Peking, July 15.
The issue of the mandate, forbidding hostilities, was quickly followed by the declaration of martial law in Peking and by the sound of artillery fire on the Western front, consequently Marshal Tuan Chi-jui is to-day being charged with breaking his word to the President that he would pre-mandate were issued. 'Brominent vent his forces attacking, if the Chinese, however, even those hostile to Marshal Tuan Chi-jui, do not' believe that he is responsible either for the proclamation of martial law or for the opening of hostilities, Generals Tuan Chi-kuei and Hsu Shu-tseng are believed to have acted on their own initiative with a view to preventing a compromise, which would only be possible, if General Hsu Shu-tseng's former command were definitely sacrificed.
There was desultory gun-fire throughout the night and firing was again heard this morning. It ig not believed that there has been any heavy fighting and no casualties have been brought back from the front. The International Press Club, however, the Chinese members of which are almost entirely members of the Anfu Party, issued a circular this afternoon, stating that early this morning the Chihli army along the Peking-Hankow Railway attacked from Chocho: y, the result. of the fighting being First and Third Chihli Mixed Brigades were facing. the Frontier forces beyond Chochow with other bodies of troops along the line between Chochow and Paotingfu Any fighting that took place would thus have been between the First Frontier Division and the two Chibli mixed brigades.
One of the first effects of martial law was the closing down of the Shen Pao." Tis offence lay in publishing a portion of General Chang Tso-lin's circular telegram. The papers state that the circulation in Peking of the Tientsin "Fth Shih Pao" is also prohibited. Otherwise there has been no apparent effect from the Mandate.
people are not being confined to their homes at night.
SuirkMisnine oN Turco Fronts.
Peking, July 15, 8 p.m.
Skirmishing has been proceeding since daylight on three fronts, and heavy gunfire has been heard on the Peking-Hankow Railway. The Anfu leaders claim that the 3rd Division has entered Kuanhsien after driving back Wu Pei-fu's also that the 15th Di repelling the outposts. advanced past Kaopeitien, after Railway communication with Tientsin is interrupted. Fighting is reported at Laofa, where the Anfuites claim the advantage, and they announce that they will take Yangtsun to-night, tacked and drove back General Wu Fei-fu's outposts this morning. Twenty-one wounded men, belonging to the Frontier Defence troops, readed Peking this afternoon. There has also been outpost fighting near Laofa. The Frontier Defence Force is using old French aeroplanes with Chinese pilots for scouting.
According to the Chihli Party, General Wu Pei-fu's troops have surrounded and captured a whole brigade of the Frontier Defence Force. They state that two regiments of the 15th Division have gone over to General Wu Pei-fu.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.