General's Repudiation of Tang Chi-yao—Disaffected Troops Beaten—A Difficult Situation From Our Own Correspondents Chengtu, Sze., June 9.
During the past 10 days fighting has continued for the capture of Chungking by the 2nd Division under Liu Hsiang who is reported to have got within 15 li of the city when he was forced to retire. Since then his troops have retired further, on the arrival of additional Kueichow support from Wanhsien and Fuchow by the str. Shuhun. The Kueichow troops occupied Hocheo (since recaptured by the 2nd _Division)—on the Kialing river—Pishan and Yuinchuan on the main East Road. Meanwhile it now trans-bred that General Vu Chi-tang (pro siong), Commissioner of Defence for Chungking, driven out by the Kueichow troops, has had an eight-day battle between Yochih and Kuangan, severely defeating General Shih Ch'ing-yang (6th Division) which resulted in the submission to the Military Govet-Dor, as reported in my letter of May 25.
Along the main East Road the Szechuan troops have been making steady progress towards Chungking, General Tan Mou-hsing entering Tzechou on May 31, and later his troops occupying Neichiang and Lungeh'an. General Ku P'in-chen Yunnan) retired to Lucheo via urban. In a public telegram a translation of which I give below, General Ku has denounced the policy of Tang Chi-y: he has not yet given any evidence that] he will throw in his lot with Hsiong Keh-wu in an attack on Yunnan.
Liu U-chin, with whom the 8th Division moving on Suifu will act! in concert.
A reliable report dated June 4 from Kiangyu states that a body of Yunnan troops under Commander Kou Tsin has left Ts'ingchuan marching southwards towards Kiangyu to the northeast of Chengtu. These troops are a portion of a force under Yeh Ch'uan who have entered Szechuan from Shensi vid Kansu, under direct orders received from T'ang Chi-yao, The attitude of the 2nd and 5th Divisions is difficult to understand, reports obtained from the officers and wounded of the latter state they were first attacked by: the 2nd Division with help of Kueichow troops, and that they themselves wished to assist the Tuchun in driving out the Kueichow soldiers. But it may well be, in saying their opponents were men of the 2nd Division, they were not bad aware that one regiment of this division had deserted to the Kueichow side. It is possible that these are the troops who attacked the 5th Division. Furthermore, the Commander, Lit Ch'ao. ten days ago sent his family in to live in Chengtu as evidence of his good faith towards the Tuchun. Hsiong _permitted the family to return but the reports in the city are unanimous in asserting that Lit Ch'ao remains loyal to Hsiong. The fighting between these divisions would thus appear to be the result of a misunderstanding,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.