The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-08-30
ny wM. PHILIP sIslMs

ny WM. PHILIP SINiNiS
SHANGHAI. Aug. 2s.--if the great
powers decide at the Washington
conference on some form OF benevo-
lent intervention In China 20 save
themselves another war. the first
problem they win have to tackle Il
the incubus OF the Chinese army.
Estimated as high rs 1000 900 men.
Chlna's army Is slowly contributing
TO her destruction. For years she
has been trying TO demobiiise aud
can't. Instead. the army Is ON the
increase. II anything. and Peking IL
helpless.
NO MONEY TO
PAY SOLDIERS
China has no money with which
10 pay her troops. 40 they mutiny
and sack the country In lieu OF
wages. They refuse to DO mustered
out OF service because soldering Is
easy. working for living uncertain
and a uniform adds class TO robher
bands with which some OF them
travel.
Nor win their overload. the COVER
nor general. allow them 10 be mus
tered out II he can possibly help II.
Being little king In his own right.
doing precisely what he pieascs. re
rardiess Of what Picking has TO say
about Il. he realizes he Is no more
powerful than his army.
II not infrcQucntiy happens that
somebody disputes his title. 70 the
Tuchun keeps his command ms
strong as no possibly can to de-
fend II.
UNIFORMED COOLIES
IN CHINA ARMY
Soldiers In China are seldom more
than the uniformed coolies Of the
particular war lord who pays them.
and have little or no conception OF
what II means 20 serve flag or coun-
try. Theirs but TO do the bidding OF
the Tuchun. their direct master. col.
iect his "squecxes" and hold him on
his pedestal
In return for this. the Tuehun
allows his troops pretty free rein.
being almost unknown. feeds and
clothes them As best he can. and.
from time 70 time. gives them little
cash 10 do with as they like.
The so-called Chinese army IN
reality II is or 20 armies. each one
independent Of the others and all In.
dependent Of Picking.
These armies vary In sine from
$4,000 men to several times that.
General Chang Tso-lin. Tuchun In
Moukden. alone commands an army
larger than that OF the United States.
II Is said to be The best paid outfit
in China and for that reason would.
II is believed. follow Chang without
question.
General Tsao Kun. Tuchun Of
chihii provincc--where Peking II To-
cated-has = following Just about IA
large. These Tuchuns are rivals. but
for the time being have pooled their
interests
MUTINIES FOLLOW
PEKING'S ORDER
Picking has repeatedly ordered a
general cut In the army. but the only
observable result has been some
thing which sounded very much like
. Tuchunish chuckle. a few mutt
MES. considerable iooting. the sack
Ing OF some cities subsequently,
additional enlistmeuts
The great powers have contributed
TO this state OF affairs. BY helping
China TO rid herself OF the incubus
Of her overIordship and army. they
win rid hcr--and incidentally. them
selves-of g grave peril.
China's useless troops should be
put to bodybuilding. Her greatest
needs - unity and education can
never make much progress until her
Of years. can commingie and ex-
change IDEAS Dirt roads and rail-
roads. by the tens Of thousands OF
miles. are imperative
Progressive Chinese everywhere
tell me this Is essential to China's
reconstruction.
Chinese and foreign capital should
go into this public work. and there
should Be foreign supervision under
central administration TO the total
disregard Of the Tuchunate.
ALL THEY WANT
IS FOOD AND PAY
The troops themselves VIII not oh
jcct. China's lcgions are not loyal
20 any particular Tuchun. All they
demand is their food and pay.
This IL but one Of the Jobs the
Pacific conference must undertake IL
they really get at basic troubles in
China. and that the sooner II Is done
the better II will be for all hands is
recognized by all who have made a
study OF the situation.
Public opinion In China would vel
como intervention OF this kind II
properly handled. But II must be
properly handled. The danger Ia that
II will not be.
For any nation which, for motives
OF its own. desires TO put crimp In
the Washington conferences pro.
ceedings and nullify It's attempt TO
. clear up the Far Eastern situation,
has but to convince China that the
powers are undermining her national
integrity, and the thing will be done.
81 Witnesses Now