Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-03
CANTONESE SHIFT
ATTACK TOCUT OFF
SHANGHAI BY RAIL
Drive at Communications of
Defenders Indicated Instead
of Direct Blow at City.
MARINES WILL PARADE
IN STREETS SATURDAY
U. s. Consul Says Men Will Re-
turn to Ships After Getting
Exercise Ashore.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
SHANGHAI, China, March g.
There were increasing indications to-
day that the next major effort by the
Nationalists would not be a direct
advance upon Shanghai, but thrust
in the direction of Nanking railway,
with the object of cutting of Gen
Chang Tsung -Chang's Shantungese
forces from their base.
A Nationalist raiding party is re-
ported to have engaged the northern
ers at Wukiang. 10 miles south OF
Soochow, on the Nanking railway
and there are other indications that
the southerners are advancing In
strength to the west of Taihu Lake.
Trainloads of troops from Shantung
province continued to arrive from
Nanking today to fill the gap in the
Shanghai defense armies caused by
The disintegration of Marshal Sun
Chuan-Fang' forces. Approximately
IL 900 Shantung troops are now at
the Sungkiang front. % miles from
Shanghai, while another large con-
tingent is being dispatched to Woo
sung, TO protect Shanghai from the
north.
Cantonese Task Harder.
With strong forces of Shantung
troops barring the way to Shanghai,
the opinion of military authorities is
that the Cantonese are faced with
difficult task In their attempt to reach
the prize city. Fears that the large
groups of soldiers who deserted from
Marshal Suns army and poured into
Shanghai might aggravate the situa-
tod 1yy q y
authorities, who are certain that the
foreign military and naval forces in
the city are sufficiently strong to meet
any developments.
The retirement of Ii Pao-Chang as
defense commissioner of Shanghai was
in accordance with the elimination
from the Shanghai area of all those
connected with the collapsed forces
of Marshal Sun. who until 10 days
ago was the chief defender of this
city against the Nationalists.
Marines VIII Parade.
Ii Pao Chang has left for the North.
1t is reported he feared to remain ow
ing to the beheadings of strike agi
tators for which he was responsible
American Marines from the trans
port Chaumont will march through
the international settlement here
Saturday.
In connection with the plans fol
the march, Clarence e. Gauss, the
American consul general, issued
statement saying:
In order TO provide exercise fol
the Marines aboard the United States
naval vessels in port, they will be
landed from time to time for route
marches through the settlement, after
which they will return to their ships
1t is understood this statement was
intended to emphasize that the Amerl
cans were not participating in any
show of strength, and were maintain
ing their policy of remaining on ship
board unless an emergency required
their landing.
British Marines March.
One thousand royal marines from
the British steamer Minnesota landed
today and marched through the set
tlement The salute was taken out
side the British consulate by Gen
Duncan. accompanied by Rear Ad-
miral Sir Reginald Tyrwhitt. naval
commander-in-ch of the British
China station.
Thousands of foreigners and Chi
nese gathered at the saluting base
TO welcome the Marines. Squads of
soldiers, sailors and police were re-
quired to maintain sufficient room
for the column to pass.
Headed by a band, the half mile of
men with cleaning bayonets and
metal helmets filed along the bund
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