The supporters of General Yang-hsiong in Shanghai admit that if Wu Pei-fu supports Chi Hsieh-yuan whole-heartedly the latter might win the local war but would be in danger of becoming subservient to Wu Pei-fu in Chibli Party councils. If Chi undertakes to fight Lu Yung-hsiang without Wu Pei-fu's support, they insist that Lu will have a victory. They claim for Lu 40,000 troops and sufficient funds to carry on the war, They admit that Chi Hsieh-yuen has the advantage of not being required to move out of his own province to battle, but th assert that not all of Chi's generals are loyal to him. Stories of treachery, however, are reported from both camps.
Chang Tso-lin's Interest Perhaps a more serious phase of the situation arises from the activity locally of the old Antu Party. This party is now supporting Lu Yung-hsiang as the lust of the Anfu tuchuns. They argue that the time is now ripe for the final battle between Mukden and Loyang. If-Chi Hsieh-yuan should win a victory over Chekiang, it would mean that Chang Txo-lin would step into the arena in opposition the mastery of the whole of China by the Chihli Party under the leadership of Wu Pei-fu, Chang Tso-lin is plentifully supplied with funds, large sums of which are said to be on deposit in Shanghai to be used as may be necessary in this wai
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.