Directory_and_Chronicle_1918 — Page 686

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CHINA-PEKING

tary movement against Chang Hsun, and within a few days troops from all directions were marching upon Peking. The Dictator's forces made a feeble attempt to resist the advance from Tientsin and retired in disorder upon the Temple of Heaven. Though surrounded, Chang Hsun declined to surrender. All attempts to compromise failed and on the morning of 12th July the farcical battle of Peking was fought. The Republican artillery made good practice and, firing over the Legation Quarter, soon had Chang Hsun's headquarters within the Imperial city in flames. Meanwhile his men within the Temple of Heaven enclosure were putting up some semblance of a fight, but by noon it became obvious that hostilities would not be prolonged. This force agreed to surrender on condition that each member received three months' pay, while the other force within the Imperial city inelted away. The total military casualities were estimated at about forty, but of course the number of civilians killed or injured was greater. Chang Hsun escaped from the Imperial city in a motor car and found an asylum in the Dutch Lega- tion where he still remains interned as a political refugee. A demand for his extradition on the part of the Government was not entertained. Thus ended the twelve days of midsummer madness.

Tuan Chi-jui, hailed as the saviour of the country, reorganised the government which once more became republican in name and pledged to republican institutions, thus depriving his opponents of their stock argument that he was anti-republican. President Li, after his many mistakes, resigned from the Presidency and in due course, Vice-President Feng Kou-chang came from Nanking and assumed the acting presidency. When it became known that the Government declined to reconvoke Parliament, the Kotimingtang leaders moved to Canton and formed a so-called parliament which formally declared war on Germany. The determination of the North to fight against the South was rendered nugatory by the impossibility of moving troops owing to the extensive autumn floods, and the division between the North and the South has continued to the present time without any immediate promise of compromise. There is no doubt that the Southerners are anxious to set up the Republic of South China, but it is doubtful if the Powers interested in China will sanction such an arrangement. A diversion was created in November, when the Tuchuns of Kiangsi, Kiangsu and Hupeh memorialised the President in favour of the reconvocation of Parliament and a settlement with the South. As these leaders were under the control of Feng Kuo-chang himself it became obvious that the President was intriguing against the Premier who promptly resigned, then reconsidered his decision at the request of the President, resigned again, this time finally. The President found that it was not easy to obtain a successor but ultimately Wang Shih-chen was induced to become Premier and to form a Cabinet. Feng Kuo-chang's ideas on the subject of compromise with the South did not commend themselves to the Northern Tuchuns who took the bit between their teeth and declared that they would carry on the war themselves, a course which com- pelled the President to identify himself with them and to make their action official.

Thus 1917 closes with China divided against itself, and the military North pledged to fight till the 1ebel South is conquered.

The year 1917 is also noteworthy for the disastrous floods which devastated huge areas in the north of China and caused widespread misery and distress. In Chihli alone three million people are in receipt of relief. Another important event was the decision of the Powers to sauction the revision of China's import tariff, the details of which are to be negotiated by commissioners representing the Entente and China.

PEKING

天順 Shun-tien

The present capital of China was formerly the Northern capital only, as its name denotes, but it has long been really the metropolis of the Central Kingdom. Peking is situated on a sandy plain 13 miles S. W. of the Pei-ho river, and about 110 miles from its mouth, in latitude 39 deg. 54 min. N. and longitude 116 deg. 27 min. E., or nearly on

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