In the meantime the fighting has ceased at Tsinanfu though
the Nationalists are objecting angrily to the Japanese demand that they must withdraw seven miles on each side of the railway. On Wednesday a surprising thing happened, which will have a profound effect on future events. Chang Tso-lin, the Northern War Lord, sent a circular telegram to his troops ordering them to cease hostilities at 'once. He says that he took' up arms to suppress Bolshevism, but that after all that has occurred at Canton, Hankow, Nanking, and now at Tsinanfu, he feels unable to face his country and the friendly Powers. " There seems to be no end to our civil strife and the ship of State is rapidly sinking." it is uncertain whether Chang Tso-lin has come to an arrangement with Chiang Kai-shek. In any case he is retiring. The road to Peking seems to be open to the Southerners.
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