The plan evolved at Monday's conference is that, in keeping with the situation created by the Tsinan affair, there will be no advance ties with Japan but that a line will be formed {rom Paotingfu to Hokienfu and thence to Machang on the Tsin-Pu railway as the extreme limit of Fengtien's concessions to domestic peace, while Sun Chuan-fang will be supported in the defense of his advance position at Tsangchow. In the event of any serious disaster the Ankuochun must withdraw through sntsin, so practically all the troops that have been released from remote Positions in Shansi are being concentrated at Machang and other positions behind Tsangchow so that no matter what happens elsewhere and no matter how Sun Chuan-fang' behaves, the Peking Moukden vail-way can be held' throughout leisurely retreat. If Sun, with the doubtful support of Chu 'Vu-pu on this right, succeeds in defeating the advancing "enemy and in throwing them back, as Ho Feng-lin believes will, and if the line remains firm elsewhere, Fengtien will again as-ime the' attitude of the generous victor and offer all concerned an armistice pending the settlement of the Tsinan incidents with the Japan-exe, calling the nation to witness the' efforts that Chang Tso-lin has made to put an end to domestic strife. It is anticipated, however, that if Sun collapses, the chorus of the defeatists will be' so overwhelm-that the spirit of the Fengtien army will be completely sapped and that Chang Tso-lin will be forced to abandon Peking and withdraw to Manchuria while his best units cover the retreat at Machang.
What Evacuation Would Entait If there is such an evacuation, there is tle doubt that it will be to North China, for is no fear of Jooting the Fengtien commanders have: made it clear that ull the rolling stock on the railways will go to Manchuria and that the lines will be systematically destroyed in their rear, together with telegraphs and other means of communication. It] even suggested that the contents. of the various museums here will be taken to Moukden. 71
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.