Evening star., 1925-11-22

r. ArH day the correspondents Of
l. Pekinc made the rounds of
legation and government Off
IL ces. swapping news.
| was residing in com.
pound just opposite the imposing
Offices of the ministry of foreign
affairs on Great Stone Man Hunting.
since renamed Foreign Office Street" ."
The lessee Of This place had gone 10
Japan 10 Join his family just before
the outbreak of the war. leaving me
to take care of his Sino- American
News Agency. In addition. | was
carrying on the corresponds nee of
an American newspaper. the Japan
Advertiser Of Tokyo. and the North
China Star. was destined To he
loaded with two further tasks before
the end Of this hectic season.
The stage was quickly SET for A
battle scene. There was however,
true to the motif Of farce. considerable
uncertainty as to who was Ia fight
whom. AS Gen. Wu Pei-fu. now rein
forced by Daddy Tsan Kun's divisions
steadily advanced on PekinG from the
south. alarming reports came in that
Chans Tso-lin Of ManChuria was NOV
Ing with large bodies Of his Red
boards" from the north into the metro
politan province.
Premier Twan assumed the war die
tstorship of PAkinr and the honorary
command cf punitive" EXPEDITION
His nephew. Twan Chi-kwei. was
placed in command Of the southwest
front against WI. The younger had
50 600 fresh troops. equipped with
new uniforms leather boots and
modern arms and backed hr all the
resources Of FekinC.
The first enca cement of the war
eagerly awaited. took place hetween
a commander of the younger Twan's
Chu TunC-fene. and WI. So certain
was Twan Chi-kwei Of victory over
Nus scantily supplied army that he
hardlvs expected 10 he needed 81 the
front. Sending on his lieutenant. Chu.
he remained in Pekins to participa q
in an anticipatory celebration OF vic
tory. Twan and his fellows neglected
to take into account the fact that
N'u's. army. whatever its needs pos
sessed a general. a nd. thanks to the
inspiration of the students. something e
IN! fight for: two notable advantages
which the Pekinc cohorts lacked
SEu drew Chu's army to the Iiu Ii
stream. where he caught il in a cross
fire from machine guns hidden in
burial crypts. and demoralized IL by an
eruption Under foot of the improvised
mines which he made with America n
evapora ted milk tins.
Chu Immediately dispa tched urgent
pleas TO Young Twan for reinforce
ments.
While the war rested waiting for
Twan's arrival on the Liu-li. unwit-
tinrly found myself filing role in
the Pel1inc drama.
Nathaniel Peffer OF the New York
Tribune, and I had Joined forces. to
cover the city. and went in 2 motor
car from one office to another and one
gate TO another. scarcely sleeping at
all. One day we went down to the
Peking -Hankow Railway station To see
a train bearing Anfu wounded who had
been picked up among the rushes on
the banks of the Liu-li-men with all
sorts of terrible wounds. Many lay
under the BLAZING sun on the stu bot.
toms of coal-cars. the thin layer Of
straw which formed their only. mat
tress indescriba hly mingled with filth
and elotted blood. Flies era wled over
the faces Of the sufferers.
Those still ahla to complain received
first attention from the attendants NJ
the military hospital sent to receive
them those who were past the stage oi
expression by word or gesture were let
lie as so much flesh awaiting burial
The stoicism of these men was pa
thetic beyond words. Those who live
in Asia are not una accustomed 10 sights
Of physical horror. but we turned away