"BOY-EMPEROR"

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 102, 4 May 1925, Page 16

"BOY-EMPEROR"

STORY OF HIS ESCAPE FROM CHINA

ENGLISH TUTOR'S RUSE.

It has already been announced that the "Boy-Emperor" of China has left Pekin and taken refuge in the Japanese quarter oi Tientsin, states a correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph." The method adopted to ensure his flight to Tientsin is yet to be heard, hut the story of his escape from the Chinese city into the Legation quarter of Pekin ha? \recently come to light. ' After Feng Yu-hsiang's coup d'etat the young Emperor was removed from the Imperial Manchu Palace in the Forbidden City and placed in one of the minor Manchu houses in the Chinese city, under a strong guard of Feng Yuhsiang's men. For some time he was not allowed to see anyone, and was. in fact, kept a close prisoner, notwithstanding statements to the contrary which appeared in an inspired Press. None of his relatives, nor his English tutor, was allowed access to him. After the arrival of Tuan Chi-jui and Chang Tso-lin. however, the strict surveillance which had at first been maintained was relaxed a little, and it was intimated to the y^ung Emperor-that he would be'allowed to select a residence in the east city. He was even allowed to go for motor drives accompanied by his .English tutor, but also accompanied by two armed retainers, who would perhaps be better da scribed as warders, standing on the running boards of his car. He was never allowed out without this escort. The Emperor's tutor, a Chinse scholar of distinction, naturally speaks "mandarin fluently, and his conversations with the Emepror during their drives were intended for the ears of the guards. After the suspicions of the guaxdsMhad been lulled by several uneventful drives. tb« tutor sugested to the Emperor that they should visit a bouse in the East City, which might be suitable as a residence! The house was duly inspected and its> merits discussed.. "Let us visit the photographer's shop and get the prints of the Summer Palace that were taken the other day," sai£ the tutor. According to the Protocol of 1900 no armed Chinese troops are allowed inside the Legation quarter, and the photographer's shop in question is just inside its boundary. The car with its armed guard stopped just outside; the Emperor and his tutor strolled to the shop,' choso some prints, and strolled back to the car and made as if to enter. \Vith his foot on the step, tho tutor said in a loud voice, to be heard and understood by the guards, "The doctor's consiliin"room is round the corner; while we are here would it not be as well to see him about the internal disorder from which you have suffered of late?" Upon the Emperor agreeing, they left the car and walked round to the doctor's consultinsrroom, which is in the German Hospital, and well within the limits of the Legation quarter.

The Emperor having teen safely deposited there, the tutor, commendin<Inm to the doctor's care, rushed round from Legation to Legation, asking if any of them would house the young Emperor. Fear, of diplomatic complications prevented most of them from offering him an asylum, but at last the Japanese Legation was visited, and it seemed possible that they might consider the matter. In the end it was agreed that they would take him in; one of the secretaries houses was made ready for his reception, and he walked over from the German Hospital to the Legation, there to take up his residence. The guards in the meantime were waiting at the car aiuT wondering what had happened to their charge They are still wonder'"lh' haTO any heads to wonder

Ihere is no doubt that the youn°- Emperor s life was in danger while he was in his semi-captivity, and the general feeling amongst the foreign community of Pekm was one of relief that he had escaped with his life. He was virtually i^F! 8?." 01' °f Fe"f Yu-hsiansr's, the Christian General/ 1 and the fate of Isao-jui, the last President's brother was not calculated to give confidence to any other 'guests" of Feng. It is stated on good authority that Tsao-jui was turned out into an open courtyard entirely naked and left out there all night. _ In the bitter North China winter, with about 30dcg of frost it is not surprising that he developed pneumonia ' He was taken into the the Pekin Union Medical College Hospital, where he died shortly afterwards, as surely murdered as it he had been shot through the brain. • . c

. T' 10S<?. who kn°v the harmless and uiotlensive na-tnre of the younrr Emperor will rejoice that l,e has now made his escape into the foreign concessions of Jienlsm, and is there comparatively safe from some of his bloodthirsty compatri