One of the most important happenings of the past two or three weeks has been the disappearance of the Fengtien troops. from the neighbourhood of Shanghai and, it is believed, Kiangsu generally, and to-day under General Chang Chung. chang they are being concentrated at Heuchowfu. 'Troops are to. seen at the station, but fortunately there does not appear to be any Interference by them with the Blue Express. Among these soldiers are number' of Russians in uniform, several of them driving motor cars At Pengpu also a part of General Chang's army has been concentrated.
'According to the observer of affairs, whom we are quoting, thi seems to indicate that the Fengtien Army no longer expects any' call with General Sun Chuan-fang.
suchowfo, however, is a highly important strategical centre, for there the Lunghai Railway crosses the Tientsin-Pukou Railway, and it 'This is now considered in Peking as being unlikely, and the choice of Hsuchowfu as' the Fengtien head-warters in that part of the country is probably purely defensive, with! motive.
At the same time well-informed Chinese in the Capital state that) Marshal Chang Tso-lin has decided to concentrate his strength altogether north of the Yangtze, leaving the southern provinces to their own devices, if possible to rally round leader. strong enough to control the provincial armies. Hence the Peking says that Chang Tso-lin la short of money and Feng Yuhsiang short of ammunition. A war can be carried on for a long time without money but not without ammunition, and so in various' Grcles this has appeared the cor-attack by Chang Chinese in Peking, nevertheless, ex:
opinion that the Mukden nothing of the kind in bat rather is prepared to the march of events opinion is the, more imp same Chinese believe hat at length a di atmosphere has been created in political circles. It is difficult for the foreigner to understand that the recent Reorganization Conference has achieved anything tangible, yet the Chinese say that it has,' having definitely prepared the way for the People's Conference in the autumn for the te-uriting of the constitution.
The death of Dr. Sun Yat-sen has eased the situation in one way, and that of of Honan, another. So far from the Gold one Agreement having ie said to have helped by giving the Central Government ready money with which to carry on, What appears to be the view of the provincial leaders to-day is that some sort of Central Government conduct of! foreign affairs, and there is no longer the same objection to money going there. After that the Constitution which they wish would give practical autonomy to tne provinces or groups of provinces, and this they hope to achieve. They mean to start work on it in the autumn, and may be a year or a year and a half over it. If there [3s peace in the country while this work is going on, they believe that: they will have settled China after the fashion of things Chinese, and they are hopeful thet the danger Point—next autumn—ean be passed thout fighting. If, however, hot tilities break out, there will be un end to this effort.
The release of the ex-Governor, Mr. Ka En-hung, (tom custody in HTicntsin and his recent appearance Jat Weihaiwei have revived xpecula~ fon in connexion with the pos: ibtties of Me. Kao reroming Post ax Governor Tringtao. Pelcing has never officially removed the former Minister of Communica. tions from the Governorship Kiaochow Territory so he still mains Tupan us far as the Provisional Government is concerned.
He also regards himself as the frightful Goverpor of Tsingtao sind It is rumoured here that Marshal Chang Tso-lin, cognizant of Mr. Kao's ability as an organizer and executive, hay offered him military support in the attainment of his purpose. Mr. Kao, however, is not believed to be desirous of re hhis position by force of arms.
Apr.
Reports from Tsinan declare that the Tupan, Gen. Chen Shih-chi, now refuses to take the Anhui tupan-chip and will retire to. private life.
Other provincial military Teaders oppose the change in the tupanship, but it is rot expected that they will offer resistance to Gen. Chang Chung-chang, inasmuch as the lat= ter has 30,000 soldiers ready to accompany him to Tsinan—Reuter Pacific Servi
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.