Asked whether the Southerners intended to make a drive on Shanghai, the officer replied that Shang. hai' was of secondary importance The important problem was_ to] capture Nanking and preven Marshal Chang Chung-chang from fending his troops this way. The Southerners would follow the logical course of making simultaneous drives in Soochow, Wusih and Changchow, vid the Taihu Lake. This would mean that they would] have to capture Ihsing-on their way Wusih and Changchow and that they must work their way up the canal to Soochow from Kashing and Hangchow. As far as the latter was concerned, the task was not.aa impossible one but the push on Thsing, Wasih and Changchow would be more dificult. The Southerners would probably push their way tol Huchow first by waterways from Hangchow and Kashing. Then cimultancous land and water forees would attack Thsing, the former marching round the lake and the latter crossing from Huchow in boats, After the capture of Ihsine, the forces would concentrate in tung troops take up the defence of the Sungkiang line.
Five thousand Shantung troops arrived at Woonung early yesterday ing. What their disposition to be seen, although it is conjectured, that, pursuant to the new military policy, they will be sent to Sungkiang by train, the transports remaining at Woosung for the time being.
Additional Shantung soldiers are en route to Nanking, it is under-Stood, but at what points they now fare has not been ascertained.
Battalions dave left Nanking -for the Taihu front and others are projected for Soochow. Several thousand Fergtien troops have taken up fron?) Tine posts at Sungkiang. Every thing points to's determined resist-lance by the combined forces, the Northerners predominating.
At Sungkiang itself, Gen, Meng having returned to Shanghai, th Shantung and Chekiang soldiers have further entrenched themselves in s just behind Bridge 34 and between that point and Sungkiang. There are no" Southerners within nine miles of Sungkiang, meaning none within 33 miles of Shanghai, in fact by the best accounts they have not advanced beyond Kashun, 10 miles northeast of Kashing.
Changchow and Wusih, whilst their comrades altccked Soochow. With these cities in their possession, would not be a dificult matter to prevent the Shantung men from coming eastward. Shanghai would then become isolated and its would be automatic.
There was} not much to Zear irom the landing of forces from Shantung by transports us the Shantang army did not relish fighting.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.