Directory_and_Chronicle_1932 — Page 446

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CHINA

seize the Customs revenue of Kwangtung so that it should not be used to finance Northern operations against him. This difficulty solved itself by the announcement made by the Inspector-General of Customs that there was no surplus revenue to dispose of. Dr. Sun remained in control of Canton until October, 1924, when the Merchants Volunteers' revolt against extortionate taxation and confiscation led to a serious armed conflict in the streets of the City and to the destruction by fire of a large portion of the business section in the western suburb of Saikwan, as described at greater length in the Canton section of this volume. The war between. Wu Pei-fu and Chang Tso-lin in the north provided Sun with a welcome pretext for leaving a region where he was beset by constantly increasing embarrassments.

Important political changes took place in the North during 1920, the Chibli forces, under Chang Tso-lin, inarching on Peking and, 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. In 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 Premie 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 in his Manchurian fastnesses and succeeded in regaining his influence over the Three Eastern Provinces.

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, 1922, and Li Yuan-hung was persuaded the following day to become acting President, on receiving definite assurances from the military powers that they would support his demands for "sweeping reforms" in the Chinese Army. These reforms included the disbandment of superfluous troops and "an absolute abolition of the Tuchunate system" as tlie "key to a thorough organisation of the country's finances." A great effort was made to secure the return to Peking of all the M.Ps. who were dismissed in 1917 and a date was fixed-August 1st-for the reconvocation of Parliament. The President soon had occasion to complain that the war lords had totally ignored their pledges to himself and the country. Twice, at least, he declared publicly that he would not submit to their dictation, which manifested itself over the appointment of provincial officials and brought about the resignation of two Cabinets as a protest. Yet, despite his brave words, Li Yuan Hung submitted. Finally, in June, 1923, he fled from Peking to the British Concession at Tientsn, though still claiming to be President. For some months after that the Cabinet continued the administration, until on October 5th Marshal Tsao Kun was elected Chief Executive by an overwhelming majority of the Electoral College, the necessary quorum being obtained, it is said, by bribery. At the same time the New Constitution was com pleted and approved. In September, 1924, a war broke out between the provinces of Chekiang and Kiangsu, which led to the long-impending conflict between Wu Pei-fu and Chang Tso-lin, who entered the lists for the ostensible purpose of supporting the claims of their respective partisans. A very sanguinary battle was fought at Shanhai- kwan, in which the forces of Wu Pei-fu were badly defeated owing to the defection of Feng Yu-hsiang, "the Christian General," who commanded a large portion of Wu's army, which had been assigned to prevent Chang's march on the capital by way of Jehol. Instead of proceeding to Jehol, Feng waited until Wu had left Peking for the front and then turned back and seized the capital, without resistance, announcing