The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-10-31
u. 5. WARSHIPS
SPEED TOWARD
China front,
Six Destroyers Are Sent to
Shanghai to Guard
American Lives.
NEW REVOLT BREWING
Powerful Rebel Armies in
Field May Advance on
Nationalist Chief.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS
Scripps- Howard Foreign Editor

Scripps-Howard Foreign Editor
WASHINGTON, Oct. 31.-Six
United States destroyers are speed
ing today for Shanghai, where they
will be handy in the event the new
Chinese revolt gets out of hand and
American lives are endangered.
AS a sizeable fleet of river gun
boats is station regularly in the
Yangtze, the bringing up of rein
forcements offers dramatic evidence
that the latest civil war in that
region shows signs of serious devel-
opments, despite the approach of
winter.
Apparently President Chang
Kai-Shek's intensive campaign
waged during the summer to unity
China without resort to further
bloodshed has failed, since he him
self just has issued a proclamation
intimating that finish fight now
is unavoidable.
I'm spite of painstaking efforts to
maintain peace and unity" the proc
lamation declares, "the rebels, OBJ
sessed by feudalistic ambitions, have
Joined hands with reactionaries,
Soviet Russia, and the Communists
in an attempt to overthrow the
government.
Fight for Unity
"It is now matter of fighting for
unifcation," the presidents mani
festo concluded, adding that with
out uniflcation China's tremendous
number of surplus troops can not
be disbanded and failure to disband
them would plunge the country back
into the same chaotic condition it
was in prior to the Nationalist revo-
luton.
The center Of the disturbance is
the Yangtze valley, the Mississippi
valley of China, with Hankow, the
Chinese Chicago, as it focal point.
At the head of the rebels is the
notorious marshal, Feng Yu-Hsiang,
commonly known as "the Christian
general" This leader, one of the
ablest in China, has under him a
we'll trained army numbering ap-
proximately 100000 men, whose 10y
atty has been proved by sticking to
him through hardships such as are
unknown to western troops.
A second figure in the drama is
Marsh Yen Hsi-Shan, called "the
model governor" of the province of
Shansi. An intimate friend of the
Christian general" he recently was
reported as having placed the latter
under arrest at the request of Presi-
dent Chang, but subsequent events
tend to throw considerable doubt
upon the story.
Three Generals May Join
The model government" likewise,
has the backing of a very efficient
army and should he and the Chris
tan general combine forces and
march on Hankow and other Yang
tie river points, the Nationalist cap
ital at Marking would be in jeop-
ardy. And with it the Nationalist
cause, as represented by it's pres
ent leaders.
A third factor in the situation is
the attitude of the three eastern
provinces known to the outside
world as Manchuria. Ruled by the
young marshal, Chang Hsuch- LANG,
who inherited his job from his
father, the "old marshal" Chang
TSo-Lin, as crown prince would
from a dying king, this is one of the
richest regions of China. For years
it has claimed virtual autonomy
though nominally paying allegiance
to Marking.
A coalition Of these forces-of the
christian general" the model
governor" and the young marshal"
Of Manchuria-would find the Ma
tionalist government of President
Chang KaiShek with its back to-
the wall and nothing short of q
miracle would save it from annihil-
alton.