Mr. C. L. G. Wayne, traffic manager of the Shanghai-Nanking Railway, seen by a representative of this paper, absolutely denied the report.
"This is the first that I have heard of it," stated Mr, Wayne. "There is no foundation. for the report. There is, of course, the ordinary movement of railway guards, but that is quite usual. All passengers are liable to be searched for opium, ete, but this is only casual. Not everybody is searched: only one or two, whose appearance may be suspicious, are searched. It is an exception rather than a rule."
Our representative was informed by a staff member of thd yamen of the Military Governor of Shanghai and Sungkiang! (Gen. Ho Feng-ling) that the rumours were exaggerated. There was no need for alarm! here, we were told.
This opinion was supported by a gentleman who is in_ close touch with Gen. Lu Yung-hsiang, Director-General for the Reorganization of Chekiang Affairs. Gen. Lu, stated our informant, was not likely to be misled by these baseless rumours as it was his wish, as usual, to maintain peace and order so that! his people might benefit. He has no bad feeling towards Gen. Chi' Shich-yuan, Kiangsu's Tuchun, and is not interesting himself with party politics. Statements to the effect that he has threatened to move and that he has ordered Gen, Ho (his lieutenant!
Shanghai) to despatch his troops to Henli if Gen Chi moves his troops, are incorrect.
Meanwhile, we learn that the peace of Shanghai will be maintained in any case. Gen. Heu' Kuo-liang, Director of the Shanghai and Woosung Native Constabulary, has the situation well in hand and states that even should there be fighting (and of course, he says, there will be none) he intends to maintain a neutral attitude so that the district will be sufficiently protected.
THE MISCHEF-MAKERS, No troops are being despatched: to Henli by either Gen. Ho or Gen. Lu, and it is unlikely that there will be any movements on the part of the local military' authorities. As one informant stated yesterday to our representative, "At this time of na' tional crisis, it is but usual that there should be a lot of pro" paganda. It is not surprising! that attempts should be made to disturb local peace, for the nuisance-makers can only resort to this method: they are afraid to come out openly and state their convictions. For some reas son or other, these people appear' to believe that if there is fighting between the generals locally, itf will mean a turn of the tide in their favour."
It must be remembered also that only 10 days ago, the three generals in question, in reply to a telegram circulated by Mr. Fu Siao-en, managing director of the Commercial Bank of China and the China Merchants' 8S. N. Ca., stated that it was their desire for peace and their intention to maintain it at all costs. All three stated that they werd willing to enter into an alliance similar to one made during thd Boxer Rebellion for the peaed and tranquillity of east China. We can. safely state in this connexion that we have every con+ fidence in the generals concerned and do not apprehend for a mo/ ment that they will break their promises,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.