In the special administrative di tricts it is quite possible that during the course of the birthday celebrations in Mukden on March 5, Chang 'Tao-lin did come to some sort of arrangement with Feng Vu-hsiang. Hitherto, they have preserved a very delicate system of checks and Ww in these areas, with Chang at Jehol, and Feng' at Kalgan, further west along the Peking-Suiyuan railway, and north into Inner Mongolia, And yet in view recent moves and counter-moves between Kupeikow and Jehol, garsons respectively of the National und Fengtien armies, even this is difficult to bel As unofficial Tupan of the North-build mnerally to P_& region the possession of which would enable him to control the Manchurian flank, According to his last memorandum on the subject of northwestern imprové- ments, he plans to pave the way for a railway from Liangkiang Taonanfu. A generous dream, but} if it introduces Feng's soldiers and influence into the intervening territory, the system of checks and halunces would have to be adjusted to meet the new move. A glance at Ching-yi and Kan Vu-kun had fallen on each other before the arrangements could be completed. Tt is exceedingly doubtful now whether Hu would care to take on any more adventures, especially with Chang Chung-chang scarcely restraining himself on the eastern section of the Lung-hai. Then there Wa Pet-fu at Yochow, concocting all sorts of schemes, one of which ie bound to be exposed sooner or later, and, finally, any political development' in Peking, such as a gold franc settlement of the Sino-French dispute, may fan factional trouble.
Will Feng Vu-hsiang allow the consolidation of Fengtien influence Paotingfu? Not all the Kuominchun troops have left the aren, but, even with the few that Feng has himself sent down, reports say that a far from formidable force has been left, Li Ching-lin is preparing to enter into occupation. If, Feng does not keep his line of communications with Sun Yueh and.
Hu Ching-yi intact, only one conclusion can be drawn, namely, that the aspect of Fengtien in its present distribution of forces on the Tientsin-Pukow line is too threetening to risk a clash for the benefit of Hu and Sun, who have proved since October 23 that they are as free-lances as followers. Yet Feng has expressed his opinion several times on the trouble in Tionan, and seems to have taken niore than an academic interest in the outcome of the strus It, therefore, he allows developments to occur which would have the effect of not only consolidating the railway influence of Fengtien, which, to-day, is the influence that counts, but of severing him from an estab-Hished position in central China, then he hi ied temporarily to ritorial ambition: jen tsin conference, the Christian General secured agree: ment to his domination of the Pesection of the Peking-Suiyuan; but the machinations and mutual jealcusies of Hu Ching-yi and Sun have had loosening effect only on Fenj control of the the map will show how any extension of Feng Yuchsiang's influence this direction would affect Chang Tso-lin, viewed strategically.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.