CHINA: The War

Dramatis Persona:

Super-Tuchun Chang of Manchuria, opposed in the North to Super-Tuchun Wu.

Super-Tuchun Wu, head of the Peking forces opposing Chang.

Marshal Tsao Kun, President of China, supporter of Wu.

General Feng Yu-hsiang, “Chinese Christian soldier,” ally of Wu.

The war (TIME, Sept. 8 et seq.) continued. Strange events took place and a strange situation was created.

In North China. Along a line south of the Manchurian frontier, the armies of Super-Tuchuns Wu and Chang battled for supremacy.

Earlier despatches told of terrific attacks and ghastly slaughter in which the Wu troops were victorious. Then Chang exploded a land mine under the Wu armies, killed thousands. Immediately a formidable attack was launched by Chang; and the Wu armies began to retreat.

On the right of Super-Tuchun Wu, there was an ominous silence. Strange, unaccountable phenomenon—the supporting troops commanded by General Feng, “Chinese Christian Soldier,” had disappeared. The position of Wu became desperate.

In Peking. As if from the clear, blue sky, General Feng and his troops suddenly entered Peking. The gates of the city were closed behind them and the following proclamation was issued: “Feng Yu-hsiang does not want to make war, which is ruining the country and causing the loss of many lives. Feng has called a conference between the Government and the other side with a view of stopping the war. He is bringing his troops back to Peking for garrison duty and asks the people that order be preserved. Foreigners will be protected.”

The conference met; and, as a result, President Tsao Kun ordered the cessation of hostilities, dismissed Super-Tuchun Wu from his post of Commander-in-Chief of the Peking forces, ap pointed him Chief Commissioner of the Koko-nor district in Tibet. This appointment was virtually banishment. Rumors then emanated from the Capital stating that the Cabinet had been ar rested. These rumors were, however, unconfirmed.

A lull — then it was announced that the Cabinet and the President had resigned. The whereabouts of President Tsao Kun was unknown. Events that followed merely complicated an already complicated situation. It was impossible to confirm any news.

Situation. The situation as it was reported: Super-Tuchun Chang an nounced that the war was over. Super-Tuchun Wu continued the war against Chang, but detached a large part of his army which marched against Peking to rid the world of “traitor Feng.” Feng, in control of Peking, said that he had acted only to stop a fratricidal war and that Wu had been dismissed because of incompetence, gross civil and military misuse of his powers. He declared that he would continue the war against Chang if the latter did not heed the President’s order to cease hostilities. (This he appeared to have done.)

Developments were impossible to prognosticate. Feng seemed in a shaky position; Wu’s situation on the whole appeared desperate. Chang must have been the only Chinese leader who could afford to smile.