Evening star., 1924-10-17
FIGHT FOUR DAYS.
Mukdenites Drive Chihlis Back
With Bayonets.
BY WILLIAM II, GILES.


By Gable to The Star and Chicago Daily News.
MUKDEN, October 1.-THE follow
ing is an eyewitness account of the
fighting around Shanhaikwan:
On October IL Wu Pei-Fu arrived
at Shanhaikwan and Immediately had
Feng Yu Yung, brother of the Chris
tlan general, shot on account of
the Mukdenites defeating him. Wu-
Pei-Fu, with the 18th Division and
a brigade of his own 18th Division,
launched an attack on the main gate,
which was held by the Mukdenites.
Assisted by naval units he attacked
repeatedly regardless of casualties.
The Mukdenites, who were in high
spirits on account of their previous
victories, resisted determinedly. After
the fourth attack they made a sortie,
driving the Chihlis back at the bay
onet point
Four Days Fighting.
West of Santaokuan and Chimen
the Chihls held the heights, which
were greatly to their advantage geo
graphically. Words fail to express
the difficulties of the Mukdenites' ad-
vance. Gen. Han1inohun, who led the
attack personally, captured the posi-
tions after four days and nights of
heavy fighting. 1t was after he got
through all the passes that WI Pei
Fu's reinforcements began to arrive.
Gen. Hanlinchun, in an interview,
stated that of all battles fought as
far back as history reached, this was
the most difficult battle-ground in
China. For hundreds of years the
Manchus periodically lost hundreds
of thousands of men trying to force
their way into China.
ChihlLs Battied StubbornIy.
The general admitted that the
Chihlis fought stubbornly and brave
ly, but were outnumbered. He stated
that if WI Pei-Fu's reinforcements
had arrived four days sooner, he
would not have been victorious even
if he had been as brilliant as Ma
poleon and as brave as the Chinese
god of war.
On October 13 the Mukdenites
marched on Shaochai, which WAS held
by the second Shensi division, but the
latter was easily driven out, retiring
on Hsihmenchai and Chutsaoying,
where, assisted by the Sd Chihli Di-
vision, it took a new defensive posi-
ton.
On October IA, under the direction
of WI Pei-Fu, the Chihlis renewed
their attack on the position of the
Mukdenites, but the latter, holding a
following up their advantage, cap
tured Hsihmenchai and Chutsaoying.
The Chihlis now have been driven
out of all the mountainous country and
must fight in the future on the plains.
Leave Stores on Field.
One brigade was sent by the Muk-
deniteS toward the southeast via Wum-
ingkuo and Hsihmenchai, attacking a
Chilli force and carrying out an en-
circlng movement. The Chihlis were
badly defeated and fed. leaving large
stores of arms and ammunition on the
fed
The Mukdenites then attacked the
line held by Chang Chih-k kung, COM
mander of the secohd Chilli army.
This attack was a complete surprise.
When the MukdeniteS captured the po-
sition, the rival commander was found
smoking opium and talking to members
of his staff in a small house. Hand
grenades were thrown into the house
and the commander and his staff were
all killed.
Seven heavy guns Of the 3rd Divi-
sion were captured in addition to a
score of machine guns and a number
of field pieces.
Attack Is Repulsed.
The Chihlis' left wing attempted to
break through the Mukden center at
Santaokuan. After five hours fight
ing, the Chihlis were defeated with
heavy losses and vast quantities of
guns and supplies were captured, the
whole Chilli force retreating to
Chngwantao except the right wing
which is still engaged near the north
gate of Shanhaikwan.
A wireless message, just received,
states that Shanhaikwan City has
been completely in the hands of the
Mukdenites since the morning of
October 16, and that the Mukdenites
are continuing their advance on
Chingwantao.
Copyright, 1924, by Chicago Daily News Co.