Directory_and_Chronicle_1923 — Page 638

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CHINA

proceeded to the "front" to achieve merit. Soon afterwards Wu Pei-fu, General Tsao Kun's lieutenant, developed into a pacifist. He memorialised the Government in favour of peace. He was repudiated by his superior, but it was felt that he had the support of President Feng Kuo-chang. Matters drifted for some months until the assembly of Parliament-called the "Tuchuns" or "Bogus" Parliament in Peking in August, and two months later this body practically unanimously elected Hsu Shih-chang President, than whom it was believed no one was better suited to reunite the country. His labours, however, towards reconcilation did not prove to be very successful, although foreign advice assisted the President, inasmuch as it alarmed the northern Tuchuns, who looked at one time as if they were again going to take charge of affairs. The Peking Government and the Canton Military Government agreed to meet in conference, in Shanghai, to arrange a basis for peace. 1919 is the history of the failure of this conference, each side alleging that the other was insincere. Upon the overthrow of the Kwangsi party by the Cantonese party in Kwangtung towards the end of 1920, the President issued a mandate pro- claiming the restoration of peace and the unification of the country. This mandate, however, was repudiated by Sun Yat-sen, Wu Ting-fang and other leaders of the Constitutional party, who proceeded to Canton, where they re-established the Military Government and, in the early part of 1921, Dr. Sun was elected by his followers at Canton "President of China," although at that time his authority did not extend beyond the province of Kwangtung. Later in the year a successful expedition was launched against General Luk Wing-ting-formerly the chief commander of the military forces supporting the Constitutionalist cause in South China and his followers, who were obliged to relinquish their hold on Kwangsi. Encouraged by this, Dr. Sun, towards the end of the year, initiated a campaign for the conquest of the North. This much advertised "punitive" expedition, however, beyond embroiling Kiangsi in internecine warfare during the summer of 1922, never got within a thousand miles of Peking. Dr. Sun gradually declined in influence, and in 1922 his relations with his principal lieutenant, General Chen Chiung-ming, the Military Governor of Kwangtung Province, steadily cooled until the latter, exasperated by Sun Yat-sen's follies (his military agreement with Chang Tso-lin being the most noteworthy) turned on him and caused his flight from Canton in a British warship (H.M.S. Moorhen) in June, 1922.

In

Important political changes took place in the North during 1920, the Chihli forces, under Chang Tso-lin, marching on Peking und, after some fighting, putting to flight the leaders of the Anfu party who were directing the Government. This step was followed by the reconstruction of the Cabinet. Hostilities took place throughout 1921 in the upper Yangtsze region, arising out of a provincial independence movement in the province of Hunan that extended to the province of Hupeh. A Northern force, under General Wu Pei-fu, was despatched to Hupeh and drove out the invaders, whose territory, in turn, was threatened, unless they abandoned their attitude of revolt. the warfare much damage was done to foreign property at Ichang, and it was necessary for foreign warships to intervene actively for its protection. During the winter months of 1921-1922 there was much political trouble in Peking, both the Manchurian Tuchun, General Chang Tso-lin, and Wu Pei-fu dictating to the Government what it should do. Affairs worked up to a crisis when Liang Shih-yi was made Premier on Christmas Day, 1921, and Wu Pei-fu became exceedingly wrathful with the new Administration. Chang Tso-lin replied to Wu Pei-fu's threats against Peking by moving his troops inside the Great Wall and distributing them along the Peking-Mukden Railway and for a short distance down the Tientsin- Pukow Railway. The climax occurred on April 28th, 1922. The rival forces collided in the neighbourhood of Machang, on the Tientsin-Pukow line, and instantly hostilities commenced on a hundred-mile front which stretched from Machang to Changsintien, 18 miles below Peking. The fighting only lasted a week, Wu Pei-fu's men routing the Fengtien troops completely. Chang Tso-lin afterwards made a stand in the vicinity of Shan-hai-kwan, but finally retired with the remnant of his army to his Manchurian fastnesses, where he is training his men, so it is reported, for another encounter. He has succeeded in regaining his influence over the Three Eastern Provinces. Though he defies the Central Government, Wu Pei-fu has not bothered to complete his victory.

The war had the effect of changing the political outlook completely. The return to Constitutionalism was heralded. Hsu Shih-chang retired from the Presidency on June 11th, and Li Yuan-hung was persuaded the following day to become acting President. Dr. W. W. Yen was made acting Premier on the 18th. A great effort was

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