Omaha daily bee., 1917-01-15
CHINA CLOVIS WITH
HOLIDAY SPIRIT
Brilliant Military Reviews in
Peking Are Part of National
Birthday Celebration,
THE PRESIDENT ATTENDS

Correspondence OF tho ,Ahsociatcu lFeSs'j
Peking, Nov. China celebrated
the fifth anniversary of the estab-
lishment of the republic with patriotic
exercises in practically all sections of
the countryA Peking was the scene of
one of the most brilliant military re-
views ever held in China. The capital
city was gorgcously decorated with
the five barred flags of the republic
and great arches of brilliant colors
were erected all along the ten-mllc
route from the Forbidden City to the
Nan-yuan parade ground, where 80
000 troops passed in review before
resident Ii Yuan-hung,
II Great changes have come over
the Chinese republic since the fourth
anniversary of its establishment. Yuan
Shi-kai was in the throes of the mon
archical movement last year, and was
compelled to abandon the annual re-
view OF troops in the capital which
had previously been held on the ami
versary of the republics birth.
Democracy OF the most pronounced
type marked this years celebration.
The occasion was characteristic of
the spirit which has dominated Chin
ese affairs since Ii Yuan-hung be-
came the president. Imperialism was
thoroughly in the background.
1t was Yuan Shi-kai's practice to
review the troops from balcony
high up on the immense watch tower
which surrounds the main entrance
to the Forbidden City. But Ii Yuan
hung rode boldly outside the For
bidden City to the great drill ground
south of Peking, where he mounted
horse and, accompanied by his staff,
made a complete round of the mill
tary forces which were drawn up in
a great hollow square. He then took
his position on low reviewing stand
and stood practically unattended
while the thousands of infantrymen,
cavalrymen and artillerymen passed
in review.
Great interest centered about the
the review, as there had been rumors
that certain disgruntled military
leaders might inspire an attempt up
on the president and endeavor to re-
place the present government with
military dictatorship. The president
made light OF the reports and demon
strated his hold upon the Chinese
people by appearing as had been ar
ranged before the evil rumors came
into circulation.
This action has done much to
strengthen the Chinese republic and
Ii Yuan-hung's leadership. 1t was
widely advertised in the news
papers that the troops which
passed in review were chiefly north
ern soldiers. The loyalty of this
force of 10000 magnificently drilled
soldiers was a warning to disgruntled
leaders in central and south China
that Ii Yuan-hung and his govern
ment have actual physical strength
with which to resist any onslaught up
on Peking.
Ii Yuan-hung wore the gorgeous
dress uniform of Chinese general.
His long coat and trousers were light
grey-blue, OF European cut. heavily
trimmed with gold, and his breast
was covered with a score of medals
and decorations bestowed upon the
leader who was all obscure brigadier-
/ general in Wuchang five years ago
His helmet was surmounted by a
flowing white plume.
| When the Chinese president mount
ed his horse and dashed across the
reviewing fields, the hundreds of
foreigners invited TO attend the re
view were much impressed by his
figure and the case with which he
rode. He is still the same active
military leader who practically mi
tiated at Wuchang the revolution
which uudid the Manchu regime and
made it possible for him to become
vice president of the new republic.
At the conclusion of the review,
biplanes and monoplancs of the Chin
csc aerial corps flew over the review
ing grounds, while President Ii
Yuan hung stood watching the flights.
Scores Of photographers and moving
picture men were permitted to photo
graph the president. He showed no
uncasiness nor fear OF any assault
His bodyguard did not accompany
him TO the reviewing stand, and ap-
parently there was no effort to prevent
assassns, from attacking him. had
they wished to do So
The Chinese press is unanimous in
its praise of Ii 4Lan-hung's defiance
of the critics Of the present admins
tration. Newspapers in the capital
and other prominent cities of China
say the president did much to silncce
the critics Of his cabinet hv his fear-