4
S7
6. During the past few days the situation
in the South has developed to some extent and it is
now possible to offer some speculations on the future
course of events. When fighting broke out at
Hankow, troops from Kwangsi province entered Hunan
with the intention of proceeding North to take part
in the conflict. The fall of Hankow and the
T
defection of Ho Chien made it clear that this road was
closed and the Kwangsi troops are now being withdrawn to their own province, where they will no doubt remain
on the defensive in the hope that they may be able to
hold out until joined by the armies retreating from
Hankow. It is not expected that these can in any
case reach Kwangsi for several weeks. Should they
succeed in doing so, while the army under General
Wong Shiu-hung is still undefeated, the Nanking
Government would be faced with a most difficult
situation. It is, therefore, essential from
Marshal Chiang's point of view that Kwangsi should be attacked and subdued before this happens; and it
is reported on good authority that Canton has
received instructions to cooperate in the attack on
Kwangsi by sending an army up the West River and
that the province will be simultaneously invaded
from Hunan and Kiangsi. The Cantonese officials
as well as the Cantonese people are, however, most reluctant to be drawn into the war and Marshal Chiang
has been obliged to put pressure on them by threatening to let loose the Fourth Army upon
Kangtung.
Concerning this army please see
paragraph
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