New-York tribune., 1922-05-05
fugiiives and Wounded
of Manchurani's Troops
Beg in Vain for Ref
"gc Inside the C,ity
WI Wrecks Line
With 10000 Men
Wife of Secretary of u. S.
Legation ShutOutWhc
Capitals Gates Close

PfklNG, May 4 BY The Associated
Press) General Chang Tso-Lin, COM
mander Of the Fcng tien forces. has
suffered reverses on three points Of the
battle front. according to consular ad
vices received hoYo
At Machang, south of Tientsin.
Fhanc's losses are said to have been
heavy. Along the Hun River, at a
place called kuanhsien, it is asserted
that his troops have been driven east
ward. The routing Of the Manchurian
leaders, troops from Changsintien.
which forms the northwest terminus of
the battle line. appears to be complete.
The forces of Chang, after evacuat-
ing the vicinity of Changsinticn, board
cd trains and sped to Fengta, the next
station, where the made 81 stand for a
while. Throngs of men from the de-
feated army approached the walls Of
poNng and pleaded for refuge inside
Many threw away their guns. The
gates were Immediately closed, as me
local authorities had ordefed, under
pressure from the foreign legations,
that adrttanco be refused TO defeated
troops Of either side.
American Women Shut Out
The closing Of tho gates shut out a
number of foreigners, including Mrs
Ray Atherton, wife of the secretary Of
the American Legation. Mrs. Athcrton,
who had been visiting her country
home, demanded that the gates be
after rescue party had been sent to
her aid from the legation.
The Chang soldiers, when they found
they would be unable TO enter the city.
dispersed. Many marched toward the
hills, while others sought refuge in
temples and pagodas in the outlying
districts.
There were numerous wounded, some
limping and others crawlng but all
implorng aid The distressed men
were given aid, mostly by foreigners.
They declared they had been under
constant fire for more than five days.
General Wu's attacks. they asserted,
had been relentless and it was their
belief that he would not cease his
drive until Chang Tso-lin was pushed
into Manchura.
Chinese civilian refugees were per-
mtted to enter the city The Ameri-
can Board Of Missions rescued six
hundred Of them. They are now quar-
tered in the foreign compounds
Inside the walls of the city quiet
prevailed to-day. All foreigners are
reported to be safe
Except for the main body of Chang's
forces. which has retreated eastward.
his northwestern front is said to be
disorganized.
Chang's troops evacuated the vicn-
ity of Changs twelve miles
southwest of Peking, under heavy fire
this morning. Observers standing on
the Marco Polo Bridge saw the forces
of General WI Pei-fu, estimated at
10000, emerge from the village and de
liver rapid attack with rifles and
machine guns, driving Chang's army
eastward toward Fengtai. The retreat
ing army fell back upon the Hun River,
which later they were forced to cross.
Horses. infantry. artillery and camel
trains plunged into the shallow water,
leaving behind wounded and sttagglers,
who were captured,
Partly Cut OF From Peking
lAHG SoltltIS llItu NOUh up ppSl-
tions near Fengtai, which is closer to
Peking But the WI troops cut off all
the approaches to the city from the
westward Fighting near Fengtai. which
is on the >Pehing Tientsin Railroad,
continued throughout the morning.
The sounds of firing were heard by per
sons who climbed the south walls Of
the city.
The opinion of military attaches is
that the WI forces are attempting to
gain control of tho railroad and thus
cut off Changs army from the capital.
A dispatch received from Tientsn re-
ports that heavy Gang reinforceme ents
are being sent westward.
Diplomatic circles here discredit the
report Of Wednesday that General WI
was killed IN action. Nevertheless, they
are without definite confirmation or
denial of the report. Circulars printed
in the Chinese language and distrib
uted in Peking to-day purport to give
the circumstances of the death of WI,
which is declared to nave occurred
while fighting at Machang.
Circular Tells of Reward
This circular asserts that General
Chang paid reward of 100000 to the
soldiers engaged in the battle in which
WI is said to have been killed. Efforts
by the legation officials in Peking to
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