr. Soong, last night informed the press that Marshal Chlang Kai-shek was preparing to enter the fight, and shortly would assume the chairmanship of the National Defence Committee, which includes every experienced military leader in the country. There is considerable apprehension in foreign circles as the result of a rumour that the Japanese navy may be compelled to enforce a blockade should the struggle develop serious proportions.

A Cantonese by 'birth, Chians Kaishek joined the Chinese Army as a second lieutenant after a course at a military school. Later he disappeared, to turn up at Shanghai in I‘JL'i as an armed robber in the International Settlement. A price was placed on his head and his photograph as a “wanted" man, was placarded throughout the city. For some time he was “on the run” and for some Time was not heard of. When the Cantonese, under Russian leadership, began their attack on central and north China, Chiang Kai-shek was given a field officer's appointment and soon came to the forefront. With the Russian, Borodin, he was instrumental in the victorious advance of the Cantonese Army which captured in turn, Hankow, Nanking, Shanghai (the native city), and Peking. By this time he was virtually dictator and removed the capital of China to Nanking. Arriving at Shanghai at the head of his victorious army he placed the International police in an awkward quandary as the warrant for his arrest as an armed robber still held good if lie entered the Settlement. lie refrained, however, from entering the International. Settlement. After lie had formed the new government at Nanking he arrange” for the appointment, of a nonfinal president and appointed himself as the commander in chief in China. One of his tirsl acts was to rid the country of its Russian Communist advisers, as he feared their power. For a time while the more radical element of the Government, headed by the notorious Fugeiic Chen, one time minister to Franco, was in control, he was under a cloud and retired to Japan with his wives and several million dollars belonging to the Government. Returning after the expulsion of the Chen element diking placed in power tlie family of the late Dr. Sun Vat Sen, and thus commanded the allegiance of those who venerated Sun. Among the family olllce appointees was Dr. T. V. Soong, the present finance minislor. Chiang continued his policy of eradicating the Communist element and thereby alienated Canton, which, listening lo the blandishments of Kugene Chen announced its independence from Nanking. That left Chiang with only four provinces actually under 1 1 is control. At intervals he has headed armies in these for the i»irp->se of cleaning up bandits. In' I lie Japanese affair at Shanghai although he bombastically claimed what he was going lo do. he did nothing personally. He did, however, despatch the Cantonese I Dili Route Army to the defenee of Chapei. hut did not lake the held himself. This was the army which dealt so severely with the Japanese. It remains that Chiang is the only man in a non-militarisin' eouulry who ran no said In he a military leader of any genius in modern war larlies. Recently lie elaimed lo have embraced Christianity, joining the McLhudist Church.