Dee. 7.
The mutiny of General Shih Vu-san's traps at Pukow has given rise to the usual crop of Sinister rumours. These will not be lessened by the further mutiny at Anking, and the reports of fighting. at Ita and Tehang. Details regarding the Jatter are missing at the moment of writing, but, the outbreak undoubtedly seems serious. At Anking there was the usual thorough looting, and, to make the situation more ominous, the mutineers are some of General Shih Vu-san's troops; and" are apparently now on their way to join their comrades on the Tien-_ tsin-Pukow Railway. What part General Shih himself is playing we do not at present know. There is an unconfirmed report that he is at Pengpu. If this is tr it naturally adds to the gravity of the mutiny.
It cannot be denied that the situation which confronts Nanking is ugly. Pukow was looted with exceptional thorough-and, to make matters the troops carried elf practically all the rolling-stock, thus increasing the difficulty of operations against them. They are now said to be entrenched along the railway near to Hsuchow fu, cutting communications with the Government forces who are still operating in Shensi against the Kuominchun. A further report of much significance, if true, is that Mr. Chao Tai-wen, General Yen Hsi-shan's representative in Nanking, is on his way to rejoin him, Mr. Chao has certainly left the capital, and it is perhaps inevitable at such a time that reports should spread of General Yen Hsi-shan being at the back of the whole movement. Finally, if Nanking can send no troops to help the loyal party in Kuangtung, there appears a real possibility of General Chang Fa-kuei, whose army is undoubtedly intact, ting possession of Canton, "This would provide the Left Wing Party with the base they need, and must constitute a formidable rival to Nanking.
'These are the facts as far as they can be seen at present. Even if they are no worse, they are bad enough, but nothing is to be gained by blinking them. In a word, the revolt at Pukow was not a common mutiny, but an additional chapter in' the Government's struggle with the Kuominchun. On the other hand, the strength of the Government is that it is still the Government. It has the prestige of recognition by the Powers and of having held office now for eighteen consecutive months. If it has failed to make good all the promises too rashly given, it can point to certain tangible performances on the credit side; the new Custom Treaties for ex ample, and the fact that the Powers are ready to hold a conference with it on the question of extraterritoriality. China's credit abroad has been strengthened by the re-establishment of the Salt Gabelle, and the provision made for the loans secured upon it. Internally railways have been got going again, many new roads have been built and social work commenced, particul-n respect of public health, which should not be ignored.
In thus calling attention what the Nanking administration have done, we have no interest any other faction. No foreigner could presume to pronounce in favour of one party in China more than for another.
Undoubtedly, Nanking has failed in many respects, Any one else would also probably have failed in just as many, owing to the complexity of existing problems. Naturally, foreigners cannot judge of Chinese administrators as their own fellow-countrymen can, But, as onlookers, they may in some respects "see more clearly than those more intimately interested in the difficult period through which China necessarily is passing. The two questions which force themselves upon the onlooker are these: Are the deficiencies of Nanking such as really to justify its opponents in going to war? And, perhaps more particularly, what real improvement in the state of the country can war be expected to bring? Imagine, for the sake of argument, that the. present Government is driven from the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.