The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-10-16
Hope for Great Empire Is
Blasted by War Lords
Seeking Power.
PRESIDENT is DOOMED
christian General Plots
Downfall: Main Ally
Ready to Strike.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS,
Scripps-Howard Foreign Editor

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16.-PreSi-
dent Chang Kai-Shek's bubble of a
united China appears on the point
Of exploding into the very elements
out of which it was made, namely,
several different groups Of provinces,
each group under a sort of feudal
war lord of it's own.
With state of actual war exist
ing between its country and Soviet
Russia, and beset by revolutionists
within its own borders, the present
nationalist regime of republican
China faces one of the most serious
crises of its existence.
Observers are of the opinion
that while President Chang and his
group at Marking may outlast the
winter, owing to the difficulties of
campaigning in cold weather. spring
likely will see his overthrow.
Some Of the most powerful mill
tariSts IN the country already are
either leading revoltS against him
or apparently are waiting a more
suspicious moment.
Millennium Doesn't Come
1t is the same old story. Like the
rest of the world, the Chinese are
only human and, led to believe all
sorts of wonderful things, are Just
about to happen. They are diSap-
pointed when the millennium fails to
dawn overnight. From this it is
only a step to following another
leader who promises to make good
where the other fell down.
The famous Christian general, -"
Feng Yu-Hsiang, is one of the key
men to the present situation, just
as he so often has been before. He
now is reported at the head of his
army in middle China. marching
southwark on Hankow, the Chicago
Of China. with the purpose of oc-
cupying it.
Another key man is "the model
governor" OF Shansi province.
Marshal Yen Hsi- Shan, close friend
OF Feng. the Christian general"
He is considered not only an able
Strategist, but a capable executive.
AS yet he has not taken sides OPEN
ly. but his friendship for Feng and
his opposition to President Chang
indicate which way ne will go when
he decides to move.
The province of ShanSi lies lust
west of Chilli, in which Peiping is
situated. Two railway lines connect
1t with the ancient capital, thus
giving Yen a strategic advantage
over North China.
Plot Is Thwarted
Feng and Yen last spring we're
involved in a movement against the
Marking government. but before
they were we'll under way Presi-
dent Chang got the drop on them.
Called on the carpet, they an
nounced. their intention to go
abroad, but the president told them
politely they we're too important to
China to absent themselves at such
a time and persuaded them to stay.
What President Chang really
meant that if they tried to leave
the country to go where they could
plan further trouble for him and
the Nationalist regime unmolested,
he would lock them up, or do some
thing to them more drastic still.
Still farther north, in Manchuria,
the young marshal" Chang Hsueh-
Liang. who last year succeeded his
father. the "old marshal" Chang
Tso-Lin. as war lord of the three
eastern provinces, is holding aloof.
Meanwhile, he is carrying on sepa-
rate peace negotiations with Soviet
Russia thus offering further proof
Of Manchurias attitude of quasi
independence.