The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-05-04

HI. II you ever tried 10 count d
yard full Of newly.hatched chicks
weaving in and out, you will get
what he meant.
Moharehist Plot
The government at Peking is as
much IN doubt as my friend, the
authority on China. II cannot tell
how many Of the provincial COVER.
nors II can count on with certain.
.ty; It does not know how many
loyal troops there are in the coun-
try, nor which among the generals
unqualifledly support the centra.
government.
When the revolt at Urga, the
Russian menace to Mongolia and
Manchpria, and other pressing
problems presented themselves "a
Picking all at one time, Premier
Chin Sun.peng summoned the -four
.inspeotorgenerals, Wang Shin
Chen, Wang Chanyuan, Tsao Kun
and Chang Tsplin, to the capital
for consultation. Only the first
named answered the cali without
undue delay, Chang Tso.lin reply.
ing he would come after he had
celebrated his birthday, the other
two leaving the premier guessing.
Meantime rumors Of a monarchiSt
plot got abroad.
Heavy eodyauard.
When General Chang Tso-lin
moved toward Picking from his
headquarters at Mukden, he vas
accompanied by two divisions OF
body guards" the 9th and 2Slh
divisions, and instead OF stopping
at Peking, he proceeded to Paoting.
flu, province OF Chilli, a hundred
miles on the other side OF tho cap.
.ital.
There he consulted with General
Tsao Kun. Tuchun military COVER.
nor) oil. the province and commonly
known as his rival.
Immediately It was believed Gen.
eral Chang Tso.lln intended to
march on Peking with his men and
proclaim the monarchy. So pre-.
else and widespread were the re-
ports that both Picking and the
Mukden Tlchun thought wise to
issue denials.
Then the report switched. Tho
Mukden chief was planning to at.
tack Chilli province, in which
Picking is situated. The sinwan.
pao, n Chinese newspaper, insisted
he was coming to Picking for a
purpose" even II he felt II would
be unwise for tho moment to at.
tempt to put a .Manchu back on tho
throne.
Airplanes Burned.
Besides he must have some use
for the largo consignment Of arms
and ammunition no purchased last
year" said the paper.
A shipment Of airplanes. ordered
by tho general, mysterlously burned
In transit. 1t was said It was tn
prevent them falling Into the hands
OF the general.
General Chang Tsolin is regard.
cd as the most influential OF all
the northern Tuchuns, Tsao Kun
running a close second with Wang
Chan-yuan and Wang Shin chen
following neck and neck.
All this affords a flash, like a sin.
gle flicker Of a movie picture. at
the setting in China's capital. The
glimpse may mean nothing and It
may mean much. Nobody knows.
Which illustrates again tho haze Of
uncertainty enyeloping the land.
Wanted: A Man.
There is talk of %abolishing the
military governors. These, how.
ever, may refuse TO be fired and In
all probability will. since they hold
the only actual power in China
soldier.power.
With this talk there Is also a
movement In many provinces look.
ing towards autonomy with u
thread attaching such provinces to
a central government.
This tendency is regarded as a
hopeful sign by many well.iuformed
foreigners here, but 1t is generally
recognized that IL It is to succeed
some bold and dominating figure
must come to the fore, a real lead
er, not merely some one eaten up
by ambition.
Something must happen to China
In the near future. She must per.
form the miracle and pull herself
up by her own bootstraps, or be
helped up. The change may not
come tomorrow-time is long out
here-but even IL China could mud.
die along for the next ten years as
she has muddled along in the last
decade the world could not allow
It. The situation Is too highly ex.