Brigadier-Geneval Pao Vu-lin has} for some time been in command here Of the Sth, 65th and Gist Fengtien regiments," the latter two units making up the 47th Brigade. This body of men made up the garrison Of the city of Peking and cooperated with the police in maintaining order, suppressing radicalism and crime, and keeping. visiting soldiery from the surrounding garrisons on their behaviour, In this work moral Pao proved himself remarkably, efficient and his men were behaved and considerate that y little while they were spontaneously complimented by the Chinese commercial organizations. rious army it was sug: gested that the 47th Brigade be ut, but every time such ached the native! population united to petition Chang Tao-lin that General Pao and his troops remain here, 'This is very rare indeed in modern China, because even the best military units usually' impose burdens and annoyances on community which prompt the local elders to hope that a change will bring some amelioration.
When the Fengtien withdrawal in left Peking, the local commercial leaders got together, and suggested that in the event of complete evacuation, the 47th in here under} until the city was taken over by some other responsible force. What was particularly feared was a Communist rising during the interregnum. After Chang Tso-lin's departure, when the Committee of Safety was formed, a direct appeal was made to Genevai Puo himself; and General Wang Shih-chen's Committee unde took to get from the Nationalist Groups a guarantee that if the 47th Brigade would remain until. some other responsible force could take over, it would be permitted to withdraw under arms and unmolested to-Manchuria via Tungchow, the Eastern Tombs and Lanchow. "Such Quarantees obviously had to be secured before this line of retreat had been cut by an enemy force. Phe Diplomatic Body was. therefore persuaded to join in the appeal to the Nationalists for a guarantee and to put their seal upon the guarantee if it were obtained.
Pledive from Nanking and Others Immediately. after the flight of Chang Hsueh-liang and Yang Yoting, the diplomats therefore asked for & guarantee from the Nanking Government, using the. American wireless, and assurances came al-host at once to both the Committee of Safety and the Diplomatic Body that if Pao stayed to preserve order until Yen Hsi-shan's advance units Gould take over the city, General Pao Vu-tin and his mon would be allowed ith all the honours of war, "The message to the Committ of Safety, in which General Pao's 'érvices were mentioned in apprecia ative terms, was conveyed to the Doyen of the Corps on Wednesday, June 6, by Mr, Hsiung Hsi-ling, acting for, General Wang Shih-chen. Other assurances were received from Yen Hsi-shan and individual commanders, including a letter," still preserved, from General Han Fu-chu} to Pao Vu-lin in which an honourable withdrawal was promised the} garrison force. Safety and immune ity from interference were therefore] solemnly pledged by the Nanking} Government, the Diplomatic Body, Governor Yen Hsi-shan and General] [Han Fu-chu, not to mention the Com. mittee of Safety, which, included some men who do not break their pledges lightly.
Alli of these pledges were reiterate. ed and further solemnized on Thursday, June 7, when General Pao, alarmed by the Kuominchun occupation of Tungchow and a generall display of bad faith with Shansi, and] by the bubbling up, of radicalism} within the city, expressed a desire] to move out of the northeast gate] of the city, the Tungehihmen, while there was still an avenue of escape open. Although he still had] with him the majority of his infantry, all his artillery, cavalry, and some of his machine guns, and infantry; had gone on towards Lanchow some days before, so that he! to fight his way forces. This Shansi expressed desire to withdraw and leave the field to the truculent Kuomin chun, moved the Committee of Safety to unusual efforts. The Kuomin chun promised to remain at discreet distance and permit the Shansi units to take over the city and fresh assurances were given. Pao Vu-lin from all con the strength of these he tay in Peking until Friday night] or Saturday morning, although he know that, if the Kuominchun usual, this time to block every road to the east and north-east.
The Broken Word On Friday morning, June 8, General Pao wes notified that the /Shansi advance units were prepared to enter the city ahead of schedule, so he took his departure at once, marching cut of the Chaoyang men in company with Shansi and Kuomin chun staff oticers and members Jof the Committee of Safety. The. gates were closed on the last of his departing column of 1,800 men Jat 9 o'clock, but before sunset they [were all back 4g the east suburb, camping in and" around the Tung Yueh Miao, a great Taoist temple.
The news of what had happened was rather vague that night and it was not until the following morning that the members of the Committee of Safety informed the Diplomatic Body officially that, on Tungchow road, the Kuominchun had blocked Pao's retreat and had Jdamanded his surrender and the farms of his men. At about 11 o'clock on the morning of Saturday, [June 9, therefore, the Netherlands Minister, in his capacity as Doyan, accompanied by the British, American and Japanese Ministers, with a staff of secretaries attaches, proceeded to the Tung Yueh Miao to have the matter out }with any Kuominchun commander vivom they could find there or else where. But when they arrived there was little to be seen. The Kuominchun force from Tungchow had been augmented during the night by a larger Kuominchun force from Nanyuan, Pao's unit had been surrounded under cover the dark-hess and disarmed at daylight. The men of the 47th Brigade were marched away to Nanyuan as Prisoners by the returning Kuomin. chun units; Han Fu-chu had been there and gone. Later it developed that Pao Yulin had entered the city and was living at the Wagons Lits Hotel in the Legation Quarter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.