CO129-500-3 Canton situation- governor's despatches 29-7-1927 - 1-9-1927 — Page 36

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be kept confidential and cannot be related to you. After

all Mukden has had its way. Fung Yuk Cheung has had much

flirtation with Wuhan, and has made every endeavour to secure.

an alliance with Tang Shang Chi. His recent mobilization is

for this purpose. The presence of Ng Tsz Yuk (i.e. Wu Pei-

fu) in Shung Shan, and of Yu Hok Chung at Nam Yeung has been

a great obstacle to the alliance between Fung and Tong and

has constituted a very favourable situation for us.

We can

assert that Fung will never dare to show any great activity

chiefly for the reason that he lacks arms and funds. There-

fore while it is necessary for us to be careful about our

defence in the North West, we have never been moved, by any

rumours that have been persistent outside, to attach much

importance to the troops of Fung. I can form no idea of the

troops of Lau Chan Wa and Cheung Chi Kung, who are change-

able in their attitude, watching which side turns out

victorious. This would not affect Mukden much as we are

confident that we are strong enough and require no assist-

ance.

Cheung of Mukden on a circuit of insection.

This was proposed among the Ankuochun before my last return to Mukden and Marshal Cheung approved of it very

much. Yim (Shek Shan) of Shensi is one of the few most

influential personages in the present situation, and much has

to be discussed with him.

The soldiers at the front have been engaged in war

for over a year and Marshal Cheung is anxious to give them his compliments. Thus the proposal can be taken as having

been adopted. But I have not yet gone into this with

Marshal Cheung since my return, and I do not know when the

circuit will be begun. In the circuit Cheung will proceed

to