Peking, June 14.
A Presidential mandate issued yesterday evening, recounts the various stages of the Southern advance in Hunan, culminating in the fall of Changsha. The mandate continues: "General Chang Chin-yao says that the Southern troops took advantage of the relief of the Chibli troops from garrison duty. It should be remembered that since the Armistice and the peace proposals of 1918, the line of defence in Hunan was clearly defined. The present action of Gen-oval Tan Yen-kai and his followers in renewing hostilities constitutes a breach of the armistice. Being charged with the duty of guarding Hunan, General Chang Chin-yao should have strengthened the lines of defence, instead of which he retreated from place to place, leaving the line unguarded and' finally retired from the capital without the permission of the Government. In consideration of such careless actions General Chang Chin-yao deserves punishment, and is hereby deprived of the official titles of ivil Governor but allowed temporarily to remain at his posts and to direct all Government troops in Hunan in orde to recover lost ground. If he fa again to exert himself or causes fresh trouble, General Chang Chin-yao should remember that his serious delinquencies will no longer be tolerated by the Government."—Reuter.
Chang's Depredations in
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.