Dec. 22, It is understood that the Foreign Office is very perturbed at the increasing anti-Japanese sentiment expressed in the Chinese press and in China generally, though such feeling is not altogether unexpected as the Government feared the re-infareing of Japanese troops would be misinterpreted by the Chinese two or three weeks ago.
Reports from Mukden reveal fears that the situation will become more serious still, as Marshal Chang Tso-in's_ impressed troops may prove unmanageable now that they are retreating.
General Shirakawa, Commander the Kuantung Army, arrived at] Mukden yesterday. It is understood] he is transferring his headquarters there from Port Arthur.
The War Office state that General Shirikawa has been given a free hand to take all precautions he considers yecessary.—Reuter's Pacific Service, CUON Yo-ying, the former finance commissioner "of arrived Chen Ghung.ming's Sve for a tance, both liters ea Haas Near Hsinminfu At First Apparently Successful Now Turning Against Hi Important Role of Heilungkiang Troops A change appears to hare come over the scene in Kuo Sung-ling's troops opened an attack on Marshal Chang's position. The first reports were favourable to him. Later, fortune changed and Gon. Kuo is said to have been forced to retreat.
The Heilungkiang (N. Manchuria) reinforcements played an important part on Marshal Chang's side.
Tokyo, Dee. 2:
A Kokusai despatch from Mukden states that General Kuo Sung-ling has removed his headquarters to Hsinminfu, where more than 10,000 of his troops arrived on the evening of December 21.
Marshal Chang yesterday morning assembled his leading supporters and made a farewell speech, He stated that reports from the front indicated that the enemy had just opened a decisive attack and said that if the Mukdenites were defeated he would take refuge elsewhere. He expressed the hope that Councillor Wang, General Yang Vu-ting and Governor Wang of Mukden Province would follow him while the other civil and military officials remained in Mukden and endeavoured to maintain peace and good order.
Late A Foreign Office despatch from Mukden states that General Kuo is expected completely to defeat Marshal Chang in " few days, upon which the Japanese troops will contemplate turning over the city to him (Kuo), If the Marshal's retreating soldiers appear to be coming to Mukden they will be disarmed at the entrance of the six-mile zone. The Japanese at present are guarding the western limit but it is not expected that the retreating forces will object to being disarmed, A War Office despatch from Mukden states that two brigades of General Kuo's troops attacked Marshal Chang's front-line yesterday at daybreak but failed, though a subsequent general attack forced the Mukden cavalry to retreat eight miles beyond Tamingtun, which General Kuo's troops occupied.—Reuter,
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