Evening star., 1925-12-06


~ ed to befliend us. But
\ sometimes her intentions
turn out disappointinSly."
Was there any truth" | asked, in
the report OF an agreement between
Chang Tso-lin, the Manchurian chief,
and the Japanese over Shantung?'
His genial manner changed TO in
dignation. Il have reason to believe"
he said, that in pursuance of such
an agreement Chang's Premier LANG
sent instructions TO our deios gates at
Washington TO give Japan the Shan
tunS Railway, just when Mr.. Hughes
and Lord Balfour We're endeavorins
TO get Japan to restore it. That is
why I forced Liang out. Now Chang
comes with arms. You have Joined
me just in time
Time for what. general?" I asked.
Tomorrow l am going north to
start the war. Would you like TO so
along?"
Chinese custom requires an invita-
tion to be repeated thrice, but we ac-
Cepted this one the first time.
Next day the camp bustIed with the
activities of entIaininS. At o'clock
the long train had been outfitted with
the offices of thirty staff men in
charge of the various departments of
field activity and supply The Little
General transferred from flivver TO
luting bodyguard
We were off-and SO was the war
One morning I followed the Little
General through dusty grain fields
and down muddy trenches. WI walk
ed on the very top OF the emba nk
ment, lone figure exposed to all the
fire of the enemy, while we crouch
ed against the near wall of the shall
low bitches. Bullets sang over our
heads and buried themselves in the
opposite bank Our eXpostuations
availed nothing.
IF one is marked for me-" said WI,
briefly. lit will get me down there
II YOU don't feel that way about it,
stay below
We did.
Some enemy gunner observed our
party Of 60 or more men moving about
behind the lines and began to worry
s5 with shell fire. AS we entered a
village whining shrapnel fell in our
midst and we scattered for refuge be-
hind mud walls.
Gen. Wu's No. orderly and I
found ourselves cut on from the party.
After several futile attempts to over
take them we started back for the
sidnes. The Mukden gunner followed
our progress. He must have had great
sport chasing us from cover 70 cover.
At least we were costing him lot OF
expensive ammunition.
x 4
A BOUT midafternoon We reached
the pagoda, dead tired, and went
into the generals car to rest. l
awakened from my nap. sat up and
airy skirting cautiously around us to
the left. 1 leveled a pair Of field
glasses. They wore the red arm
bands of the Manchurians!
1t was some minutes before l could
get the chief orderly awake. We
rushed about among the hundreds OF
cars trying to find some officer in
charge. There seemed TO be not
soul at the base except ourselves ana
the f1rst-aid contingent.
The Redbeard cavalry was getting
holder. Soon they headed directly to-
ward us. 1t would be most ignomIni-
Gus to be taken captive at our base
in the generals own car.
We were desperately seeking some
expedient when train pulled in bring
ing a small contingent OF artillery
with light field guns. The Number
One Orderly and myself climbed
aboard and took command.
In three minutes we had six or eight
guns down the gangplanks and lined
up along the railroad. Now I said.
The enemy was by that time not
The gunners had no time to take aim.
and doubt if they hit anything. But
we made such a noise and kicked up
such a dust that the cavalry turned
and fed precipitately.
So, life went on for four days. Dur
ing that time we had two meals.
There being nothing else pressing, the
general decided we would eat He
ordered the cooks to bring on food,
which thew did to the extent OF 30 to
40 courses all the conventional dishes
served in the most conventional man
ner. Az the foreign guest, was IN
>tted to sit with the general. he ate
for several hours with scarcely
pause-I kept up as long as possible.
A day or so later, however, I men
toned to the thin chief tacttcian the
desirability of nourishment He sym.
pathized but made it plain that 1t was
improper to intrude the subject unless
the general ate.
After battle which turned all to
=, The advantage of WI, the general In
formed me: "The Manchurians have
overlooked one Of our telephone lines
into the city. Perhaps you would like
10 communicate with Peking?"
put in a call for the American
legation. and waited excitedly for the
opportunity to inform the capital of
its fate. Mr.. WHY'S Peck, Chinese
secretary, WhOm ndo hHo"H az
Tsingtao, replied:
Chang Tso-lin's army is in full
flight past the walls Of Peking."
toId him. "Wu has just occupied the
enemy's field base. Pelling is safe.
The victor plans to let 1t absolutely
alone. Please broadcast the news"
"Rut." he protested, I'VE understood
that Wu-Pei-fu and his entire staff
were killed. and I thought you might
-. to-"
"Sorry," l said, "still alive
Just then the line went down.
Shortly after this, as the generals 8
car stood in the central station az
,rjertsin. the commander Of the
French contingent Of the allied rail
way guard, which is authorized under
1he Boxer protocol to assure open
communications between Pektng and
Followed by a" small escort, he