Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-03
100000 CHINESE
SOLDIERS MASSED
Sharp Fighting Is Reported
Imminent on Honan Front
After LuII.
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
SHANGHAI, June 3.-After an ap-
parently brief cessation of hostilities be-
teen the Nationalist government and
the Northern Alliance, which is seeking
to create an independent government
In North China centering at Peiping,
advices from the Honan province zone
Of police today indicated renewed fight
ing is imminent.
Dispatches indicated that at least
100000 troops might oppose each other
on the Honan front.
Despite the multifarious claims of
each group claiming victories, adviceS
antimated that the opposing armies
continue virtually deadlocked along the
Eaichow-Tungkwan Railroad across
Eonan province.
Nationalist Retreat.
The Northerners seemingly were hold
ing a slight advantage, reports dis
closed, having forced the Nationalist
to retreat as far east as Kweiteh, in
the northeastern part of the province.
The Nationalist were reported to
have increased their forces to at least
100000. indicating that Chang Kali
Shek has ordered general advance
and lending strength to the belief that
ScIlcWeQ are
HoStilitieS in Shantung Province
along the Yellow River in the vicinity
of Tsinan also seemed likely The
Northerners during the last week have
threatened Tsinan, causing foreigners
there to perfect plans of defense or
evacuation in the event that that should
become necessary.
Troop concentrations were being con-
Quoted in that area, the NorthernerS
IN hiring inf fhair oil
lance, while the Nationalist we're just
as determined to hold the Northern
rebels north of the Yellow River.
A third battle line is extended along
the Peiping -Hankow Railray southwark
to Chengchow. The Nationalist claim
their forces are steadily advancing on
this front, while the NorthernerS as
serted today that they had shattered
the Nationalist threat against the
Northern headquarters at Chengchow.
Sharp Fighting Expected.
With the open profession of the Ma
tionalists' intention of renewing the at
tack against the Northern allies, sharp
fighting on all fronts is generally an
ticipated The Nationalist are particu-
larry seeking to penetrate the enemy
territory north of Chengchow, planning
to destroy the Peiping- Hankow Railway
Bridge over the Yellow River, Is miles
north of Chengchow, thereby Gripping
the Northerners' principal avenue of
supplies from the north.
Similarly, the Northern forces are
seeking to protect the bridge and have
airplanes, artillery units and anti-air-
craft guns Strategically located in the
vicinity of the steel span, two miles
long. the longest bridge in China.
An additional factor unfavorable to
the Marking government, weakening its
offensive military power, has developed
in Human province, where q motley
horde of Kwangsi province anti-Nan-
king rebels has joined hands with a
strong bandit force. The result is the
so-called Red army" which has been
advancing northward professedly with
the intention of laying siege to the
Wuhan citieS-Hankow, Wuchang and
Hanyang, located at the confluence of
the Yangtze and HanShui Rivers.
Changsha Threatened.
This Red army already is threaten
ing Changsha, 220 miles south of WI
chang, causing foreigners there to ask
for protection OF foreign gunboatS reg
ularly assigned to patrol the Yangtze
River
Northern advices today stated that
the Northern forces had captured the
Mamutsu airplane base in Northeast
Honan province, taking IL airplaneS
and so pilots.
Although military headquarters at
Marking have denied that Chang Kali
Shek was wounded in clash at
Kweiteh, Eastern Honan, it is generally
believed here that the report is correct.