Canton, June 9.
Fortifications in Swatow and five other points along the Kwangtung coast were placed on a war basis In an order issued ast. night by Gen. Chen Chi-tang, Director of Peace Preservation in Canton, Other towns affected by the order include Humen, Chaochow, Halfeng, Lufeng, and Haikou, in each of which the garrison was strengthened, Bluejackets have been moving to Humen, at the entrance to Can fon, "since last Sunday, In what is generally Interpreted here as a precaution against possible attacks from the sea—Domel.
Withdrawal Northward Wang Tsan-pin, Ssu Chu-ching, and of Chang Ta, commander of the 2nd By the order of Gen. Chiang Kal-cts oe ian 3 pores we arar Commanders Fall "Out Hongkong, June 10.
Kwangtung troops are now approaching Hengchow, 95 miles south of Changsha, having' continued their advance from Chengchow. The Kwangsi forees are still at Kiyang, 40 miles southwest of Hengchow. Government scouting planes are conducting reconnaissance flights between Hengchow and points north.
Well-informed quarters here are of the opinion that the occupation of Hengchow by the Southern forces would not be of great importance, because the Central Government forees are concentrated north of that, city, Hostilities, they believe, would not actually start unless the Southern forees attempted to cross the Hong mountains, which form the real bulwark of Hunan. The first battle of the campaign, in that event, would take place in the vicinity of Changsha. None of the territory far traversed by the Kwangtung and Kwangsi forces has been occupied by Central Government troops.
Several Kwangtung military commanders are reported to have fallen out because of their disapproval of the northern expedition. While official confirmation is Impossible to obtain, it is generally accepted as a fact that one of the leading recalcitrants, Gen. Vu Han-mou, is being detained at the military headquarters in Canton. General Vu has not been soon in public for the past few days, and it has been established that was not among the commanders who left for the front. The attitude of his army, which at present is stationed in South Kiangsi, is doubtful, inclining to Nanking rather than Canton.
'Mao 'Pel-nan, another prominent 'Southern general, is also believed to be under detention, while Gen. Li 'Young-king, of the' 3rd Kwanglung Army, is said to have left for Hongkong,' because of his disapproval ut Canton's altitude, Gen. Li Chi-sen, who was expelled from the Kuomintang as a result of his Participation in the abortive Fukien rebellion in 1934, is likely to ree emerge on the political stage as a result of the latest developments in the Southwest. Gen. Li, according to reliable reports received here today, has arrived in Nanning, and is Believed, will act as Governor of Kwangsi while Generals Li Tsung-Jen and Pai Chung-hsi lead the expeditionary forees northward.
Gen. Chen Ming-shu, ex-Governor Kwangtung, who likewise was expelled from the Kuomintang for participating in the Fukien rebellion, has, it is rumoured, also arrived Nanning. The Kwangs! capital now regarded as the rallying-point for all anti-Nanking malcontents.
Overtures to Tsai Ting-kal The Kwangtung government has been making overtures for the support of Gen, Tsai Ting-kal, hero of the Sino-Japanese war at Shanghai in 1932, and one of the leading spirits: behind the l-fated Fukien uprising Since the, collapse of the rebellion, Gen, Tsai has been living the life of & peaceful farmer in the Castle Peak district of Hongkong. Canton's attempt to secure his support is believed to have been inspired by the feeling that his adherence to the Southern cause would invest it with immense prestige. Reuter is reliably informed, however, that Gen, Tsai docs not intend to participate, as he feels the real issue is civil war, not an anti-Japanese war.
Tt was rumoured in Hongkong this morning that Mr. Chen Chung-fu, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Hopel and Charhar Political Council, had arrived in Canton, but correspondents, fu that city were unable to obtain confirmation—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.