The Washington herald., 1921-12-09
SHANTUNC ROAD
HAND ON CHINA'S
THROAT, HE SAYS
Chung Shu Kwei Feels
Jap Rail Control
Is Fatal.
BY CHUNG SHU KWEI.
Manager of China Press Bureau

A thief in China is called a
three handed man." The third
hand is on his back.
The third hand left by itself is
useless, but its usefulness is read
lily appreciated only in conjunction
with the two other hands.
The Shantung Railway retained
by Japan is her third hand, which
will accomplish her control of all
North China with the aid of her
two other hands-the South Man
churian Railway and the railway
running through the length of ko-
rea-
Strategically retention of the
Shantung Railway cannot be toll
Grated by China. This is the gen.
eral conclusion that 1 have been
able to gather among the Chinese
people here.
Could Move Quickly.
To understand the strstegical
argument IL Is necessary to know
a few geographical rudiments Of
the map of Asia. Seoul is the cap
ital of Korea; 1t is the headquarters
of the japanese on the Asiatic con-
tinent and center of the Korean
main railway. Mukden is the CAPT.
tai of one of the three eastern
provinces of China. popularity
known as Manchuria; it is the ter
minal of the Pekin-Mukden Rail-
way and the center of the South
Manchurian Railway. owned by ia
pan. Port Arthur is the tip of the
7 l.. a.
pan the nearest naval base in South
Manchuria; it is the southern ter
minal OF the South Manchurian
railway.
In case of war, il takes nine
hours by train for Japanese troops
to proceed from Seoul, their head
quarters in Korea. to Mukden. and
six hours or so from Mukden to
Port Arthur. The time is based on
ordinary passenger train schedule,
and it may be much shortened for
military emergencies. Within half
a day Japan will be able to estab
lish her military position in Port
Arthur and control the entrance to
the Yellow Sea.
Inimical to safety.
What Is more Port Arthur is
only seventy-five miles from Chefoo.
a port situated on northern part
of Shantung. The shores of Chefoo
are easily within the firing range
from Port Arthur. and Chefoo may
fall within a very short time. This
will complete Japan's offensive
from the sea.
Returning to Shantung. we find
the Shantung railway running from
Tsingtao, the island on Kiaochow
Bay, the only naval base. to,
Tsinanfu, the capital of Shantung,
through which the Pekin-Pukow
railway runs. As the latter con-
tinues to Shanghai. Japan's control
of the Shantung railway will vir-
tually mean control OF communica-
ton from Pekin to Shanghai. Such
a control is inimical to China's
safety in time of war.
Controls Naval Base.
Further. the Shantung railway
terminates at Kiaochow. and Sc
Japan's retention will give her the
control of the only naval base in
the province. The ShantunC rail-
way. also continues from Tsinanfu
to Shunteh. as important station
on the Pekin- -Hankow railway
which will enable Japan to cut on
communication from Pekin to Han
kow. the Chicago of China. In
other words. Japan by the reten-
ton OF the Shantung railway Will
be able to cut North China off from
South China. and herein lies the
danger to .China's very existence.
Finally. .Japan's control OF the
South Manchurian railway gives her
the occupation of Mukd1n. the ter
minal of the Peking-Mukden rail-
way. This occupation prevents at
tack upon Port Arthur from the
rear by Chinese troops, or by
whatever forces that may be sent
from Pekin.
three Hands, I'm Play.
Thus 1t Is evident that with the
addition Of the Shantung railway to
the South Manchurian and Korean
railways, Japan brings her three
hands into full play. and North
China cannot but fall an easy prey
to her aggressive neighbor.
When one tries to grab US by
the throat" a member OF the
Chinese delegation said. who can
expect us to yield without resist
ing. Japan cannot be given the
Shantung railway, or even . joint
control of It. We shall fight until
the last breath"