Tsao Tui, for the first time since his name came before the general public, Is the object of some sympathy and commiseration. If Feng Y-hsiang, immediately "after his coup, had taken out both Tsao Kun and Tsao Jui and had had them publicly executed, certain of the Ghibli militarists might have made an outery but it is absolutely safe to say that the general public, including foreigners, would have manifested no great disapproval Now, whatever the real circum-+ stances are, a mystery surrounds Trao Jui's death upon which the general public, already. so bitterly hostile to Feng Yii-hsiang, has put the worst possible construction, well known of course that the Tsao brothers have both suffered from kidney trouble for years and that Tsao Jui in particular has been virtually an invalid over long periods. Tt is also attested: by the Union Medical College" authorities that he died of diabetes. If he had died two months ago therefore, a few politicians of his own particular' lique might have been somewhat distressed but the rest of China would, have dismissed the incident with a shrug and a few uncharitable remarks. The public attitude hi been completely altered by the circumstances under which he died.
Up to the very hour of his death ho remained Feng Yi-hsiang's prisoner. While abandoning all participation in the new regime ect up-by Marshal Tuan and sulking. it a temple in the Western Hills, Feng insisted upon retaining control of the official prisoners, Tsao Kun and Tsao Jui and the Emperor Honan Tung, or Mr. Henry P'u Yi asthe local' papers now call him. The Teno brothers are said to have deen inadequately provided with food and to have been lodged in cold quarters. When Tsao Jui became desperately ill he was pot taken at once to a hospital but to a police station where he was held for atime and.did not enter the hospital until he was in a comatose and dying. condition. Whatever the facts are, the public knows. that. the Chihli leaders throughout the country will make political capital
construction upon it. They thin and li put, tet ow "that Tsao Jui's acute lings was brought on' by bad treatment whil mye Sri Pong Yi-hsiang's hates died of neglect. It, them,, with, another for elimination from public affairs and) {his punishment, a demand to which Chang Tso-lin' and Tun Chi-jui irritated as they are by the Christian General's behaviour throughout their relations with him, will be inclined to accede as soon as they are in a position to do so._ This incident helps to make trouble more imminent, hence it has added in no small degree to the jumpiness of the local population.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.