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CHINESE CITIES IN
RUINS.
THE TIMES, FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 1922.
HAVOC OF CIVIL WAR. (FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.)
SHANGHAI, JUNE 7. Descriptions published by the North; Chine Daily News from its correspondents. in Kwangsi of the desolation wrought by the fighting between the Canton and Kwangsi troops read like the sack of Louvain.
The trouble dates from the attempt a year ago by Lu Yung-ting, the former Governor-General of Kwangtung before the Sun Yat-sen régime, to re-establish himself in Canton. He was defeated and driven back by the Cantonese forces, which then invaded the Province and broke up such government as Kwangsi possessed, but put nothing in its place, even when Sun Yat-sen himself esta hlished, the beadquarters of his projected expedition against the North at Kweilin. This position Sun Yat-sen evacuated two months ago. returning to Canton, and Kwanga was left to the mercy of bands of irregular Kwangsi forces and leaderless Cantonese troops.
The latter have now been driven back into Kwangtung. Their departure was signalized by burning, looting, and the carrying off of women in every city they passed through. From Wuchow alone they exacted nearly two hundred thou- sand dollars [£25,000] journey money, It is only fair to say that the Kwangsi troops in pursuing the Kwangtung forces appear no less merciless towards their fellow-provincials. Their efforts are. nobly seconded by hosts of brigands, who spring up in every provincial war.
The Province is now reported to be cleared of Kwangtung troops, and the Kwangsi leaders are endeavouring to restore some semblance of government. But tho Province is exhausted. Cities once populous and wealthy are ruined, and trade is at a standstill, while the country is flooded with worthless Canton paper money. The whole story is & bitter comment on Sun Yat-sen's boast of an All-South China united under Canton against the North.
Wuchow, a treaty port on the left. bank of the West River, 220 miles from Canton, is the gateway leading from Kwangsi to Kwang- tang, and is the distributing centre of trade between Kweichow, Yunnan, Kwangs, and Canton. Kwelin, where Sun Yat-sen hac establimbed his headquarters, 4 262 miles north of Wuchow.
bu Yung-ting, a native of Kwangsi, born in 1556, was at one time a leader of bandits, but was reclaimed and led an expedition against the Kwangel bandits.
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SUN YAT-SEN'S FAILURE. (BY
DAVID FRASER, "THE TIMES CORRESPONDENT IN THE FAR EAST.) Our Shanghai Correspondent's message this morning, added to the information from Hong-kong which we have published during the past few days, are at unce instructive of what civil war means in China and of the qualifications of Sun Yat-sen to be a ruler over his fellow- countrymen.
Sun, as the first President of the Republic, comported himself with modesty, and readily retired to admit of a political settlement, which placed another occupant, Yuan Shih-kai, in the principal office of State. Thereafter, however, he showed an extraordinary lack of practical statesmanship, and the unhappy situation in Kwangsi province, in our message from Shanghai, certainly indicates that Sun Yat-sen, whatever his private character may be, is a political danger to his country.
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After the military conquest of Kwangs he endeavoured to set up a new Government in that province and to use it as a base for further operations directed against Wu Pei-fu. Being blocked by the Military Governor Hunan, allegedly because of the non-payment ol money promised, he retired from 'Kwangal and is now supposed to be endeavouring to prosecute his plans by marching northward through the adjacent province of Kiangai.
But in retreating from Kwanged his soldiers spread desolation on their way, ravishing the people after the manner of the Huns. The forces that he had previously driven into the mountains rose behind him, and they, in their turn, continued the work of devastation. And wherever the two armies left any evil undone the brigands in swarm stepped in and con pleted the abominable work. Well may our Correspondent say the province FB HBX- hausted." for wealthy and populous cities are ruined, trade has ceased, and the unfor- tunate people are loaded up with worthless paper money.
it in impossible to believe that there can be any reality in Sun Yat-sen's invasion of the North. News of successful advances con- tinually arrive from Canton, but other accounts declare that Sqn Yat-sen's army has been routed and driven back into Kwangtung. while he himself has gone as a supplicat to Chen (hiung-ming, whom he recently dis- missed, to beg that officer to return and let bygones be bygones.
Meanwhile Wa Pei-lu thinks so little of Chang Teo-lin that he is leaving his final ejerion from Chibli to junior officers. Nor Joes he attach any importance to Sun Yat- Ben's futile opposition. It is satisfactory to. know that Wu Pei-fu is devoting himself to fundamental questions, and that he is in agreement with Li Yuan-hung whoar return A President is desire apparently by the whole country, in regard to essential reforms.
LI'S CONDITIONS. PERING, June 7-Li Yuan-hung, in a circular telegram to the provinces, statER that he will resume the Presidency if the Military Governors and Military Regional Commandants are abolished, superfluous troops disbanded, and the military leaders agree to meet him in Paking in order to discuss methods for bringing these measures about.
General Wa Pei-fu is leaving military operations in the hands of capable subor- dinatee, and is concentrating upon 10- portant political matters. In the conne of an interview yesterday he said that there was no doubt that Li Yuan-hung would go Peking and remain in omes for Ave months, alter which a National Amembly would be elected. Cabinet reconstruction must await Li Yuan-hung's arrival in Peking. He was most hopeful as regards the future, but he said that there had been so much Corruption that the people demanded a thorough cleansing of official life.-Reuler.
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