BANDITS WHO DOMINATE CHINA.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 7 April 1927, Page 10

BANDITS WHO DOMINATE CHINA.

China’s destiny now depends uponthe fate of three ex-bandits, one of whom was once a Christian (says a special cable to the Sydney Sun). Such is the amazing result of the recent Southern successes.

With the elimination of powerful, but independent war lords, the Chinese puzzle is now straightening out, resulting in ’the country being divided into three great parties: Firstly, the Kuomintang, or National Peoples’ Party, represented by the Cantonese; secondly, the Ankuochun, or “Pacify the People Party,” composed of the northern forces; and, thirdly, the Kuominchun, or National People’s Army, which, under Fen Yo-hsiang, remains a mysterious and unknown force in Mongolia. General Chiang Kai-Shek, the military leader of the Kuomintang, formerly led ah armed robber gang in the Shanghai settlement. The remainder of the gang was captured in 1916, but Chiang Kai-Shek escaped. Whenever Shanghjaji newspapers want a photograph of Chiang KaiShek a reporter goes to the municipal police, where a warrant still remains. If the Cantonese captured Shanghai, the police could legitimately arrest Chiang on a charge of armed robbery, although the Consular bodies would probably give him a diplomatic reception. Chang Tsung-chang is nominally a vassal of Chang Tso-lin. He has been a coolie, a white-slaver, and a murderer, and to-day owns the biggest harem in China. But he retains all his ignorant brutality. His mistresses are beheaded on the least provocation. He has even used his women to eliminate his rival, Chang Tso-lin’s son. The latter promised to be one of China’s ablest men, but had a weakness for pretty women. Chang traded on this failing, and sent more and more presents in the shape of beautiful Chinese girls until Chang Tso-lin Junior has now lost all ambition to succeed his father as a great war lord. Bandit to Millionaire. Chang Tso-lin himself is the most powerful Tupan in China. As the head of the Northern forces, he has £6,000,000 in hard cash, which can be withdrawn at any moment. He has also many millions more in land and property. Pie was formerly a bandit. Lastly, there is Feng Yu-hsiang, the “C'hristain general.” An ex-farm coolie, he used his Christianity to gain supremacy. He had his entire army baptised one morning, calling in guileless missionaries from the entire province to baptise 800 simultaneously. He has betrayed almost every friend, and has now escaped to Mongolia, where, aided by Russian money, he is waiting his time. Feng is no longer even a professed Christian, but is trying to evolve a new religion, a mixture, of Mohammedism, Communism and Christianity, with Feng Yu-hsiang as the supernatural leader.