CHINA: Peking Falls

At Mukden, the capital of Manchuria, a little man tugged delightedly at his large ears—a sign that he was greatly pleased, puzzled or vexed. He was the great Super-Tuchun Chang Tso-lin, the friend of Japan, the implacable foe of Soviet Russia, overlord by right of might throughout all Manchuria. He was pleased because his son, General Chang Hsueh-liang, had just entered Peking at the head of a victorious army.

Despatches from Peking stated that the recent siege (TIME, April 12) had been definitely broken by the entrance of the Manchu warriors, and that foreigners continued unmolested, safe in the legation quarter.

The long-suffering "Chief Executive of China," Tuan Chi-jui, definitely ended his pretense of governing at Peking, fled precipitately to Tientsin.

Super-Tuchun Wu Pei-fu, "War Lord of Central China," rumored ally of Chang Hsueh-liang in capturing Peking, did not enter the city last week. The original garrison, adherent to the "Christian" Super -Tuchun, Feng Yu-hsiang, continued in headlong flight to Kalgan, hotly pursued.

From Mukden, Super -Tuchun Chang Tso-lin telegraphed a demand that the Soviet Ambassador to China, M. Karakhan, should immediately quit Peking.