Directory_and_Chronicle_1927 — Page 614

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署公差欽國美大

CHINA-PEKING

Ta Mei-kuo Ch'in-ch'ai Kung-shü

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA-Peking; Teleph. 919 (Tung-chü); Tel. Ad: Amlegation

Do.

Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenip.-John Van A. MacMurray Counsellor of Legation-F. L. Mayer First Secretary-E. G. Greens

-C. B. Howes Second Secretary-M. Swift Chinese Assistant Secretary and Second Secretary-P. R. Josselyn Third Secretary-W. R. Barker Language Officers-A. S. Chase, L.

Clark and W. M. Newhall, jr. Military Attache-Major J. Magruder Naval Attache-Capt. G. T. Pettengill Commercial Attache-J. Arnold

Assist. Military Attaches-Capts. M. G. Armstrong and S. V. Constant

Assist. Com'l. Attache-A. H, Evans

Lauguage Officers-Capts. T. J. Betts, J. P. Ratay, J. W. Carroll, and C. G. Hutchinson; 1st Lieut. D. Barrett and 2nd Lieut. Helmer W. Lystad

Guard-Peking

Colonels-L. McCarty Little and H..

Matthews

Comdr. (MC) U.S. Navy-C. M. Oman Major-C. F. B. Price

Captains-G. P. Doane, C. H. Brown, Wm. P. T. Hill, R. B. Dwyer and J. M. Pearce

Lieut. (MC) U.S. Navy-N. J. Haverly Lieut. (MCDS) U.S. Ñavy—J. J. Haas- First Lieutenants-Wm. J. Whaling,

Wm. P. Kelly and R. A. Boone Second Lieuts.-Wm. W. Davidson

and R. O. Bare

Quartermaster Clark-S. E. Conley Pay Clerk-C. J. Conroy

Radio Electn., U.S.Navy-J.D. Durkee:

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 Middle 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 the parallel of Naples. A canal connects the city with the Pei-ho. Peking is ill- adapted by situation to be the capital of a vast Empire, nor is it in a position to become a great manufacturing or industrial centre. The products of all parts of China naturally find their way to the seat of Government, but it gives little save bullion in

return.

From Dr. Dennys' description of Peking we quote the following brief historical sketch: "The city formerly existing on the site of the southern portion of Peking was the capital of the Kingdom of Yan. About 222 B.C., this kingdom was over- thrown by the Chin dynasty and the seat of Government was removed elsewhere. Taken from the Chins by the Khaitans about 936 A.D., it was some two years after- wards made the southern capital of that people. The Kin dynasty, subduing the Khaitans, in their turn took possession of the capital, calling it the 'Western Residence.' About A.D. 1151, the fourth sovereign of the Kins transferred the Court thither, and named it the Central Residence. In 1215, it was captured by Genghis Khan. In 1264 Kublai Khan fixed his residence there, giving it the title of Chung-tu or Central Residence, the people at large generally calling it Shun t'ien-fu. In 1267 A.D., the city was transferred 3 li (one mile) to the North of its then site, and it was then called Ta- tu-the 'Great Residence.' The old portion became what is now known as the 'Chinese city, and the terms 'Northern' and 'Southern' city, or more commonly nei-cheng (within the wall) and wai-cheng (without the wall), came into use. The native Emperors who succeeded the Mongol dynasty did not, however, continue to make Peking the seat t of Government. The Court was shortly afterwards removed to Nanking, which was considered the chief city of the Empire until, in 1421, Yung Lo, the third Emperor of the Ming dynasty, again held his Court at Peking, since which date it has remained the capital of China.