CHINESE WARS MANY SIDED.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16606, 9 December 1924, Page 4

CHINESE WARS MANY SIDED.

RETURNED MISSIONARY (lIVES INTERESTING STORY OF RECENT MOVEMENTS.

SHANGHAI PROTECTED,

Kev.. K. C. Walker, missionary of the China Inland Mission in (he Anliwei Province, passed through Vancouver mi liis way to England oh furlough, "dr. Walker has had occasion to see much of the flighting that is going on between the Chihli parly and its opponents, which is now centering around Shanghai, In an interesting manner Mr. Willker discussed the . situation as seen through the missionaries' eyes. The battle is a purely political one, there is no evidence that the people of the provinces are in any way interested in the dispute. In any exeat they pay the piper. NORTHERN ARMY STRONG. The provinces which now support the Chihli, or northern party, are Chihli, Shantung, Honau, Anhwei, Jiiangsi, Kiaugsu, Fukicu, Hupeh, Shensi, and Szchuan. Hunan and Kansu are favorable to Chihli, and Yunnan, Kwcichow, Kwangsi, and Shansi are neutral. {, This leaves only Chekiang and Kwangtung actively opposed, with Manchuria looking on hoping for a chance to strike a blow for themselves.

To understand the situation, Mr. Walker states, it is necessary to remember that the Central Government at Pekin is a Government in name only. The source of revenue which they control are the customs, the Post Office and the Salt Gabelle (administration). This latter is earmark* ed to, pay the indemnities claimed by foreign countries for previous wars. Hence but Aery little money flows into the Pekin coffers.

On the other hand each governor of a province collects the taxes from the people and uses the entire amount in the management of internal affairs. The governors are all military men and of course the maintenance of the army is the first; charge. The way to become rich in China is not to enter business, but to get into the Government service. Many governors become millionaires in a few years and magnificent palaces are maintained in the "foreign" sections of cities so that a place of refuge is ready should popularity wane. MILITARY LEADERS POWERFUL.

Wu Pei Fu, the leader of the Chihli party, now seems to'have gained control of the.majority of the military governors and it is only a question of time when he will gain complete victory in the present fighting. Chang Tso Lin, in Manchuria, was dismissed by the Pekin Govemmeut some time ago, but did not lake his dismissal. He had the money and he had the army, so why should he? Now he is trying to force his way south through Shan Hui Kwan to gel into the fight against General Fu. But Marshal Feng, the Christian general has his stanch and efficient army id the way and has so far kept Lin from advancing.' CHRISTIANS GAIN RESPECT.

An ■.: interesting sidelight on the attitude of the Chinese towards the Christian generals, of whom there tire two, .Feng and,General Chang, was given by Mr. Walker in his statement that following a very successful term as Governor of Hoiian by Marshal, then General Feng, he was given the important position of Inspector,.GeuV oral of the Chinese army and the' title of Marshal. The new honor,' however, carried with it "no means of procuring money for his troops or even for himself, except when a precarious civil Government was able to give him a little. He was too popular and too powerful in his position as Governor of a great province. With .regard to the. foreign residents of Shanghai, Mr. Walker states that there is absolutely no danger. The war .will not be allowed to get near either the International reserve or tho French reserve, where the foreigners BATTLESHIPS READY.

Battle cruisers, gun and torpedo boats of the British, French, Italian, and American navies are stationed along the twenty miles of the Whai Pu river which leads to Shanghai and pickets from the marines and armies of these countries surround the entire district.

The'military governors of the various provinces form a "Duchun clique" and just now the Chihli party seems to bo the most powerful. What the outcome will be no one seems 1 to know, though Mr. Walker s.ces great hope in the manner in which all classes in China are turning to Christianity for a solution of their problems. Even when foreigners have been kidnapped, as he himself was on one occasion, it is only that the brigands may be able to make favorable, terms with an enemy, not for any unfriendly feeling that is held to the foreigner.