INVASION OF TIBET.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 80, 6 April 1910, Page 11

INVASION OF TIBET.

THE CHINESE RAID. IT CAME WITH STARTLING SUDDENNESS. The news of the great Chinese raid into Tibet has come with startling suddenness (remarked The Englishman, Calcutta, on 3rd March). But there ia nothing surprising about it. It has long been evident that China intended to take not only everything that the careless short-sightedness of the British and Indian Governments had given into her hands, but much more. The invasion of Tibet has been carefully prepared. Beginning four years ago siege operations on a large scale have been directed against certain important and strong monastery fortresses situated along the Szechuan-Tibet frontier. These places were hidden amongst steep and difficult hills; wild and forest-clad. Some of them were remote from all habitation, others dominated the routes, and were frequented by pilgrims. The Chinese demanded their surrender, and the dispersal of the lamas inhabiting them, declaring their intention of either converting the buildings to secular use, or of handing them over to rival priesthood. In a few cases the Chinese demands were complied with. Generally they were resisted energetically, the natives coming to the assistance of the i lamas. Some of the sieges were pro* longed and fierce affairs, in which both sides suffered severely. This was notably the case at Dayal, Gomba, where the lama garrison was ultimately starved into surrender and massacred. The Tibetans were, however, armed in a very primitive way, whilst the Chinese troops were equipped in the best fashion of the best foreign-drilled corps. ORDNANCE FACTORIES WORKING DAY AND NIGHT. As reported by Reuter's message, the leading ordnance factories and arsenals were working night and day to prepare the munitions of war needed by the army of invasion, whilst the equipment of machine and mountain guns was very perfect. The statement of 25,000 troops made by Reuter, is, however, too low, unless it is intended to apply only to one column. The whole body operating along the Tibetan frontier for the last four years, including of course militia and ordinary bannermen, as well as foreign drilled regulars, is nearer a hundred thousand strong. The units composing that force are strung along a fairly lengthy and very difficult frontier line. They are supplemented by large bodies of farmer settlers, whom they protect, and who find them in transport and supplies. The barbarities and excesses of which the Tibetan lamas and envoys complain have been committed not only in the fighting, but during the work of eviction and resettlement. This is being carried on by the Chinese along quite Cromwellian lines. The work is in the hands of H. E. Chao Erh-feng, who is styled Commissioner of Defences in Szechuan and Tibet, and of President Shou Chi, of the Mongolian Superintendency. That Commissioner Chao Erhfeng is a strong man, from the Chinese point of view, is certain, though there may be debate as to his enlightenment. INTRIGUES. Early in January some interesting correspondence passed between Pekin and these officials, upon the subject of Tibet. For the last four years intrigues, constantly increasing in strength, have been ii train, having for their object the centring in Chinese hands of all the- religious and political as well as military power in Tibet. Not only was the Dalai Lama put on one side by the AngloChinese agreement, but the Chinese introduced a tremendous innovation in the selection of the child who is to be the Dalai Lama, the "Living Buddha." j Breaking through all the traditions and practice of the centuries, they decreed that the Dalai Lama should be chosen by lot. The Chinese officials and troops in Lhasa itself, even before the last military advance, showed themselves more than careless of the feelings, social and religious, cf the- Tibetans. Insults an 3 looting were common. It seemed as though deliberate attempts were being made to foment the rebellion that the Tibetan lamas threatened if driven to despair. Last October the Imperial Government sent instructions to T. E. Chao Erh-feng and Lien Yu, the Resident, to take precautions against a rising, and to draw up suggestions for the fifm government of the dependency. In January, it is true, the Prince Regent commanded President Shou Chi to consider some policy that would win the affection of the Dalai Lama. "MAKING FACE." But subsequent events showed this to be in the nature of "making face." It certainly did not fit in with the ideas of H.-E. Chao Erh-feng, Commissioner of Defences, who sent a telegram to the Pekin Government, in which he cited the policy of Great Britain in India and that of Japan in Korea, and urged thai, to reorganise the dependency of Tibrt, China has more right to resort to foyce than the other two Powers had in the case of India and Korea. He said that violence would be very beneficial in securing reform and authority, and asked for more troops and munitions. To this the Government evidently agree. It also, about the same time, I gave orders for extensive military | manoeuvres to be carried out m Yunnan ! and Szechuan, where there had been 10-* cal revolts, due to excessive taxation, to make up for loss of opium revenue. Thereafter H.-E. Chao Erh-feng reported to the Central Government that some banditti bad again created disturbances in various places," and he was trying to exterminate them. This marked the final phase of the advan<x; upon Lhasa. That advance was a difficult and costly operation. It seemr to have succeeded admirably, however. It i? certain that China, whost, habit ie to attempt the acquirement of several ells for each inch granted her, will try and extend the Tibetan claims and intrigues to our frontier States, and that she will disturb Bhutan, Sikkim, and Nepal, whilst the three treaty trade posts will be turned into engine- of financial and diplomatic squeeze. The question now arises what ylll the Government of India do? Its 'me would Le certain and clear enough but for the existence of an anaemic and f-sck'ess Party Government ii? Enghn-l.