Tokio, July 16.
The Foreign Office declares that Japan's attitude of neutrality and non-interference in the internal feuds of China has not been changed and will not be changed. The necessary instructions, it is stated, have been given to Japanese officials and civil and military residents in China. The Foreign Office adds that this declaration has been necessitated by the "baseless rumours and allegations that Japan is backing one faction against another, that Japanese capitalists have been asked for war funds and that Japanese officers, employed in training the Frontier Defence Army, are interfering in the internal political disturbances." The statement concludes: These officers were specially warned not to interfere and from the outset these instructions have been faithfully "Tre Asrv Commeniqve.
The Northern Peace Delegation has sent us the following statement on the position of hostilities received from Peking. It hardly corresponds with later information, but is reproduced as a matter of interest.
Peking, July 16.
"The Tingkuochun (Tuan's Army) has defeated Tsao Kun's Army on the Peking-Mukden line and driven them back over Yangtsun.
"Another significant victory was won by the Tingkuochun in the vicinity of Kuanhsien, whence Tsao's troops have been constantly retreating and have crossed the Yungting River. The victorious army is hastening a hot chase.
"Chang Hsun, the notorious monarchist, while making an attempt to travel under disguise by way of the Grand Canal to Hsuchow, was arrested by General Wu Chang-cheh in a boat at Shanyuen.
"At Chengchow, Honan, Wu Pei-fu's troops have been surrounded by the North Western Army, formerly camped at Loyang, and a detachment of Honan troops under the command of General Wu Kuang: hsin. (Chao ti, the Tuchun of Honan, has secretly fled."
A Sixcutar Inctpext.
Tientsin, July 17.
When the party of British) American, French and Japanese military officers, who went up the line to Yangtsun yesterday in a special train to investigate the cutting of the railway, reached Pei-tsang, they were informed by General Tsao Ying, brother of Tuchun Tsao Kun, and the local commander, that the Japanese guard at Yangtsun station had compelled him to retreat. General sao Ying stated that he had placed guns on both sides of the bridge at the approach to the station, some of the guns being near the Japanese post. Just as the An-suites attacked, the Japanese commandant complained of the presence of the artillery and insisted' that the Chibli troops and guns should be removed to a distance of two miles on either side of the railway. General Tsao remonstrate
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.