Evening star., 1938-04-24

A character study OF Nine.
Chidng Kat-shek. toite' OF China's
"stron1 man" and potent force
In the nations affairs, is presented
here by noted ,Don,an journalist
icho Is making tour OF the focal
points OF neiDs interest in the Far
East and ,oho recently interviewed
China's First Lady.
BY LADY GRACE DRUMMOND-H HAY.
HONG KONG. April IL (By Air
maiD They call her the Woman
of the East" An almond-eyed Cleo
patra. Not in the soiled term OF sex
appeal but in patriotic fire, Of nexi-
bic yet steely tenacity Of purpose,
OF adroitness in Oriental statecraft,
in determination and willpower, in
spring and influencing not a Julius
Caesar or Mark Anthony, but a de-
voted and admiring husband, Gen.
Chang Kai-shek, the most powerful
man in China.
Grown in dignity, much more sure
Of herself than when I talked with
her in 1929 in the now devastated and
ravaged Chinese capital, Marking,
Mime. Chang Kai-shek. the Woman
Of the East" greeted me pleasantly.
Her ease of manner, real or studied,
contrasted with her former immature
shyness.
Not of aristocratic antecedents, she
has arisen from lowly missionary
ranks to inspire China's resistance to
the invasion of the Emperor of the
East" and to try to save her country
from becoming the Ethiopia" or
Austria" of Japan.
Demands Heads Of Traitors.
This little woman, so small and
dainty, speaking perfect English, is
said to have the a.rdacity and courage
to demand that heads shall roll
heads OF trsitors and war-proflteers
who betray China in her hour of agony
and need. weakening her resistance
and to attempt to clean out the an
cient Augean stables Of Chinese cor
ruption.
The power behind the power" is
another term applied to her. The
other power" being her husband, the
generalissimo, whom many call the
marshal"
Upon arrival In Hongkong, I wrote
to her brother. T. v. Soong, one Of the
leading and most dynamic members
Of the now famous "Soong dynasty"
of China. This family, clan, or self
created republican dynasty" consists
of four men and three women-Gen.
Chang, Finance Minister DR.. H. H.
Kung. T. v. Soong, Chinas DIR.
Schacht," who, like the latter, can
make an empty sack stand UP, and his
brother, T. L. Soong. who has kept
himself out of the public spotlight.
The women are the sisters three
Melting, Ching-Ling and Ai-Ling,
otherwise Nine. Chang Kia-S -Shek,
Nine. H. H. Kung and Nine Sun Yat-
sen. widow of the father and founder
of the Chinese Republic"
This mystic seven have among
themselves been conducting the ma.
tional' political and financial affairs
Of China for years. They started life
very poor indeed. Today they are re-
puted to be the wealthiest family group
in all China. A heading foreign banker
in Shanghai estimated their Joint
riches at 5000, ,000, 900. They do not
exhibit any signs OF such wealth, but
rich Chinese never do advertise their
possessions, they live ss quietly as pos
sible.
Adviser Net Liked.
W. H. Donald, genial Australian,
well-uown adviser" to Gen. and
Mime. Chang, sent me word that
madame would zee me. had not yet
met Mr.. Donald then. ct. "" as Mr..
6oong Is called, does not like the
Australian, nor the advice" he gives,
/ was told In quarters that should
know. Nor does "T. "" very much
love his brother-in-law, the general
tssimo. He cannot be said to be much
fonder Of the other brother in law,
DR.. H. H Kung. because Gen. Chang
seems to prefer the latter as minister
Of finance 70 ct. "" though, II the
Judgment Of foreign bankers in China
is any criterion, DR.. Kung does not
compare In financial brains.
There Is rs much intrigue in and