War?

China was threatened last week by a civil war of considerable size. Troops were massed upon the border between Chekiang and Kiangsu, two maritime Provinces in the middle of China's long seacoast. Reports were issued to the effect that fighting had started, but no confirmation was obtainable.

Actors. Gen. Wu Pei-fu, Tuchun--of Chihli Province. He is the ablest military mind of China. Under his control is the whole north and centre of China, except Manchuria. He is the Lord Protector of Peking, which is in his province. Although a democrat, he aims at reunifying China by the sword, which policy has brought him into conflict with the Tuchun of Manchuria and Dr. Sun Yatsen, of the South. One of the anomalies of the situation in Peking is that President Tsao-Kun was once an enemy of Gen. Wu. At the time Tsao-Kun was made President of the Chinese Republic (TIME, Oct. 15), Gen. Wu made no opposition and it was alleged that he had been "bought off." Apart from being a military genius, he is a man of culture, scientific and literary. He studies hard. Recently he began to learn English, employed a tutor, gave him his only spare hour--4:30 a. m. to 5:30 a. m. He is known as a "man who speaks softly and carries a big stick."

Gen Chi Hsieh-yuan, Tuchun of Kiangsu, friend of Gen. Wu.

Gen. Lu Yung-hsiang, Tuchun of Chekiang, once military commissioner of Shanghai, an enemy of Gen. Chi. He is about 57 years of age. After he became Tuchun of Chekiang, he had Gen. Ho Feng-lin appointed to the Shanghai post, although Shanghai is not in his Province.

Gen. Ho Feng-lin, military Commissioner of Shanghai, in the Province of Kiangsu. He is about 47 years of age and is under the influence of Gen. Lu.

Marshal Chang Tso-lin, Tuchun of Manchuria, an avowed Imperialist--that is, a Monarchist. He is a young man of great brains and tremendous power, but no match for Gen. Wu, who once sadly defeated him. Manchuria is about the size of Texas and Colorado, forming enough territory in northern China to make Marshal Chang's title of War Lord of the North no empty epithet.

The Row. The cause of the present trouble in China centers in Shang-hai.* So numerous have been the reasons for the rumpus that they have varied with the political complexion of each sinologue interpreter.

The immediate cause is that Gen. Chi wants Shanghai under his thumb. As it is, he thinks the Military Commissioner in Shanghai ought to be a man of his choice. Having tried peacefully to oust Gen. Ho from the Commissionership, he is now resolved to do it by force, which brings him into conflict with Gen. Lu, who is equally determined to preserve his influence in Shanghai.

The general cause of the dispute is inherent in the political chaos which besets China. The Tuchuns, who exercise almost sovereign power in their Provinces, are split up in many factions, due largely to personal jealousies. The immense power which the Tuchuns wield is naturally the greatest obstacle to the reunification of China. China as such is internationally little more than a geographical expression. Nothing short of a civil war between the Centre under Gen. Wu, "biggest man in China," the South under Dr. Sun Yatsen, and the North under Marshal Chang can ever clear away the political strife which for years has thrown the country into annual turmoil.

Warning. Sir Ronald Macleay, British Minister to China and Acting Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, sent the Chinese Foreign Office a note from the Powers reminding the Government of China that it would be held responsible for loss of life and damage to property of foreign nationals. The note read:

"We, the undersigned representatives of Great Britain, Japan, France and the United States, learning of the grave danger of hostilities breaking out between the provincial authorities of Kiangsu and Chekiang, feel it our duty to repeat and reaffirm in the most solemn manner the obligations of the Chinese Government in the present crisis, to prevent loss of life and property to members of the foreign community in and around Shanghai."

Foreign Forces. The principal Powers that are diplomatically represented in Peking keep military and naval forces in China for the protection of foreigners, who are, not subject to the laws of China but to the laws of their own countries, and who are under the jurisdiction of their consulates.

With trouble brewing around Shanghai, ten warships were sent to the harbor to watch over the inhabitants of the city and its outlying area. Rear Admiral David Murray Anderson, of the British Navy, was designated Commander-in-Chief of all foreign vessels: four American, three British, three Japanese.

Peace. It has been said, perhaps too often, that money has frequently stopped a Chinese War. Perhaps with that in view, the Shanghai merchants essayed to bring about agreement between the threatening troops. The chances of success were said to be small.

Attempts were also made to induce both sides to designate a neutral zone surrounding Shanghai. It was not known if they were successful.

* Tuchuns are military governors of the Provinces, or, more popularly, War Lords. They are the republican prototypes of the old Mandarin Viceroys and hold much the same power. Officially, there is no such thing as a Tuchun, the office having been abolished in 1923.

* Shanghai is an extraterritorial foreign settlement situated at the extreme southeat of the Province of Kiangsu. Its great harbor is indispensible to foreign trade in China. Its political importance can be gauged when it is stated that all Chinese political refugees find protection within its borders.