The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-09-01
BY LLOYD LEHRBAS.
International News service.

= 4
International News Service.
NEW YORK, Sept. China is
momentarily expected to be thrown
into the chaos Of civil war again as
the result of the ,warlike gestures
being made by the tuchuns, or
military governors. Of neighboring
provinces at the mouth Of the great
Yangtzse river. Troops are being
massed along the horderline Of the
provinces, new troops are being
recruited, and heavy purchases Of
arms and ammunition are being
made by each in anticipation Of war,
that has been brewing between them
for 80 long, breaking out almost any
minute.
The enemies and contenders for
power are Marshal, or General, Chi
Hsieh-yuan, tuchun of Kiangsu
province, and General Lu Yung-
hsiang, military governor Of Chellang
province, and the prize is posses
sion OF the two richest provinces in
all China, and Shanghai, the great.
est and Wealthiest city In the land.
Ancient Enlliity.
The origin of the enmity between
back to when General Lu, q mem
party, was promoted from military
governor of Sunglxiang and Shang.
hal to become tuchun of Chekiang.
province. At that time General
LUIS party, the Anfuites, were in
control Of the Picking government,
and when General Luz moved from
Shanghai to Hangchow, the capital
of Chelkiang, to assume his new
duties, he left his chief lieutenant,
General Ho Feng-lin, in command
at Shanghai as military governor,
or defense commissioners, as he Is
better known.
When the Anfu party fell from
power as a result Of their machina-
tions with japan during the world
war-contracting large loans from
Japanese interests, which went into
their own pockets instead Of being
used for war preparation purposes,
as they were Acknowledgement Lu,
because of the troops he con-
trolled in Chekiang and Shanghai.
was able to hold on; and China was
confronted with the spectacle Of
having its greatest city In the
hands Of the tuchun of one prov
ince, despite the fact that, geo
graphically and for ages past, IL
had been in another province.
Sought Shanghai Area.
General Chi, .Hsieh-yuan, one Of
the youngest and brainiest Of the
Chihii party. which came into power
In Picking with the downfall Of the
Anfu clique, was named Tuehun Of
Kiangsu province by the new aid.
ministration. One Of his first acts
was an attempt to secure control
of the district surrounding Shang-
hal, which, he commended, wasIrisht.
fully in his territory and under his
jurisdiction.
General Lu, however, had found
that Shanghai was one Of the
most Qf not the most lucrative
districts in China and promptly
rebuked General Chi and threatened
war IL General Chi attempted to
take possession. Since General LUIS
forces were already in possession.
and his own forces almost used
up by the warfare he had Just
passed through, General Chi de-
cided against making an attack on
the Chekiang forces, but immediate
ly began scheming to secure his
goal.
Marking, General Chi's capital.
Immediately became the fountain
of intrigue for his plans. He en-
larged his army, concluded political
alliances that enabled him to con-
solidate his position and otherwise
get ready for the conflict he was
certain would soon come.
Financed by Opium.
General Lu, in the meantime, had
been just as busy, although he
was seriously handicapped by lack
of funds and by his political isOla-
ton, as all those who might have
assisted him had been driven from
power. General LUIS chief lieu
tenant, General Ho, however. 10 said
to have found the importation of
opium into the Shanghai district
extremely lucrative, and General Lu
Is believed to have built UP his
army by using funds derived from
that source.
For the last year or more It has
become increasingly evident that
actual warfare was not far off, and
in March Of this year fighting was
only STAYED off by the Intervention
Of influential merchants and gentry
from Hangchow, Shanghai, Nan.
king and other cities and towns in
both provinces, who brought pres.
sure to bear in getting General Lu
and Marshal Chi to sign treaty Of
peace by which each agreed not to
move troops in their territory in a
manner that might seem bellgerenr
or dangerous to the other. Both,
however, have violated the agree.
ment, and the opposing troops are
now facing each other along the
Kiangsu-C hekiang border, only a
few miles apart. ~
A spark is liable to start the war
at any hour, and there are innu-
merable sparks" flying about
FIangchow, Marking and Shanghai
CAlIPCH WOlll n RNppNW