The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-04
WITH B|G BATTLE
 AT HAND J. $. HAS VESSEL AT CANTON
American Interests to Be Pro- tected During Storming of Chinese City by Large
 Army

OANION, Feb. 0--lBN ASSOclaLou Press.)-with 10000 troops under General Huu Tsung chi marching on Canton to reclaim the southern capi- tai for Sun Yat Sen and a sanguin- ary battle imminent. foreign war ships anchored in the river today for the purpose of protecting the inter ests of nationals. Conditions in the city arc chaotic. All business houses are closed and barricaded,
 i2iie Americah erKsxr Heiera. to- gether witli foni Bi F one French and one Italian gunbos IS standing by in the event of hostIlities which are expected at any time. General Hsu and his army are coming from Swatow, according to reports, with the intention of busting the troops from Yunnan and Kwangsf prov inces who occupy the southern capi- tal
 The provincial forces recently took Canton from Sun Vat Sens enemy, General Chen Chung Ming, who had busted pr. Sun last June as presi- dent of the South China republic. Since taking the city these forces have reYolted.
 Loss of Life Feared
 Ten thousand Cantonese troops, who were driven out of Canton by the provincial forces after their commander, General Wei Fang Ping. had been imprisoned. are waiting outside the capital to join General Hsu's army in the attempt to recap ture Canton.
 While Canton is in complete pos session of the invaders it is be- lieved the advancing forces favor able to Dr. Sun will be able to force them to evacuate. There is the gravest danger from footing and 1t is probable there will be heavy loss of life if the invaders retreat in dis order. The foreign warships are de- termined to prevent harm to their nationals.
 The foreign merchants are located principally on Shameen Island, which is under British and French flags, but d number of missionaries in other sections are exposed.
 Pending the outcome of the cx- pected battle, Canton. which has been cxperiehcing continuous war for the past 12 months, is suffering extremely from the cessation of bus mess. The million or more persons of the city's population are in miser- able circumstances as the result of the military occupation.
 Police Driven Out
 The Yunnan and kWangsi troops number approximately 2S,00O Most of the soldiers are youths who. armed, parade the streets The po- lice, sympathetic with the harrassed population, have been driven out.
 While practically all Of the shops are barricaded, gambling is rampant and is encouraged by the militarists who are deriving a large revenue from permitting it's operation.
 The youthful soldiers have confis- cated much property and buildings in many parts of the city have been taken over for military purposes.
 As result of the suspension of the civil government of the capital. the sanitary system has been dis rupted to such an extent that an cpl demic. is threatened unless condi- tions are improved before summer. The merchants of the city are dis heartened and prefer any sort of re- sponsible government rather than endure the present militarism with its threatening conditions. The bus mess men estimate the occupation of the capital by the troops is costing them $20,000,000 monthly.