New-York tribune., 1922-04-27
China ON Verge
Of Civil War,
Chang g Asserts
President Warns of Internal
Strife and Danger Of For
cign Complications in
Appeal for Mediation
OrdersTroopsW Withdrawn
Seeks Commission to Rid
Country Of Largest Ar.
mics in History Of Nation

PEKING. April 26 (By The hs.o~
ciated Prcss) .-~prcsdcnt Hsu Shih-
chang issued to-day an appeal TO the
Chinese nation, declaring China Was on
the verge Of civil war, with the danger
Of foreign complications. He demanded
that Generals Chang T9o-lin and WI
psi-fu withdraw their troops in1mc-
diatcly and send mcdiator5 for adjust
mcnt Of their ditfcrcnces. The Pres
idont said in his appeal:
"As it appears that the armies Of ttc
north and south arc about to engage in
hostilties causing evil war. the Pres
idcnt, because Of diplomatic questions
and on account Of the safety of the
republic, deems it necessary TO issue a
mandate demanding that both sides
"'thdraW their troopa from the Vicin-
ity Of Pebing and also from Chih-l
province. Tho central government is
ready to listen to mcdiators."
simultaneously, Acting Premier Chou
T1u-chi, after a conference with the
President and members Of his Cabinet.
telegraphcd the civil and military gov
ernors Of all the eighteen provinces
asserting that the existence Of the re
public was threatened. He asked cach
province 10 send a competent commis-
siOncr to Peking 70 devise measures 10
rid the country OF the armies, which
are now the largest in China's kis~
tory.
Nonld Lose All She Gained
The acting Premier said the foreign
powers had developed great hope ir
China as n result Of the Washingtor
conference. Consequently, civil war
would be a humiliation causing China
"lo lose not only all she gained al
Washing IN, but much more lie
added that internal order and nn er-
l}ghtened civil government were es-
scntial to convince the powers that the
faith shown at Washington was not
misplaced.
Should threatened hostilities begin
now said the acting Premier. "hov'
can we face the foreign powers again.
What answer can We give the delegated
who assembled at Washington Clearly
our future now rests with ourselves.
We must set our house in order.'
Chou Tzu-chi outlined the purposes
for inviting 8 commissioner from each
province, as follows:
flrst-To suggest means for paying
100000 soldiers and disbandine the
army. except the forces under TIE
Presidents Immediate control.
Second djustment Of the nations
finances, which is urgent because the
Treasury is empty and foreign ob,iga
lions are pressing the government.
Tn;rd-To discuss measures for The
exercise of civil authority and the re
tiremcnt Of military governors, "wh,
arc now exercising autocratic power +,
the various provinces.'
War ls Up TO Generals
Whether it will DC peace or war, Il
IS understood, ROW depends upon the
nature Of the replies from Generals
Chang Is0-lin and Wa Pei-tu. Gene
raj Chang, who is military governor
Of Manchuria, Il regarded as master
Of the territory surrounding Peking
because Of the distribution Of almost
100000 ManchuriQn soldiers south o.
the Great Wall, but he is reported TO
be dissatisfied because Shantung and
other provinces il the south have de-
MED him support.
General WI pei-fu, who is rou-
within a days march Of Picking, is
said TO be gaining sympathy, his fol
ambitious TO become distator. General
WI last Week promised that if tha
Manchurian governor would recall his
troops to Mukden he himself would
order his army to return south. Con
siderablo Importance, therefore, at
taches to She answer expected from
General Chang,
Annoy, China, April 26 (By The As
aociated Press. .-Forces under Gene
raj Chang Tso-Iin, military governor
Of Mukden, arc reported to have re-
treated after preliminary skirrnishes
with General WI pei-fus troops south
of Tientsin, in the province Of Chilli.
Both sides arc Strengthening their
positions, and officials arc still hop
ing for mediation.
The skirm shing occurred along tns
pl'oking- HanAow railway, and much OF
the trackage - said to have been torn
I'D by the Chilli forces In their re-
treat.
81 Perish When French