THE CHINESE WAY

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 110, 10 May 1923, Page 6

THE CHINESE WAY

Great as have been the changes effected in China since it became a republic, they have made but very little difference, in the Chinese way of looking at things. The queue has disappeared and the Homburg hat has become popular, but the Chinese themselves remain much the same as they were under the Manchus. The professions of pirates and highwaymen are still followed, as they have been for centuries, and conducted upon much the same old business lines. In insisting that the Chinese Central Government shall ransom the foreign captives held by Shantung bandits v the" representatives of the Powers are only pressing the officials to do what is generally done in such cases. It would not be surprising if, included in the terms of redemption, positions in the Chinese Civil Service at reasonably comfortable salaries were guaranteed to the leaders of the bandits-; that is quite the Chinese way, and there are abundant precedents for such a course. The unfortunate foreign captives taken in the train-wrecking by Shantung robbers will probably suffer great hardships before they are released. Shantung men come of a hardy and courageous race, and are the equals of Cantonese in daring. Boxerism had a great vogue in Shantung. Of course, the chances of trains being wrecked by robbers will not popularise the wonderful scenery China has to show to tourists. The most serious side of the Shantung capture of foreigners is the risks they will run between engagements of the robbers and the soldiery. Guarantees said to 'be demanded by the United States Government against future similar outrages will be given, but their observance by professional bands of robbers is another thing altogether. All the same, the Chinese have their own ways of dealing with problems of this kind, and they are usually successful.