Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-08
BY PHILIP KERRY.

LT HE King is dead. Long live
~ the King!"
The Grown Prince" has
acceded to the throne" of
Manchuria--that massive
armchair hewn from the virgin red
woods that top the windy submits of
Heilungkiane.
seated in that great chair in the
thfone room with its thick pelts Ct
Kirin tigers on walls and floor is a
youth, who, in point of years, has scarce
IL reached mans estate, yet who. In
experience. in courage and III resource
fulness. has touched those dim heights
which ordinary mortals seldom see. A
youth whose personal fortune is eS-
timated at from so to 100 millions Of
dollars; who. at the age of u, holds
SWAY over country as big as the
eastern half of the United States. and
yields absolute power of life and death
over $4,000. 900 inhabitants.
His name is Chang Hseuh-liang.
Chang Tso-lin, his father. one time
conoueror of all China north of the
Yanetse. dictator of Peking and war
lord of the three eXtra-mural provinces
comprising Manchuria, recently sue
cumbed to injuries he received when
his train was bombed by unknown as
sassins. On his deathbed, in accordance
with traditions centuries old. he called
his eldest son. and, in the presence of
family and retainers, appointed him
head of the clan and leader of cere-
monial worship to the ancestral tablets,
Huge Responsibilities.
But behind these traditional phases
Law huge neutrality-suspicious. of
[S,@f~ f~ lac cniy
warning subordinateS TO be placated.
ambitious older generals. looking with
covetous ewes upon the tiger room. to
he circ,,mvented-anda all this to be done
alone without the friendly aid and coun-
sci of the one who had guided his
father. For Gen. Wu--Wu the Mighty
Bull-who for 40 years had stood be-
tween the old marshal and hts enemies
was killed by the same bomb that IA
tally wounded his superior
Such responsibility has turned many
wiser head, and were 1t not for the
fact that father and son have fought
shoulder to shoulder for the last seven
years in an effort TO bring semblance
If peace out of chaotic inter provincial
warfare, the son would be unable to
maintain his authority for day In the
face of the strong opposition which
surrounds him.
The death of Gen. WI was almost
as tragic a blow to Gen. Chang Hsueh-
lang as was the death of his father,
For to WI the young Chang owes his
life. That is one of the stories still told
over late military campfires. 1t was
during the time that his father, Chang
Tso-lin. was playing the role of a Chi
nesa Robin Hood in southern Man
churia. Gen. WI, who took the part
Of Friar Tuck. was the only member of
the band to stand by his leader and his
wife when government troops flung A
Gordon about them. For five weary DAYS
the siege persisted, with the soldiers of
the Emperor gradually drawing In upon
their rocky stronghold.
In desperation Chang Tso-lin decided
to make his way through the Gordon or
die fighting. Gen. WI counseled eau
ton. especially since Mime. Chang was
III and Chang was suffering from
wounds.
In Daring Escape.
Before daybreak. while mountain
mists still hid their movements, Gen.
WI lifted Nine Chang onto his back
and, crawling on his hands and knees
along a dry river bed, carried her TO the
comparative safety OF farmers house
outside the Gordon OF government
troops The following night he assist
ed Chang Tso-lin through the same