CHINA: What Happened?

The proverbially good natured soldiers of the various warring Chinese Tuchuns (TIME, Sept. 6) fought lightheartedly up and down the land last week, intent as usual upon nothing but earning their pay and seizing as much loot as possible.

The principal offensive in progress during the week was that of the Cantonese armies against Super-Tuchun Wu Pei-fu. As the Cantonese deployed for battle along the Yangtze River near Wu chang, five simultaneous despatches reported that Super-Tuchun Wu was: 1) dead; 2) wounded; 3) in retreat; 4) victorious; 5) entrenched and standing pat on the Yangtze.

Two concurrent despatches stated that Chinese troops (of what faction not stated) had fired upon: 1) the U. S. destroyer Elvano, which continued to steam up the Yangtze without returning the Chinese fire; 2) the U. S. hospital at Wu chang, which was reported riddled by 20 shells. No confirmation followed and no list of dead or wounded was transmitted.