Tsingtao, Sept. 17. Gena Han Picchu, Governor Fighting between the troops
Shantang, and Gen. Lin Chen-nien has. broken "out in the "Kaom!, Weihstan, Pingta and Chaigi areas, according. to aports received by Sapanese here." Phe Srst clash occurred last night and. fighting is ey! still going on, it is reported.
understood that the immediate cause of the outbreak is dispute over the defence areas of the two forces, although suggested in some quarters that the clash was initiated on direct, secret orders from Gen, Han, who is said to have desired to rid himself of Gen. Liu for some time, Japanese, officials here are nego-fiating with Gen. Han and" the Bureau of Pubyic Safety ju the Pingtu area for protection of about 20 Japanese nationals in that. district—United Press, Nanking In The Dark Nanking, Sept, 17.
'With reference to Japanese reports of trouble in Shantung between General' Han Fu-chu, the Shantung Chairman, and General Lu Chen-nien, who controls the Chefoo, area, Chinese circles _here are without knowledge of any fight= ing having taken place as alleged, Reuber's Naniing. correspondent enquired this evening of the resident "representatives of both generals in Nanl Both expressed complete surprise ut the reports, Since their private wireless. sia-ons have been in constant touch with their Shantung headquarters it appears strange that such trouble, if true, has not been reported to them. Both representatives, "however, have telegraphed to Tainan and Chefoo respectively for information—Reuter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.