Evening star., 1928-12-02

~ EKlNG-In spite OF the Ma
- tionaiists' continued optimistic
announcements, which ttei
Il propaganda system effectivel.
distributes the state of affair
in China is still far from encouraging
and there is little assurance that fac,
tional wars on considerable scale have
been ended.
Conditions in the North, especially
from the economic viewpoint, have be.
come worse rather than better since
the Nationalist came, and there is con-
stantly increasing discomfort and distrust
OF the southern regime among the
northern people of all classSe. The
northern provinces had been SO
scourged with warfare, banditry and
famine during the last two years and
more and the people so grindingly taxed
tf1at the Nationalist arrival was greet
ed with heartfelt Thanksgiving. Also the
Nationalist idea had gained a strong
hold. But the promises of relief in the
matter of taxation and military oppres-
sion have not been fulfilled. On the
contrary, additional burdens have been
imposed at the same time that disrup-
ton of transport and communications
loss of prestige on account of the re-
moval of the capital, the influx of
additional huge armies and other factors
have already materially weakened North
Chlna's economic powers.
Intriguing for Revenue.
Moreover the element of factional
politics appears to be proving as much
OF factor as it was during the days
OK the northern warlords. The uues-
tion OF who is to control the shipping
facilities and revenues of the north
ern ports is producing a great deal of
dangerous intrigue.
Yen HSi-Shan, the model governor
OF Shansi Province. is supposed under
mandate of the Marking government
TO be administering affairs in Chihli
Province. But his appointeeS in all
TientSin and elsewhere are being
methodically shifted out of their Jobs
and replaced by adherents of the
Christian general. Feng Yu-hsiang.
through political maneuvering at Nam
king. where Feng's power appears to
be growing.
This not only cripples and angers
Yen, but causes heartburning among
other Nationalist military chiefs, par
Eculariy the so-called Hankow COM
bination, Pal TSung-chi and Ii Tsung-
Jen, whose troops participated in the
northern drive and are still distributed
Feng Is Much Feared.
Feng is unquestionably the strong
est and most feared personality be-
tween the Yangtze and the Great
Wall. No one knows his plans but
all distrust him and it is matter for
speculation whether he would be con-
tent eventually to control all North
China with allegiance to Marking, or
whether he may not strive to set u7
q government of his own in case his
chine fail. Also it is not clear that
he has severed his previous relations
with the Soviets.
His army is large, well equipped,
finely disciplined end more economi-
caly maintained than any other in
China. His finances at present come
chiefly from the revenues of the Pc
king-Hankow and the Lunghai rail-
ways.
Another grievance of the northern
people is that the Nationalists, be-
sides other reforms. promised to sup
press banditry. Yet banditry is worse
today than it has been for years.
There are considerably more than
100000 government troops in the
northern part of Chihli Province, vet
there is scarcely county in the
whole district from which daily re-
ports CT bandit depredations do not
come and marauding hands operate
almost up to the gates Of Peking.
Armies Still Recruiting
Another promise was that armies
would be reduced and the superfluous
Soldiery engaged upon public works or
sent to their homes. but, although an
nouncements of such reductions having
been effected are given out now and
again, there is no visible evidence of it.
Instead certain leaders, notably Feng
Yu-hSiang, are still recruiting and eyery
general north of the river is eager to
get as much equipment as he can.
which has diSquieting effect.
Undoubtedly much of the hardship
and discomfort the people are expert
encing is inevitable to such a revolu-
tionary period as the Nationalists now
claim to have concluded. The next
stage must move slowly and improve
ments be painfully gradual in coun-
try like China
But in view of present conditions the
Northerner is beginning to doubt that
the So-called first, or military, phase
is actually ended and to have suspicious