A. most startling rumour to-day is the reported reconciliation between General Feng Vu-hsiang and Marshal Wu Pei-fu. It is said that Feng made the first steps in this in order that the People's Party can nut up a solid front against the Fengtien invasion, By reconciling Wu Pei-fu, and possibly getting him into the Kuomintang fold, the recently combined Yangtze provinces will be automatically aligned with the anti-Fengtien-Anfu forces.
A corollary of this report is to the effect that Feng, having squeezed out Wu, by a temporary understanding with Chang 'Tso-lin, is now afraid that he, Feng, in turn will be squeezed out by Chang Tso-lin. Consequently, feeling he can count Jon Wu in any juxtaposition contra the Mukden Warlord, Feng is anxious to obtain Wu's' support in consolidating his, and incidentally the Kuomintang's, position, Tuan's Manoeuvres According to one report Tuan Chi-jui is somewhat chary of ret ing the services of Feng Vu-hsiang in or about the Capital. Feng has unseated three Presidents and one Emperor and-seems to have developed a complex for heads of state. Tuan is afraid that if he accepts the office of President he will eventually succumb to the Feng tradition. In view of this fear it is id that Tuan proposed to_hai Feng appointed to Nanking, as I sector-General of Kiangsu, Anhui and Kiangsi, and to make Lu Yung-hsiang Inspector-General of Chibli, Shantung and Honan, in place of Wu Pei-fu, Apart from the humour of Tuan's desiring jo enjoy the fruits of his office far disturbing echoes of Christian Soldiers," the laugh is on Feng, who would have to obtain his position by defeating Chi Hei yuan in battle, 4 basis of Tuan's fears is his 8 Inst of the Peiyang assed in solemn array, with the help of Fe Vu-hsiang 0 expedite the passing, Yuan Shih-kai, Feng Kuo-chang, Li Yuan-hung, Hsu Shih-chang, Tsao Kun and Wu Pei-fu. Tuan realizes is the last but at the same time has no intention of being the least, as far as term of office goes. He may go in ninth wicket down but he would rather be bowled by Father Time than stumped by Feng Yuhsiang.
Meanwhile the forces of Feng Vu-hsiang and Hu Chung-yi are drawn up across the railway between here and Peking and the feelig in China circles is one of tense anticipation. Thirty thousand Fengtien troops are gathered round Tientsin, while more are expected. There is a report current that a large force is already on its way up the Pukow line from Nanking, but whether or not it is to ce-operate with Feng is not stated.
A significant feature of the recent meeting is the unwillingness of local Chinese papers to publish what facts they have gathered, It is possible that the Anfu papers have been silenced, while others are afraid of official action.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.