Peking, Aug, 20, With the autumn harvest of opium in full swing in many provinees of China, the transportation of opium has become a major factor in the conduct of civil wars in some parts of the country. Military leaders have taken over the opium traffic almost entirely in several provinces, and their problem is to get it to the principal markets safely.
Recently foreign travellers Inner Mongolia have been interested to observe that. a large number of northern soldiers have been stationed along the caravan routes along which automobiles may travel competition with camels. This route is infested by bandits, but usually soldiers do not trouble them, Inquiring as to the cause of the soldiers' presence this autumn, the travellers were informed that large shipments of opium are being brought from Shensi and Kansu provinces, the "famine area" by this round-about route, for the benefit of military commanders in the north, Missionaries in Shensi, which suffered a severe famine last winter, estimate that at Toast 40 per cent. of the land in some parts of the province was planted in the opium poppy, in spite of the lack of food. Of all the land in the province, at least 15 per cent, is estimated to have been planted in opium. The farmers are compelled by excessive taxes imposed in advance to plant the poppy or actually lose money on their labours.
Ordinarily, opium from Shensi and Kansu would be brought out along the Lunghai railway, but this territory is infested by bandits this year, all of Feng Vu-hsiang's soldi-cers being engaged in the civil war further east, so that protection has been withdrawn from unfortunate residents to the west. and north, and from the opium routes. Bandits are always eager to seize shipments of opium, as it is readily transport and marketed. Therefore, the opium is being brought around through Inner Mongolia and thence through Peking and Tientsin, It is suggested that military commanders in Shensi and Kansu do not care to send their opium through Feng Yuchsiang's territory, as they have no assurance it would arrive safely at its destination. Opium is used by many. military commanders 10 provide the sinews of war.
Another major movement in the civil war south of the Yangtze is attributed (o opium transportation, Opium is one of the major products of Yunnan province, a remote district free from the influence of either of the contending factions in the civil war.
Recently 20,000 Yun were reported toh native province and invaded Kwangsi. Their commander announced that he was taking the side of Nanking in the civil war and was engaged in a "punitive expedition" against the rebels in Kwang:
But reliable foreign reports from Kwangsi suggest another explanation of this movement, The opium crop has been harvested in Yunnan, these reports declare, and the "punitive expedition" is actually a huge escort for large opium shipments owned by the Yunnanese military commanders. They are taking no chances on the valuable shipments being seized by rival United Press. have ever been, He was puritanical and strictly enforced his ruling that officials could not smoke or drink while at work, and made all leading officials come to work at six o'clock in the morning.
The youthful mayor was sent to Shantung by Marshal Yen to drive Chiang Kai-shek's troops out of [Tsinanfu, and succeeded. Differences arose, however, between the mayor arid General Fu. Tso-yi, ranking Shansi general and dissension is blamed to a considerable extent for defeat of the Shansi armies in Shantung.
Chang Yin-wa has been put full charge of the Shansi armies, with instructions to reorganize them for a new offensive, General Fu Teo-yi's name ix no longer mention. ed here, ea he is presutied fo be. mit
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