While other Chinese' militarists have been fighting for their own existence and that of their armies, the dictator of Manchuria, Chang Houeh-liang, has been playing ike boy at Peitaiho, the leading sum: mer resort of North China, and in nis home in. Mukden, For the first time' since he sue~ ceeded his father, Chang Tso-lin, the ruler of Manchuria, the "yo fear of assassination, Old Chang. was killed bya bomb, and his nas feared a similar fate. 1 summer, for the first time, his fears com to" have evaporated, However, even if young Chi Joos not wear an actual crown, his head. may well rest uneasy. Twice luring the summer rumours were current in Peking that attempts had been made to assassinate him. Tt happens the rumours were unter but they suggest constant danger.
The young marshal goes nowhere without his picked bodyguard, num-pering 1,000 of the best Chinese soldiers. "They have been proven faithful to him, and could probably resist any attempt to kill their master. The guard accompanied him in special trains to Peitaiho, and 20 or more followed him every" where he went.
While he was at Peitaiho, one of the Manchurian generals at Shanhailowan was reported to have been won over" by emissaries of Chiang Kai-shek to participate in the civil wars in China. By the reported nyreement, this general was to take Tientsin and demoralize the Shans forces.
'According to the story printed here, which seems probable, the Shanhaikwan genoyal ganta' messenger to Young Chang, suggesting that: Manchuria enter the war on the side of Nanking. The sugges-!
enraged young Chang, and he ed the messenger." Martial was declared immediately, showing the fears which quickly reappear in any crisis.
However, the Manchurian overlord thoroughly enjoyed his holidays. He went about the summer resort informally attired, with only the Yodyguard at his heels to distinguish him from commoner folk.
There are no street lights in taiyo, and it is customary to carry flash-lights at night, Young Chang acquired a flash-light several times more powerful than any other there, and took delight in flashing it in the face of persons he met. This often proved startling, and his aides teaved that some unreasonable for-tiger, not knowing who the joker might be, should lose his temper and retaliate forcibly.
In case of any such unpleasant episode, the following bodyguard would certainly have interfered, to the distress of the assailant. Fortunately nobody took exception to the young marshal's practical joke ing, and he amused himself several times with his powerful flashlight.
Speaking to his friends, Marshal Chang has been frankly disgusted with the civil war in China proper, and declared he would not join it under any circumstances. "My father Jost $1,000,000,000 in China proper,"-he said. "I'will not lose 8 copper if T can help it"—United ress,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.