El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-01-25

men, ana the recent uPAASeAfeA-
in China created Gen. Ii Yuan-hung.
Fifteen months ago he was an obscure
colonel in the Chinese army, recog-
nized only in the Yangtze valley,
where he operated, practically un-
known TO the rest of China and an
utter blank to the world at large To-
day his name is a household word
among over 4OO,OOO,OOO of people, and
he is given considerable fame in every
land on the globe.
The accidental explosion of a BONO
in 'Hankow on October 9, 1911, SET
off the marvellous Chinese revolution,
which in turn made the obscure army
officer in rapid succession commander
in-chief of the rebel army, dictator OF
the YangtZe valley head OF the EeNo-
Iutionarv government the idol of the
Chinese people and finally vice pIeSi-
dent of the republic OF emma SucH
phenomenal advancement smaGAs o.
luck Add to this the fact that ne
had to be backed into his greatness,
accepting the leadership OF the reNo-
luton as the only way 10 save MS own
neck, and it seems to be clear case
of his being a prime favor1te OF chance.
But, investigation goes 10 snow tnAt
Ii Yuan-hung is worthy of all the
honors which a grateful people nave
In Army for 81 Yea-s.
Thirtv-one of Ii Yuan's AZ years have
been spent in military life, and ms
father was a soldier. He was Col. Ii
Tsao-hsing, and his famous son was
born in a little hamlet of the Hangtze
valley, within few hours journey
Of the scenes of his military exploits.
When he attained his 18th year ne
was admitted to the Tientsin naval
college. Six years there gave him
clear understanding of his hardy and
straight forward brothers OF north
China This was an education IN IL
self, as the nOrtherners and. south
ernerS are so separated by geography
and antagoniStic customs that they
have very little in common There Ii
also formed a lifelong friendship. with
the noted admiral Sab, who, at a crit
ical moment in the revolution, Joined
hands with his old college chum and
put his 10 ships, practically the entire
imperial navy, under the rebel flag
Ii Yuan-hung had very little naval
experience after he was graduated
from the Tientsin naval college. for
the simple reason that China had no
navy to speak Of Naturally, ne
became an officer in the army and
saw some service in the war with
Japan. Soon after that unhappy cpl
sOde he got on the staff of Gen. Chang
Chih-tung, a powerful viceroy who
ruled over Marking, which was the
capital of the empire in the days of
the Ming dynasty. There he earned
his captaincy by fOrtifying Marking
with modern guns.
Is Leader of Men.
Ii Yuan-hung is a very good look
ing Chinese, with well developed
head, bright, snappy eyes and a very
frank and friendly manner. He is
short broad shOuldered and inclined
to be cOrpulent He has friendly, easy
manners which put humber Chinese
at ease and which take well with the
foreigners. Great good nature is one
OF his unfailing traits. Optimism
abounds in him. But there is no sug-
gestiOn of the eaSy-going man who
can be handled. Everything about him
pOrtrayS the leader of men, the man
of action, the keen thinker, the skilled
campaigner. A strict adherence TO
military duties kept him free from that
civil OfficialSsm which has spoiled so
many good Chinese, even though its
Gen. Ii talks English very well, and
is immensely popular with foreigners.
He had SeverA foreign Instructors
under him during the revolution. One
was Col Arthur G. Sharpley. of Man
ia, formerly a lieutenant in the United
States army. Gen. Ii is a firm friend
of the missionaries. and intends to
send his two boys and three girls to
college in the United States.
Forced to Lead Revolt.
When the revolt was prematurely
touched off all of Ii Yuan-hung's men
and most of his officers went over to
the new cause, for which they had
been working secretly for months. As
an advocate of modern methods and
an ardent friend Of the people Ii SYM
pathized with the movement, but felt
that the time was not ripe for such a
gigantic undertaking. Certainly, he
had no thought of leading the rebel
lion. The leader Of insurgency in that
section was Liu King, a young schol-
ar in his tWenties, but lately returned
from Japan, where he became a con-
vert of DR.. Sun Vat Sen. Liu King
picked Ii Yuan-hung to lead the army
Of the people," and the bloOd-curdling
way in which he made the reluctant
Ii see the light provides one of the /
many thrilling incidents sof the re-
markable revolution which followed.
Liu King and six men armed with
swords met Ii Yuan-hung in q small
room. The army colonel refused point
blank to command the rebel forces. |
Liu King raised his hand and the sol |
swords pressed against his bare neck. |
Liu King again offered the dangerous /
honor. For the second time
fused. The honor was too great for /
someone else should have it, etc The l
short, slim swords then nipped the |
flesh. For the last time he was urged 1
to take up the task, another refusal |
meaning instant decapitation. Ii saved !
his head. He did more than that He /
saved a great cause and led worthy /
Desired All to BE Happy.
The civilized world soon realized that /
a new great man had appeared 1t was |
seen that Gen Ii Huan-hung was not |
only a successful soldier. but states /
man, a humanitarian. His course
was marked by mOdera-
ton by a desire for peace, by a wish /
that all his people might be free,
united and happy.
Success did not breed in him greed
for more power. When sun at sen
arrived he divided his authority and
helped make the doctor president Of
the provisional government In order
to have peace he gave way 10 yuan
shin Kali He accepted the vice presi-
dency of the new republic and has
since devoted himself to the restora-
ton of law and order in the HanBtze
When Yuan Shih K'ai steps out Ii
will step up.