Reprieve for Chiang

Attacked on three fronts, the Nationalist Government of slender President Chiang Kai-shek teetered perilously on catastrophe's brink last week, then swung back to safety. Chief stabilizer was a high and bloody victory over the rebellious "Ironsides" divisions of General Chang Fa-K'uei in his attempt to capture Canton.

Trustworthy despatches announced the complete destruction of an entire "Ironsides" brigade, 2,000 rebel casualties. 7,000 rebels captured and disarmed, and the flight northward of Chang Fa-K'uei himself. Swollen bodies floating like logwood down to Canton bore mute corroboration.

Last week's victory left President Chiang as firmly established as he had been at any time in the past year. Rebel generals, severely practical, talked of suspending hostilities until March and warmer weather.

Emboldened by Manchurian quiet, T. Leonard Lilliestrom, U. S. Vice Consul at Harbin, organized an international train to pass along the Chinese Eastern Railway, investigate conditions in the area of Sino-Russian dispute. The consuls of Britain, Japan, France and Germany climbed aboard.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.