Arizona republican., 1922-05-04
Rival Chinese Forces
Reinforce Lines For
Battle Near Machang
rRepubIiean A. p. Leased WireI

PEKINCi, May 3-General WI Pei
FIJI. commander Of the Chill forces,
was reported this evening to have
arrived near Machang, on the rail-
road south of Tientsin to take per-
sonaln command of the operations
against the troops of Chang Tso Lin
on that section OF the battle front.
Late reports are to the effect that
Chang Tso-Lin is heavily reinforc-
ing his troops in that region with
men of all arms and the indications
are that Machang soon viii be the
center of intense fighting.
Artillery duels already have COM
menced over wide front.
General Wu, if he actually takes
command there, will have facing him
the % year old son Of Chang Tso-
Lin.
Foreign military observers with the
Chill forces report that WI Pei-Fu
recently has been directing the ope-
rations at Changsintien in an endeay-
or to get good results out of General
Tsao Kun's poor troops pending the
arrival OF General Feng Yut Slang s
forces which began TO reach Pacting-
fu, on the railway south of Pel1ing,
Tuesday. Tne reports are to the ef-
feet that WI Pei-F'u's own troops
have not participated in the fighting
at Changsientien. The heavy bonn
bardment that has been in progress
at various points has depleted the
stores of big gun ammunition and
the fighting is now mainly with ma
chine guns and rifles. At some Of
the places there has been lull in the
battle ~
on the middle of the front the
troops of Chang Tso-Lin have re-
captured KLan.
Wounded men from that section
say the fighting was heavy during
the last few days. often at close
quarters. The tide of battle was con-
tinually changing until the arrival of
Chang's reinforcements turned the
scales.
A dispatch received here from
Tientsin says reinforcements for
Chang's army near Machang de-
trained midway between Peking and
Machang and marched southwark to-
ward the Hun river, where fighting
took place on the western bank of
the stream. The cabinet here an
nounced that it has received a mes
sage from the governor Of Shantung
saying thai 10000 .Manchurian SOL
diers had landed in NShantung, hav
ing been transported from Manchuria
by sea.
Admiral Joseph Strauss. command
er of the American Asiatic fleet, ac-
companied by naval attaches, visit
ed the front in the foothills west of
Peking today. The artillery was OBJ
servable a few miles to the south
ward. Columns of smoke were ris-
ing from the town of Chang Sin Tien
in consequence of an aeroplane bonn
bardment there this morning.
Trains of camels were seen carry
ing munitions across the river. Ey-
idence observed of the five days OF
fighting were the carrying off the
field of wounded and the hurying of
the dead. The observers noted the
carcasses OF camels with cannons
strapped to their sides, having been
killed while conveying guns to the
front.
TIENTSIN, May General Chang
Tso-Lin has sent heavy reinforce
ments toward Machang. These in
clude infantry. cavalry and artillery.
His airplanes continued today to fly
over Tientsin.
The Amer can community has de-
cided to form a volunteer organiza-
ton and affiliate with the British.
Firing was audible today at the
Tientsin race course. It is believed
that s1irmishes were in progress fur
ther to the south.