AIMEEND
A.
401
Canton Goverment, as soon as it was master of Kuang- tung, would devote all its energies to re-establishing law and order in the province, to the extermination of pirates and brigands and to the introduction of a sound fiscal system. But this was not to be; for, under Bolshevik impulse and urged by the ambition to unify China under its own rule, the Canton Soviet in July last launched its "northern punitive expedition" and has ever since had chiefly occupied in conducting a military campaign in Funan, Hupeh and kiang-si to the neglect of the domestic affairs of Kuang-tung itself. This punitive expedition, partly because of Russian Staff- work and equipment, but mainly by means of judicious barcer with hostile Chinese generals, made rapid progress against Marshal u P'ei-fu in Hunan and Fupeh. In Kiang-si, however, it was stoutly opposed by Marshal Sun Ch'uan-fang and his generals. The outcome is still in doubt; but it seems probable that the war will not be fought to a finish, but will and in one of those bargains and compromises so usual among the Chinese. From a contemplation of these recent facts in Cantonese history one thing emerges with startling clearness, namely that, ever since the revolt against President Yuan Shih-k'ai in 1916, the province of Kuang-tung has been a law to itself and has waged intestine warfare uncontrolled by the Peking Government or by any other Government in China. At the resent time civil war is raging throughout China, and there can be no doubt at all that the Canton Soviet regards