CHINESE UNREST.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 16 April 1926, Page 5

CHINESE UNREST.

RUTHLESS ACTION BY SOLDIERY

FENG THE ONE FORCE FOR, GOOD

So mu oh has lately .been read of the widespread unrest and /practical reign of terror existent in Chinai that views on the situation as expressed by Mr. Alfred Peters, F.R..G.5,., a prominent Rotarian and business man, of Sheffield, England, who arrived in Auckland by the Miarama from Sydney after six months in the East, throws much welcome light on the subject, says the Auckland correspondent of the Dominion.

Mr Peters said that between Haitkow and Peking many villages and townships had been raided by the arrogant soldiery of the Military Governors Chang Tko-ilin and \Vu Pei-fu. One of the most up-to-date railways /in the world, that running between Tientsin and Shanghai, had: been partially destroyed, the carriages having .been seized by troops and converted into officer's quarters. The ruthless action of the soldiers had been responsible for much terror and widespread unrest. The one force for good in China today, said Mr. Peters, was tbe influence of the Christian General Feng YuHsiang, whose troops were well ordered and respected. Feng, however, was not a diplomat, and the united forces of the two opposing generals, Chang Tsolim and Wu Pei-Fu, were expected to prove victorious. Much had been said regarding the principles of the Christian general, but from evidence gained <from personal contact with bis troops, /'Mr. Petens said that General Feng had according to his lights, made every endeavour to infuse Christianity into the members of his army. It was recognised by Britishers and intellectual Chinese that Feng was the salvation of China. There was a fear, however, that he would be unsuccessful in his attempt to gain control of the reins of government. Everyone, said Mr Peters, had become accustomed to the fighting, and were taking fresh outbreaks as a matter of course. Business was flourishing, and never before had apathy been so widespread. Foreign Governments were watching their concessions, and were mindful of their people, and gunboats were always field in readiness should dn anti-foreign outbreak occur.