THE INVASION OF LHASSA

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 367, 19 April 1910, Page 7

THE INVASION OF LHASSA

PRIESTS TO "MARRY AND GO OX THE LAND." Lliassa no longer iho'lds any mysteries. It is undergoing a grim process of rapid modernisation by means of wireless tele- ' graphy, machine guns and military i mandates. The sacred city is now occupied by 25,000 Chinese soldiers trained by Japanese oflicers and armed from an ' arsenal whose equipment was made in i Germany. | An interesting account ot the occupai tionon, which had been in progress for 1 several months, is supplied by an Englishman who ihas just returned to London after fifteen years' residence on the border of Eastern Thibet. It seems that \ the Chinese Government, fearing a possible further attempt by Great Britain to extend its influence to Thibet, 'by way of India, has been anxious of late to assert its authority over the Thibetans, and secure tihe best of whatever trade they have to offer. The Dalai Lama ii said to have made an unfavorable impression when he visited China recently. He appeared for too independent and pompous. Moreover, he was an expensive visitor. He "moved in great state" with 500 followers, and cost £OOO per daj. The Government decided to reduce his. authority, and detain him for this enterprise, but while it was thinking of a decent excuse for this enterprise the i Dalai Lama got a hint of what was in j 1 progress, altered the route for his re-; turn journey, and skipped safely out of reach over the border. Evidence of his knowledge of the hostile intentions of the Government was seen when, after I : an unavailing attempt to secure help ' ■ from India, he fled, before the arrival . of the Chinese army at his capital. i A complete revolution is being made in the government of Thibet. The hereditary border chiefs are being replaced j by Chinese officials, and Chao-erh-Fung | (brother of the viceroy of Szechuan) has j been made commander-in-chief on the i frontier. ''China for the Chinese" is

his policy—and evidently Thibet for the Chinese 'as well. While friendly to foreigners, he is not at all disposed to give them facilities for travel or trade. The occupation of Lhassa has been carried

ont for political purposes. The effective settlement of the country under Chinese | Rovernment will lie a much slower work. The first step undertaken is the formation of a Chinese province in Eastern Thibet, whence gradual advances will be made to the west and south. The progress of the Chinese soldiers to Lhassa was not effected without dSfflculltoefii There was some armed opposition, and J the severities of the climate were still i harder to face. Tn one encouriter with i the frontier tribesmen the cornmanderI in-chief was nearly captured, and in another the Chinese were ambushed and Host 400 men, tosether with some guns. . But those reverses only stimulated the | invaders, and led to the trebling of their i forces. j The returned Englishman", who supplies details of the operations, state? tihat at least 200. field guns and enormous quantities of ammunition were hurried over the border before he left. On one occasion he counted a caravan I with a train of 150 loads of silver for | the payment of the troops. At the , Chentu arsenals,'which supplied the equipj mejit, 7000 men were worldng day and night. "Unfortunately." he says, "there is no doubt that- the Chinese soldiers do not pay much regard to the religious susceptibilities of the Thibetans, and that the charges of desecration of the monasteries are well founded. The Orinese are doing their best to reduce the number of lamas, their policv being not to allow more than 100 to each monastry, whereas at present there are ofI ten as many as 5000. The remainder I .they are inducing to get married and go lon the land. Tilie Chinese are also , holding out every inducement for Chinese .emigrants to go into the newlyl opened part of Thibet. 'Thev are offering grants of land and are also advancingl monev for outfit for five years without interest. There is a very general feelin,? that tins movement mav &tvc a far-re-Tchlna' effect, apart altogether from Thil>eta.u 'affairs. The large majority of the trained troops who are now being employed are stronsrlv anti-dvnas-tic. and chafe under the antiquated me- ' +horls of Pckin. Well armed and organised and flushed with victory, the atti- j r tude thev mav take up may have a srood denl of influence on the position China."