The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-10-29
OLD JAP DEVIL
ISCHINA TERROR
Authorities Dicker With
white Wolf" Protege,
Make Him Patriot

pEKISG. oct. 2s.-"The white
/ Wolf Is gain spreading terror
among the people Of west central
China. The much feared bandit elan
mas resumed activities under a new
leader. Lao Yam Jen, or "Old Jap
Devil" M named for his black scowi
and his short bowed figure. In the
last month they have run riot In the
provinces OF HOnan and Shensi.
Foreigners have suffered severely.
for neither race nor religion are re-
spected. whole cities have been
sacked under the very nose OF the
powerful Wa Pei-fu, his garrisons
destroyed, his advance guards turned
back IN rOut and hundreds OF host
ages carried of.
Among these were one French
citizen and one Greek who continue
20 be held for ransom despite the
protests of the French legation. For
tuUately for Americans. the districts
suffering were almost wholly oc-
cuplcd 10y the French The Catholic
fathers there were forced 10 flee,
leaving their churches pillagcd and
their homes IN ruins.
NJ Sldot, a French engineer. sta
toned nt Shanshow. with his wife
and l3-year-old daughter. remained
'ldF'lF III iu' 'llS WH'u lHt bhhuilH
captured IL. The tricoiur flying In
front OF his house was torn down
and tramplcd under foot. lie him
self was severely beaten, while his
vito ana daughter were roughly
handled. Everything they had. to
their very clothes, was taken away.
For time their house was made
headquarters and the courtyard used
for executions. which were appar-
eutly carried out In accordance with
some prepared black list.
In tho meanwhile the city itself
was subject TO n thorough pillnge.
All the horses and mules were driven
away 20 IA temporary corral. which
was built up to take care OF the
various accumulated live stock. All
money except silver (thero X no
gold) was HpuruCd
a quantity OF women's clothing
was gathered, some OF II being
taken Off tho wcarers directly. and
In the evening "A number OF the
bandits put II on for wild and
drunken masquerade.
Lao himself has, In addition 60
HIS cunning and instinct for plumber.
a real genius for military operations
and an ability 20 utilize bodies OF
men far larger than the usual bandit
groups. His training under the
original white Wolf' was excellent,
and he became one of the latter's
trusted lieutCnants. aiding him In his
long career OF murder and pillage.
When "White Wolf" finally was cap
tured by Jealous military governor
who buried the head some thousand
miles from the rest of the body. he.
"Old Japan Devil" compromised and
accepted Il position in the national
army.
His promotion was rapid, and he
had become a colonel at the end OF
few years. when the recent civil
war resulted In the defeat OF his
commanding general ana the dis
bRndment OF his troops. Thereupon
he gathered together the loose ends
and made himself the chief OF new
robbcr band, many OF his followers
being from the original white
Wolf" other bandit groups ac-
knowledged his supremacy, recogniz-
ing In him leader OF superior abil-
lty. His power has steadily in
creased, and by many Chinese he Is
looked upon as a serious opponent
to Wa Pei-fu
Alarmed by the pressure brought
by foreign legations, the Chinese
government has asked Wu Pei-fu TO
take strong action. lie mas now put
over a division In action. but "Old
Japan Devil" seems little moved
Meanwhile his force grows. and those
politicians unfricndly 10 Wa pru-
pose TO give him the name Of patriot
rather than bandit. There have also
been suggestions OF compromise
whereby he and his forces will be
taken back into the Chinese armies,
as Is usual In such cases, and he him
self made legal general on the
theory that his depredations will
then at least, be more orderly.
Negotiations have begun for this
The bandits have submitted their
terms, which include the assignment
OF territory, roughly about the size
OF New York state. to their Jurisdic-
tion. They are then to become a
semi-indepcndent military force, po-
Icing their district and keeping
themselves aloof from the politics of
the central government and future
civil wars, II is likely that some ar
rangcment viii be made with them
The result will he one more War
Lord" or Tuchun, who viii be no
worse than many of his colleagues
who rose by similar methods.