The "Shunpao" with regret asks why have Fengtien and Chihli acted in such a competitive way in the augmentation of their military strength, as if they were struggling for supremacy? Chang Tso-lin, having increased his army by four brigades. is reconstituting the defence forces so that he will have 30 complete divisions under his command. Tsao Kun, having formed three divisions of model army, is now re-forming the Ith—disbanded division. Both parties totally ignore Peking's desire to disband or reduce the army.
These belligerent activities have doubtless given rise to rumours of a conflict between Fengtien and Chihli.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.