The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-05-01

Peklng, May 1.-(By Associated
Press. )-The battle for possession of
Peking was still continuing today
with the advantage apparently going
to the forces of General Wu Pei-Fu,
driving toward the capitol from the
south.
Advices from the center of fight
; ing, twelve miles southwest of the
city, were that General WI was fore
ing the soldiers of General Chang
Tso-Lin from Changsintien, and that
the tide of battle was rolling east
ward toward the southern walls of
Peking.
Heavy gun fire broke out to the
east of Changsintien at nine o'clock
last night continuing intermittedy all
night.
Artillery firing in the sector south
of Peking became more intense to-
ward midnight and small part of
General Chang Tso-Lin's army re-
treated toward the southwest walls
of Peking.
General WI Pei-Fu's forces appear
ed to be developing their flank move
ment on Chang's right wing, while
the latters troops were defending the
Marco Polo bridge across the Hun
river commanding the approach to
Peking.
Observers reported that Chang had
seven batteries of three guns each,
firing simultaneously with trenches
over the hills along the river six
hundred yards apart. General WI
has gone from Paotingfu, his head
quarters, to Liuliho to take charge
of the drive on Peking. His forces
are using shrapnel and machine guns
| (Liuliho is on the Peking- -Hankow
railway about 35 miles south of Pek-
ing, and 20 miles south of Chang
sintien, on which General Tso-Lin's
right wing rests.)
Peking, May 1.-Wu Pei Fus army
this afternoon had arrived at point
on the railroad between Peking and
Tientsin. The telegraph staff at the
station at Fentai reported that SOL
diers were approaching. Part of Wu
| Pei-Fu's army was reported marching
across the country to attack Chang
Tso-Lin south of Tientsin.
General Chang Tso Lin is personal
| ly occupying private train at Chung
Len Chin, midway between Tientsin
and Taku. Traffic between Peking
and the sea. consequently, has been
blocked. The Portuguese minister
here who is dean of the diplomatic
corps filed protest asserting that
! this was violation of the 1901 proc
tocol. He said that unless the line
was Immediately surrendered the AL
lies would be compelled to guard the
railroad. The protocol provides for un-
interrupted traffic between Paking
and Shanhaikuan, which is the north
east terminus of the great wall
Fighting around Peking has dimin-
ished as result of the retirement of
Chang Tso-Lin's army from the i'm
mediate vicinity. Chinese inhabitants
said today the wounded and dead
found outside the walls of the city in
dicated the fiercest fighting that had
taken place in recent history 1t de-
velops today that General Feng Yuh
Sang, the christian general" who
commanded WI Pei Fu's operations in
| the Battle of Chang Sintein employed
effective tactics. He withdew south
of Changsintien for the purpose of
drawing Chang Tso-Lin's forces away
from their positions. When they pur-
sued, the Christian generals soldiers
turned and delivered heavy fire, caus-
ing 1,500 of Chang Tso-Lin's men to
scatter into the hills. Feng Yuih Sang
| followed up this retreat, took a bridge
and crossed the river. Fu's plan is
thought to be to drive the Manchurian
general toward Tientsin.
Three Chinese cruisers are reported
to have arrived at Shanhaikaun, try
ing to cut off Chang Tso Lin's rear.
Tag Reported that
New Orleans, May 1.-Reports to-
day from Arkansas City, Ark, to the
Gulf are to the effect that more than
10000 men are battling against the
final and what appears to be the most
serious stage of the Mississippi rived
flood situation which is just now en-
tering the lower reaches of the river
Due to lower stages during the past
few days resulting from favorable
winds and the three serious crevasses
in the lower valley, the thousands of
government employees and civilian vol
unteers have been able to overcome
many dangerous developments which
were disclosed by recent higher
stages.
Reports from the third district to-
day stated that all levees in that dis
trict were in good condition with the
exception of small section of the
Vancluse levee near Lake Village,
Ark, where 500 men worked through
the night in an effort to keep back the
flood. This levee had backed for 500
feet but the stretch had been mat
ted" and a dam built behind the
threatened break.
All other danger points, including
that near Arkansas City, are reported
as satisfactory.
Memphis, Tenn, May 1.-Inspection
by congressional delegation of flood
conditions along the Mississippi river
now on its spring rampage, began to-
day with the arrival of ten members
of the House and two members of the
Senate to board the Mississippi river
commission steamer Mississippi for a
tour Of the flood districts from Mem
phis to the Gulf.