Evening star., 1927-04-14
NANK|NG MENACED
AS ARMIES BATTLE
Northerners Threaten Rail-
way to Shanghai-U. S.
Destroyer Fired On.
By Cabls to The Star and Chicago Daily
News. Copyright, 1921

Bv Cabls TO The Star and Chicago Daily
News. Copyright, 1927.
SHANGHAI, April 14.--Reports re-
ceived here by the Navy wireless an
nounce that a battle is now in prog
ress between the Northerners, with
their base at Pukow, and the South
erners at Hsiakwan, a river suburb OF
Nanking. The firing of big guns and
rifles is heard.
According to local Chinese connect
ed with the Kuomintang, Nanklng is
in a serious position in a military
way. inasmuch as Pukow is in the
hands of the Northerners, and contin-
gents of their troops have crossed the
river farther down, where they
threaten the railway connection with
Shanghai.
From Nanking itself the little news
that leaks out over the naval wireless
saws that the Nationalist flag was
hoisted on Lion Hill and that no other
flags are displayed in all Nanking.
L. S. Destroyer Fired On.
There was no movement of soldiers
Yesterday across the YangtZe River
The United States destroyer Noa was
fired on by northern soldiers, who used
rifles. The destroyer returned the
fire with machine guns. The same
northern soldiers had been firing on
all passing vessels, including Chinese
and Japanese steamers. The snipers
lie hidden behind the river bank mile
or two above Pukow.
While this is the military status OF
Marking. the real significance of the
great importance are being arranged.
Chang Kai-Shek has been in Marking
for some days and there is a gather
ing of the anti-Communists in the
Kuomintang party. Gen. Pal Chung
Isi and Gen. Chow Feng-Chi have
gone there together with others who
are likewise opposed to the Borodin-s
Hankow outfit.
One conclusion drawn from this anti
Bolshevist convention at time when
the outposts of the northerners are di-
rectly across the river is that the non-
Communist Kuomintang members are
trying to reach an understanding with
the north, which has been anti-Soyiet
all along.
Alliance Held Possible.
There is a belief in Shanghai that
the long-talked-of alliance between
Chang Kai-shek and Chang Tso-lin
may emerge from the Nanking con-
ference, providing for the holding of
eastern China jointly, with the
Yangtze as the dividing line, If the
North and South could thus settle
their differences, it would afford an
opportunity to expel communism from
China
What they would do with Shanghai
is puzzle. AS for the rest of the
lower Yangtze Valley, Chinkiang yes
terday was almost denuded of troops.
Not more than 500 men remain there.
as the others have been distributed
thence to Tanyan and down the rail-
way to other points.
It is reported that 10000 men are
at Lienyutai, about three miles from
Chinkiang. Northern troops are ex-
pected to attack across the river on
the lines from Shiharwei to Kwachow,
places which are northwest of Chin
kiang.
Two thousand men of the 7th Ma
tionalist Division have crossed to
Wuhu, which is believed to be ex-
tremely anti-foreign, and so it is mad
visable for foreigners 10 go ashore
there. Hankow is quiet, but uneasy.
1870 Foreigners Leave.
The steamer Lungwo has left there
with 130 foreigners for Shanghai. The
British gunboat Verify was fired on
with rifles from the south bank near
(Continued on Page 4, Column 81