Evening star., 1924-09-17

to fire the first shot. but the Chihli
faction has moved six brigades to the
Shanhaikwan and Jehol fronts and
l was compelled to take defense meas
ureS. j also assured the members of
the consular body that I would take
every means to protect foreign life
and property.
Explains Movements.
II have moved some of nv diyi-
sions to the Shanhakwan front and to
Chinchou and Peichen, the latter to
protect myself against an advance Of
Chilli troops from Jehol. 1 have
moved troops to other strategic po-
sitions. l have no intention of open
ing a general attack and will fight
only il my territory is invaded. My
territory. which has been peaceful
for SO long a time, must be defended.
The farmers have to gather their
crops which this year are showing
record yield. I do not intend to
permit the constructive work which l
have carried on for years to be in
terfered with by the soldiers of WI
Pei-Fu."
The writer asked Chang for his
opinion of Gen. Wu and he replied at
once.
"Wu Pei-Fu must be mad" said
Chang. He has said that he is a
bigger man than Napoleon was. Any
man who makes statements of that
ordinately ambitious and wants to be
dictator of China.
Has 100000 Troops.
II have 100000 troops who are loyal
m Ia fo
carry out thorough defense. II real
fighting breaks out 1t will not be my
fault. 1 have appealed to the prov
inces to assist me in preventing the
spread of hostilities which 1 consider
mere madness.
II have no desire to meddle with
the politics of Peking. I have no
presidential aims. 1 have enough to
do to govern my own territory and
carry out constructive industrial
work. At the present time I have
budget surplus Of many millions
and every year shows an increase.
Roads, factories and industrial en-
terprises have been inaugurated and
my people are happy and contented.
II consider that foreign interven-
tion now would be inopportune, but
foreigners might act as mediators be-
tween Chekiang and Kiangsu, pro-
vided they showed impartiality. Shang-
hal, on account of it's Importance as
| a foreign port, should be protected
and also because the Chinese have
many millions of vested interests"
Country In Normal.
Marshal Chang Tso-Lin then point
ed out that during the movement OF
thousands of troops, his portion Of
| the Peking- -Mukden railway had been
kept in full working order and that
passenger traffic had not been. dis
rupted. During the correspondents
travels through Manchuria he has
found that the country people are
carrying on their usual work and all
along the railway line no soldiers
beyond the ordinary station guards
were to be seen.
Mukden is quiet and no one seems
| to know that national civil war is
about to break out. Gen. Chang Tso-
Lin informed the writer that II reason
did not prevail he was afraid that the
whole country would be thrown into
a state of confiagration, which would
dwarf all other civil conflicts since
the conflict of the Manchu dynasty
Cable facilities all over the country
are naturally being hampered as each
military chieftain is preventing news
of his movements from being pub.
lished. Gen. Chang has his arsenal
| working overtime. He has number
| of aircraft, and his soldiers are well
| to be confident Of the outcome should
he be attacked.
Copyright. 1924, by Chicago Daily News.)