Evening star., 1925-06-07
L. S. OFFICIALS ANXIOUS.
ConsuIs Report of Canton Increases
Anxiety Here.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Official anxiety in Washington over
the situation in China was increased
yesterday when Consul General Jen-
kins at Canton reported that a battle
between factions for possession of the
city was expected within Sc hours.
Foreign residents were leaving the
city and it's suburbs at 8 pm. Friday,
when the MESA ge was dispatched. The
civil administration had retired behind
protective barricades on Honan Island.
Consul Jenkins reported three days
ago that a battle would occur within
ten days, and his message yesterday
indicated that the attacking force Of
Cantonese troops under Gen Hsu,
which was within 40 miles of Canton.
had made better progress than had
been expected. Yesterdays message
added that the Yunnanese troops. en-
trenched in the eastern suburbs of
Canton. were short of ammunition and
artillery and probably would be de-
feated.
Hsu Faction Radical.
The contending forces are factions
of the former South China group
which maintained an Independent gov
ernment in the Canton region under
DR.. sun Vat Sen up to the time of his
death. The group then broke up into
the Cantonese forces under Gen. Hsu
are understood TO be the radical forces
which have declared their purpose OF
cooperating with the Russian Soviet
government and OF renouncing all con-
nection with the Chinese central gov
ernment at Peking. The civil govern
ment of Canton also has been under
stood to support the Bolshevist theory
but Consul Jenkins said in his mes
sage that it was issuing series of
proclamations denying that it is Com
munist, but at the same time promis-
ing numerous SocialiStic reforms to
laborers and peasants"
The Yunnanese troops are under
stood to be the provincial forces with
which the conservative wing of the
former Canton government group al
lied itself at the time the ma jority of
that group decided to support soviet
ism.
Would Give Reds Control.
Defeat of the Yunnanese troops, pre-
dicted in the advices, would mean the
complete mastery of Canton and it's
immediate vicinity by a faction which
has decided tendencies toward soviet
ism and would increasingly embar-
rass the Western powers in maintain
ing for the protection of their nation
ais the long-held special treaty rights
granted for that purpose. 1t has
been part of the Russian Soviet prop
aganda throughout Russia and the
chief aim of the recent Chinese stu
dent demonstrations at Shanghai and
elsewhere to force foreigners in China
and their governments to forego all Of
these special rights.
The American consul general at
Canton has served notice on both fac
tions that American lives and prop
erty must be protected. On his advice,
Americans living in the suburbs of
Canton, where the fighting is likely to
occur, are retiring to safer points.
many women and children having
been removed at the time his latest
message was sent. The gunboat Ashe-
vile was at Canton yesterday and the
Pampanga was expected there Friday
night.
L. $. Residents Anxious.
Telegraphic communications with
Hongkong was interrupted, the mes
sage said, but there had been no anti
foreign ma anifestation in the city owing
to the approaching battle at the edge
of the city. Mr.. Jenkins added, how
ever, that some apprehension was
felt that anti-British manifestations
would develop and that even the
American residents felt much anxiety.
One aspect of the Canton situation
which attracts attention here is the
possible effect it will have in precipi-
tating the larger civil war between
Chang -Tso-Lin and Feng-Yu-hsing
which has been Indicated RI OFF,
advices as awaiting only some crit
ical development to bring the struggle
out into the open. A radical victory
at Canton, it is felt here, might com.
pei Chang, the Manchurian war lord,
who is opposing Russian domination
of China, TO turn his attention in
that direction and probably cause
Feng. because of his reliance on
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