Sept. 6
The Nationalists officially claim that the Chinti-Shantung forces have evacuated Lutai and Ningho and that General Pei Chung-hsi is advancing on these points, his forces' left flan carrying out an enveloping movement near Yui An unofficial report states. that serious fighting is going on at Tong.- tientsin, Sept, 6.
It is reported from a reliable' source that Nationalists have penetrated as far as Sukochiang, about six miles south of Tangsh Reuter.
Tientsin, Sept. 6.
Strict precautions are being taken by the Manchurian authori-prevent the retreat of the troops into Manchuria. All military posts along the Chinchow-Yukuan area have been doubly re-infareed and other' defensive measures taken to meet any emergency in the event of a stampede by the demoralized treeys.
'Mr. Yoshizawa, Japanese Minister' to China, is reported to have: declared that all retreating troops will be disarmed at Shanhaikuan.
Little actual fighting has taken place owing to the continued retreat north-eastwards since the Ist instant, The Northerners evacuated Peitang and Hanku on the 4th, and Ninghotsien on the 5th—Kuo Min, from the Kuo Min News Agency's correspondent here to the effect that "Great indignation has been aroused in Chinese circles at the reported conclusion of a loan of $5,000,000 to Chang Chung-chang by the Japanese" and "a despatch from Tientsin states that six military aeroplanes shipped from Japan by Chang} Chung-chang have arrived at Luan-chow together with several Japanese pilots," the spokesman of the Jupanese Legation to-day declared that these reports were pure fabrications.
He stated that the Government was maintaining its usual policy of neutrality in Chinese} internal affairs and was not only} giving no official help to any party but strictly supervising its nationals to prevent their participating.
With reference to the reports that! several Japanese ships have carried troops and supplies to Shantung, the spokesman stated that one ship, the Matsura Maru, went to Chefoo from Chinwangtao, but on her return on. September 2 the owners of the vessel, acting under advice from the Japanese Government, ordered the captain not to make further contracts of that nature.—Reuter, Mukden, Sept. 4, A military conference yesterday, presided over by Marshal Chang Hsueh-liang, passed a resolution regarding a thorough reorganization of the Manchurian Army.—The details are not known but the main object is to transform it into an effective instrument of national defence and to preclude its use for any aggressive schemes of personal aggrandizement.
Marshal Chang Hsueh-liang has refused to give any assistance to] Marshal Chang Chung-chang, rumours to the contrary notwith-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.