The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1918-03-07
CITY GETS EXCLUSIVE
NEWS OF LITTLE WAR
Lynden Hears OF Battle In China
That Censor Hadn't Got Hands
On

News of little war that is now go
ing on in China close to the border
of mysterious Thibet was received il
Lynden this week by Miss Elmins
Graham, principal of the Lynder
High School, whose brother, a mis-
sionary in that section, is taking ar
active part in interceding between
the two tribes involved.
Mrs. Alice Morey Graham, Miss
Graham's sister-in-law, describes the
struggle in a letter sent from Suifu
Szechuen, China, as follows:
You know, of course, that for two
years Yunnanese and Szechuenese
have been disputing the possession OF
Szechuen. Battle has been threaten
ed around Suifu ever since August
but it did not begin until last Satur-
day (Nov. 24.) 1t was far enough
away-about ninety liza Ii is $50
yards) so that we did not hear much
of it. Sunday it came closer and Sun.
day night, We were kept awake most
of the time by firing.
Monday is came still nearer. That
day, ninety-five wounded came into
the hospital for DR.. Tompkins to care
for. Mr.. Graham was able to help a
little by finding places for them to
lie. There were neither beds nor
blankets for a good many of the poor
wretches.
Tuesday the battle ragged all ar
cund the city. 1t seemed to be COM
pletely surrounded A shell struck
Miss Pages school and burst, but
fortunately did very little damage.
Several other shells fell in the city.
One killed a mule and cut off mans
foot but did not burst. The man is
in the hospital.
1T seemed quite evident that the
Szechuenese far outnumbered the
Yunnanese whom they were attack
ing. Wednesday morning, about 20
of the wealthy businessmen OF the
city called on Mr.. Graham and asked
him to 60 over to the Szechucnese
and urge them to allow the Yunnan-
ese to depart unmolested.
This the Yunnanese were willing
to do-retreat if given a chance to
go unharmed.
so soon after noon, Mr.. Graham
started out with an American flag,
a Red Cross flag, and five or six of
the businessmen. The opposing forces
were on two hill-tops. The Szechuen-
ese would not allow the Chinese to
come over with the exception Of the
two who were carrying flags.
THE Szechuenese agreed to give
the Yunnanese an open road II they
would leave by six o'clock Thursday
morning. With this message, he ag-
ain crossed the firing-lines. two or
three cannon-shells bursting uncom-
fortably close to him. When he re-
turned to the city, the Yunnanese
said the time was far too short, and
their general wrote a letter asking
for a week! Mr.. Graham told them
there was no use sending such let
ter.
.The case looked rather hopeless.
That evening, shooting began on the
city wall. Bullets went whizzing and
banging all around US. we could
hear them strike, and one came thru
our back door in the upper hall and
lodged in the wall close to the floor
Earlier in the day, very large one
from a two-man gun came through
the wall of our laundry room. For
tunately, it struck a chimney, or II
would have gone into the kitchen.
"The Yunnanese army left that
same night. OF course the OFFICIALS
fled. and the robbers and part OF the
soldiors did some looting, but not sc
much as had been feared. we uh'
derstand that the Szechuenese hao
MANNED to cannonade and burn the
CITY on Thursday Thanksgiving II
the other side had not left. AS II "a'
there was not a single fire. There
was some wanton murder. between
hundred and thirty and a hunoreo
and forty thus losing their lives pu'
the foreigners were able to exert IN
Auence to stop it before it went tur
ther. The Iooting is said to have am
ounted to 100000, U. S. currency
AT seven o'clock Thursday morn
;nq Mr.. Graham was called over u
- the China Inland Mission to heip
There is no man over there, only tw'
single ladies. He found that hu"
her of the Yunnanese soldiers ha'
come in over the wall for protection
Tbeir commander had committed su
tide when he learned that they wer
dafeated. The ladies did not IKE U
turn the men out on the street 10 D
murdered, so asked for assistance
Nv Graham went to the Szechuenes
oricer told the circumstances an
asked protection for the men. ii
astcd for soldiers to go with MIN an
raceiye the mems weapons anu aii,
=. h;p, aud then scare