Page:Who's who in China 3e.djvu/122

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WHO'S WHO IN CHINA

political coalition, with General Chang Tso-lin as the leader, was formed. All of the forces under Sun Yat-sen in Kuangtung and Kuangsi, with the exception of the three Kuangtung Divisions under General Ch'en Chiungming, were for this movement. Dr. Sun personally led his forces to Kueilin, the capital of Kuangsi, during the winter. In February 1922 a step was made in the direction of the north. To this General Wu Pei-fu paid no attention thus Dr. Sun failed to attain his object of dividing Wu's strength and attacking him on many sides.

In the meanwhile in Canton city General Ch’en Chiung-ming was obstinately withholding his support. Early in 1922, Dr. Sun seeing his positions hopeless abandoned Kuangsi and retreated into Kuangtung. His troops took up a new position at Shaochow on the North River, thence menacing the province of Kiangsi, while Dr. Sun himself returned to Canton to force General Ch'en to give him support. This led directly to a breach of relations. In April 1922 General Ch'en was removed from the posts of Civil Governor and the Commander-in-Chief. He at once took his troops to Waichow. Dr. Sun took command in Canton, attempting to direct an advance through Kiangsi. In the meantime Wu Pei-fu had won the war in the north with Chang Tso-lin badly defeated. His northern units were released for the defence of Kiangsi before Dr. Sun could have made any headway in that province. Sun's power thus declined rapidly and he was eventually driven from Canton by General Ch'en's commanders in August 1922. In September 1922 General Ch'en assumed the post of Commander-in-Chief in Canton. In February 1923 the Kuomingtang generals became active in Kuangtung again. General Ch'en was finally overrun by them and obliged to return to his stronghold at Waichow. Canton once again went to the hands of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Since the begining of the summer 1923, the Kuangsi generals made a fresh attack upon Sun Yat-sen. General Ch'en desiring to take advantage of this opportunity to take revenge, sided with the Kiangsi forces by attacking Sun Yatsen from Waichow. However the Kiangsi forces were not successful. Since July 1923 the city of Waichow has been besiged by Dr. Sun Yat-sen's forces.