Evening star., 1924-09-03
BATTLE ON IN CHINA
WITH SHANGHAI AS
PRIZE FOR VICTOR
100000 Refugees Crowd Into
City-20 Foreign War;
. ships in Harbor.
U. S. MILITARY UNITS
AWAIT EVENTUALITIES
Large Number of Troops Engaged
But No Material Gains Made
by Either Side.
Ry the AsSr;ated Prcss.

R3y the ASsDciated frcss.
SHANGHAI, September g. With
fighting at Hwangtu, near here, in
progress at o'clock this afternoon
between the contending armies Of
two rival provincial Chinese gov
ernors, reports received here indi-
Gated that the battle lines were ex-
tending toward the coast in the di-
rection of Woosung.
Although a large number of troops
ere engaged in the conflict, reports
received here from Chekiang say that
no material advantage has been
gained by either side.
Leading to Major Battle.
1t is said that the engagement to-
day is preliminary to major battle
at Nansiang tomorrow, l. miles from
Shanghai.
According to information given out
from Lungwha military headquarters,
the first shots were fired at Hwangtu
by the northern troops after Chi
Shieh-Yuan had moved large REIN
iorcements to Hwangtu.
A report to the Dab Tong, Chi
nese news agency, from Hongkong
says that DR.. Sun YatSen. rival of
Chang Tso-Lin, military dictator OF
Manchuria, is planning a northern
expedition with his Human, klangSi
and Kwangtung troops.
Two Other Big Armies.
Reports from Mukden Province to
the same news agency say that two
Manchurian armies are moving
toward the great wall from two di-
rectlonA.
The eastern column is reported to
be proceeding along the Lao River
NfNn ~ rNiN tlae
northeast of Peking, as it's imm ediate
objective, while the western column
is moving toward Chinchow.
Shanghai Is Prize.
The forces of two rival provincial
military governors have Shanghai
and the extreme eastern portion Of
kiangsu Province as the prize.
Although reports received here yes
terday from points along the line OF
the Shanghai-Nanking Railway in
dicated the opposing armies of Lu
Yung Hsiang and Chi Shieh-Yua
had clashed, official confirmation Of
the beginning of hostilities came to-
day from Gen. Ho Feng-Lin, defense
commissioner of Shanghai.
Lu Yung Hsiang, ruler Of the con-
tested section of Kiangsu Province, is
defending his territory against the
aggressive forces of Chi Shieh-Yuan,
ruler of the unconteSted section of
the province.
Refugees Pour Into City.
Before train service was declared
suspended yesterday on the Shanghai
Nanking railway more than 100000
refugees poured into Shanghai, the
objective city in the conflict from the
Chinese military viewpoint. and today,
under the protection of foreign govern
civil warfare.
More than 20 foreign war craft were
assembled in the harbor at Shanghai.
awaiting any action on the part of the
rival military governors which would
place Shanghai in the line of fire and
the lives of foreigners in jeopardy.
On land the Shanghai volunteer corps
and the Shanghai defense unit, which
includes British and American military
sive fighting positions on the boundaries
of the foreign quarter.
Fleet Anchored in River.
Besides the land forces of 10O. 900 on
both sides, the So-called Independent
Chinese fleet, enlisted in the service
of Gen. LII Yung-Hsiang was reported
anchored in the Whangpoo River, op-
posite the kiangnan arsenal. which is
one of the objectives of the forces of
Chi ShiehY Yuan.
The Fukein war craft was reported
in the Chusan Archipelago, off the
coast, southeast of Shanghai. today,
ready to intercept any aid which
Chang Tso-Lin, war lord of Man
churia and supporter of Gen. Lu,
might dispatch to Hanchow by sea.
The financial strength of the con-
tending armies was indicated yes
terday from reports that the troops
of Lu Tung HSiang have received ad-
vance pay and bonuses, while the
rival troops are not in such an agree
able condition, the pay of many units
being in arrears, leaving the soldiers
to rely upon obtaining loot in dis
tricts through which they pass.