CHINA TO-DAY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 125, 28 May 1936, Page 9

CHINA TO-DAY

MILLIONS UNDER ARMS THE MILITARY SCOURGE r Tiiat the lack of unity and organisation in China since the overthrow of the Manchu dynasty in 1912 was caused ■ largely by the despotic rule of milii tary leaders whose word was law is the opinion of Mr. H. W. Funnel), of the China Inland Mission, who is at present on furlough in Christchurch (states the Press). In an interview, Mr. Funuell, who has spent 23 years in China, said that since the 1912 revolution chaos had been spreading and corruption among officials had become rife. There had been steady increases in the military forces, civil strike leading to open brigandry. In China to-day, h e said, ' there were between two and" three millions of soldiers under arms. Jn Szechwan, Western China, the province from which lie came, there were at least ' 500.000 soldiers in arms. Life and pro- ; perty were extremely unsafe. Under Various War Lords These vast numbers of soldiers were • divided iuto factions under various leaders or war lords who heavily oppressed the neighbouring people. In some places taxes were paid up to 5) years in advance, certain people giving as much as one-half of their entire income to lhe military. Of course, the ordinary soldier received little compensation from these levies, the greater portion lining the pockets of the commanders. Apparently no successful method of extortion affected the scruples of these leaders, but this grave injustice had been partly responsible for the recent Chinese economic movement. About eight years ago, he said. Russian influence began to predominate, thousands of students flocking to Moscow to study at the colleges opened specially for the “toilers of the East.” On returning to China those students found ready material in the ill-paid soldiery. The many thousands who were influenced became the “Red Forces,” whose headquarters were in Central China. These “Soviets” at one time numbered 80,000,000 people who were all under Soviet rule. Chiang Kai-Shek’s Influence When General Chiang Kai-Shek started his reforming purge of China those forces were largely cleared from Central China. One result was that Western China suffered severely. About three years ago these dispersed forces began to overrun the surrounding provinces, burning, looting, killing, torturing and committing atrocities. Blood flowed like water. Hundreds of thousands were annihilated. Whole populations fled. ”l n our city,’* said Mr. Funnel!, “there were boys' and girls’ schools, well-equipped hospitals, a training college for Christian leaders and many mission houses. The whole city was looted clean; graves were desecrated, and valuables burned and destroyed.” Ironically enough, as Mr. Funnell said, the name of the city— Paoning—was equivalent to the English “Assured peace..” Mr. Funuell, who accompanied Bishop Holden, head of the diocese of Western China, saw the evidences of the people’s indescribable suffering, and of the destruction and waste. Describing General Chiang KaiShek as the leading man of China today, he said that this man had been able to clear the provinces and restore a measure of peace. Chiang Kai-Shek aimed to abolish the opium industry in five years. The opium trouble was particularly felt in Western China, where one-fifth of the cultivable soil had been used for growing opium poppies. This nefarious industry, too, was sponsored by the military for revenue purposes. Kai-Shek’s future reform movements included the construction of roads and communications, and a purge of the armies by cashiering unsuitable officers. Willi the people behind him, he believed that a persistent and selfsacrificing spirit could ultimately regenerate China. Given time, said Mr. funnell, Chiang Kai-Shek would produce unity in China. If Japan’s aim was true to appearance it was part : y to obtain land and partly to place a monarchal block—lnner Mongolia—between . itself and Russia. With Japan’s imperialism on one side and Russia’s Communism on the other and with China’s present responsive attitude it was surely time to strike while the iron was hot. The influence the British exerted on China’s destiny today would certainly have far-reaching effects, especially upon the future of Australia and New Zealand. Living Conditions in China Tn the usual Chinese city houses were all connected, alleyways being very occasional, the rooms opening into courtyards. Conditions were crowded and unhealthy, the buildings flimsy, and repairing almost unknown. In the country mud walls and thatched roofs were general, tiles being a luxury of the rich. Living standards were low, men living on about 8s a month according to our currency. The system of town government was by a military head—a magistrate or Mayor, who held Court sessions, and could impose sentence of life or death. A head man responsible to ths military commander patrolled each street, the official police being scarcely efficient in view of the hopeless weakness against the soldiers. Except for the capitals, which could boast electricity, China still depended >n oil for its lighting. There were few radios, and entertainment was limited to Chinese theatricals which were :n the main historical, public an] rather gaudy displays which took place in lhe courtyards or temples. Against this, the number of motorcars was increasing, old roads were being widened and new ones laid down. and buildings were being erected on modern lines. The education system, too, had passed from its primitive beginnings. Western educational systems were now prevalent and compulsorily standardised. The one great lack was discipline among the students, who had recourse to strike to show disapproval of superiors, and who “cribbed” and were generally unmanageable during examinations.