The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-09-03
MILLION ARE
INVOLVE IN
CHINA WAR
Conflict Turns on Political
and Personal Ambitions
of Leaders,
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS,
Times Foreign Editor.

BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS,
Times Foreign Editor.
XVI ASHINGTON. Sept 3.-More
.IW than a million troops may
- become involved in China's
new war before it is finished.
a check-up shows that 739, 800 SOL
diers. at the lowest possible esti-
mate, are now modified and ready
for action.
The future Of the war turns upon
the ambitions, mostly purely per
sonal, Of some eight native leaders.
These are:
1. Marshal Tsao Kun, president Of
China.
2. Marshal WI Pei-fu, war lord Of
Chilli and adjacent territory.
8. Marshal Chang Tso-lin. dictator
in Manchuria and eastern Mongolia.
4. DR., Sun Yat-Sen, president OF
the Canton, or South China govern.
ment
5. General Feng Yu-hsiang, Chris
tian commander in Picking.
6. General Chi Hsieh-yuan, mill
tary governor of Kiangsu. in which
province Shanghai is situated.
Z. General Ho Feng- lin, defense
commissioner of Shanghai.
s. General Lu Yun-Hsiang, mill
tary governor Of Chekiang Province,
south of Shanghai.
Future at Stake
In the hands of these men rest
the whole course Of the war and the
immediate future of China. To most
Of them such things as Cabinets,
presidents parliaments. even the re-
public Itself, are but chips in a poker
game. The one who can put most
in his pocket, wins.
Marshal Chang, a former bandit
who came into power in Manchuria
thanks to Japanese Intervention in
his behalf, is officially credited with
having 1o3,120 men in his command.
ne probably has $4,000 more than
that
Marshal Wa Pei-fu. President
Tsao kun's mainstay, has some 330.-
900. When Marshal Chang marched
on Picking eighteen months ago.
Marshal Wa defeated him in a
pitched battle fought under the
very walls Of Picking. and ever since
then Chang has been hiding his time
waiting to catch WI off his guard
At this writing hostiuties have
commenced between Gen. Chi Hsieh
yuan. Of KianEsu. with headquarters
at Marking. and Gen. Io Feng-ln.
Defense Commissioner Of Shanghai
The purported object is 70 Dust Ho,
gain control cf the Nauyang Arsenal
there and bring the New York of
China under Chi's authority. Chi
Is understood 10 command $500
troops
Action in Doubt
General Lu, of Chekiang. with
command Of $3.50 men. is leaning
toward his successor In SHANGHAI.
General Ho. Together these allies
should muster a strength about
equal that OF General Chi.
The question Is what will WI Pei
fu. the federal commander. do? It is
reported President Tsao Kun has or.
dered him 20 crush General Lu, Of
Chekiang, which would necess.tate
operations against Shanghai. Would
Wa weaken his forces about Pekin
by sending a strong column S24
miles south across the YanEtze
China's Mississippi. Chang would al
most surely seize the chance to cap
ture the capital.
DR.. sun. in Canton, Is already at
war against Pekin and has been for
three years. II Chang marches
against WI from the north. Sun
would probably attack from the
south, combining forces with Lu and
Ho. Suns army numbers 1872, 900
men. according to latest count.
With the Christian General
Feng's command of 10000 troops
strategically located in Picking. on
their side--and it is rumored he may
desert President Tsao Kun-the anti
government, combined armies would
number 365.G00 men as against the
governments paper strength Of aD-
proximately the same.
These figures do not take into ac-
count the military forces in Szchuan.
one Of the largest and most
populous Of China's states, nor Of
several other provinces where troops
totaling two hundred thousand or
more are engaged in fighting among
themselves. robbing the countryside
or idling away their time, depending
upon the locality and their own
sweet will