Saruapay, Feb. 18.
Reports from Hankow yesterday show interesting developments in the military alignment. According to these, it would appear that the efforts of the Nanking Government to win the allegiance of Hunanese armies have been successful.
Ho Chen, who commands the 8th, 35th and' 36th Armies, is engaged with the 2nd Army of Lo Ti-ping below Shasi, and the latter army is allied with the present Wohan party who are not favourable to Nanking. Itis reported further that a political manquvre may be successful in the replacement of Pei Chung-hsi by Tan Yen-kal, himself a Hunanese, in the command of Wuhan.
The Nationalist armies would seem now to be divided into the following four units:—At Nanking, under Chiang Kai-shek; at Wuhan, under Tan Ye in Honan, under Feng Vu-hsiang; and in Shansi, under Yen Hsi-shan.
Other information from Ichang states that the authorities there are negotiating with Yang Sen as regards the resumption of Upper River trade. An unconfirmed re-ort states that Ho Chen is making for Ichang and that Yang Sen is thinking of returning in the near future.
At Wuhu, Chen Jiao-yuen has been relieved of the command of the 37th Army and given the command of the reserve corps of the Northern Expedition. A proclamation has teen issued in Wuhu, also, forbidding union or political meet ings of any kind, as part of th measures being taken by the authorities to combat communistic activities, Chen Chien's Position Increasing Monpay, Feb. 20, which apparently he will not accept, as he has stated that he is too ill to do very much at this time and must take a holiday. It is reported in Chinese political circles that General Ho Ying-chin leans somewhat towards. the Kuangsi
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.