NEWS FROM CHINA

Hokitika Guardian, 14 November 1927, Page 4

NEWS FROM CHINA

“SAYS SERGEANT MURPHY

(By A. I’. Garland, in "The English

Review.”)

“What’s tlie news from China?” asked Meddle. “.My sister’s hoy is in the Hanipsliires in Shanghai." “The news,” answered Sergeant Murphy, “ is that the Hithernotional Frinds of Peace have passed eight resolutions i: 1 favour of China, bein’ given hade to the Chinese, all debts to he remitted, all ” “I don't mean that.” said Meddle. “I mean about the war." “For the moment, said the sergeant, “the war is not on. There’s an intherval between the innings. They're Mold in’ an auction of the different aries. and all the war-lords are biddin’ up to the limit to secure cont hro!.

"There was a knowledgeable man at the office to-day who's spini seven years in China, ami I had a talk with him. Me was explainin' to me how the Chinaman has at last been roused out of his lethargy. “The ordinary Chinaman, it seems, has not known tin till now that he stood for a united count low agon the European oppressor. Ho was too busy earnin’ a living. Tie only knew the hit of land around his own field, and whin a Chinaman from the north, met. wan from the south they hacked from wan another. buttonin' their pockets hurriedly. Ho whin the fellahs that have been to Europe and America came to him and said, ‘You’re a slave beneath the barrow of the eleven hoof if Imperialism.’ they thought it was a compliment, and wont on diggiu’ with a wooden spade.

“TTut whin the chap from Canton wint on to talk business, the other fellah pricked up his ears. Tie was told that China was crowded with foreign diviis ownin’ all sorts of property which they had stolen, be payin’ for it. from the helpless native, and that if he rallied around the good'old flag he’ he well in the front seats when the disthribution came off. “That did the thrick The la-b----ourin’ man took tho catli and wint off to dhraw his ration of shark’s fins, and before be knew where lie was be been mo a soldier of Mineral Bing. In a few months’ time all China was infested with armies commanded lc Fings. ’l’ings, Pings, and the divil knows what. The giant had risen from his slumbers. China was awake.

“Xuw. even a Chinaman must eat some time, so the Mineral derided that China would he scll-supportm . and they billeted the throops whoreover the counthry looked capable ot producin' a stjr.aro meal They explained that it was wanee more the fault of the foreign divil, and in the meanwhile they gave their note of hand for what they took.

“But with all thim generals and armies they soon ate up (listhricts out of house and home, and as a result the began to march and countermarch in search of places where the bird'snost soup was of superior quality and the bamboo tips noted lor vitamins. “That’s what all the Civil War means. It* a light lor gud>.