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his character.
In 1924 a fire (believed to have been caused
by himself) broke out at a large military camp in Peking, formerly used by the Imperial Guards, but at that time occupied by Feng's troops, He immediately ordered all communications between this camp and the palaces to be cut off, and during the cessation of communication over 400 trucks laden with curious and other valuables were seen to be going to this camp. This method of pilferage was not the first to which he resorted. In the eleventh year of the Republic, when his troops entered Kaifeng, he cut off all communications with the residence of Chao Ti, the then Tuchun of Honam, and had $5,000,000 worth of gold and silver bars, silver coins and banknotes belonging to Chao removed to his own quarters.
Feng as Arbiter of China's Fate.
7. At present Feng Yu-hsiang seems to hold the scale, as it were; and whichever side that can secure his help will be more likely to prevail over the rest. But he is now universally hated and feared. Will the people let him have supreme power in the country? The Kuomintang will certainly not. provinces in South China must on no account let him come down.
8.
Borodin
The
Borodin was never in favour of the Northern Expedition. His original idea was to consolidate the position of the "reds" in Kwongtung, Kwongsi, Yunnan and Szechuen before embarking on any military adventures. He was opposed to doing things in a hurry. Feng has been quite friendly to him; and if the rumour that Feng is now having him detained is true, Feng's action must have been prompted by his officers. Borodin's return to Russia via Chinese Turkestan and Ili will not do China any good: trouble is bound to come again from Russia through
these parts.