CHINA'S LEADING MAN

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 123, 15 November 1911, Page 4

CHINA'S LEADING MAN

YUAX-SHIII-KAr.S EHABLKSS ' COURSE. One of the most interesting character sketches of Yuan-Shih-Kai, the new Chinese Premier, that hag appeared in the press of recent years was that contributed to the New York Independent in 11)0!) by Mr 11. E. House, an American who had been a tutor in Yuan's family for sometime. "After the war with Japan," wrote Mr House, "the Chinese Government saw the need of a modern army. It believed that with this new wine in the old bottle China would be able to withstand the outer world, no other reforms would be required, all would be well, and China might continue the slumber from which she had been so .rudely aroused. The 'New Imeprial Army' was therefore organised and soon consisted of 00,000 men gathered in four divisions or branches within a hundred miles of Peking. This army was equipped with up-to-date arms and was being drilled according to the modern method.

"in command of one branch of this New Imperial Army was placed Yuan-Shih-Kai, then about thirty-seven years of age. He had already distinguished himself with honors during nine years of service in Korea, latterly as Minister during the troublesome times of dispute between China and Japan over Korea, preceding the war, when by his firm stand for the interests of China he incurred the enmity of Japan, which seems never to have been forgotten. *As commander of the branch of the army under him, Yuan was given a free hand. He at once showed the most remarkable ability as an executive. Within three years his division of the army, consisting then of about 7000 efficient troop* had the reputation of being one of the 'best drilled and disciplined bodies of soldiery in the world, and his own reputation was becoming world-wide among military men and statesmen. In the spring of 1808 Lord Charles Beresford, after an all-day review of this army' spoke of it in the highest terras, and before leaving China said in Tientsin, 'I nave met one man in China, and that man is Yuan.' The same year year Timothy Richard, one of the best known and alblest foreigners in China, said to the writer, of Yuan, 'He is the best man in China; he is the coming man.' Thus was Yuan looked upon «t that time wherever he was known as a strong, aggressive up-to-date man. Among the Chinese he had the peculiar reputation of being honest, a man who did not squeeze. "For ten years he has been in the vorv centre of the stage. Even his enemies haw been unable to bring against him a suspicion of dishonesty, and his amazing enlightenment, wisdom, and ability have been known and read of all men. "Faced by the strong, and menacing opposition of the Conservatives in 1898 the reformers turned to the ways of China's darkest days, the headman's axe, to be rid of the opposition, and ordered Yuan-Shih-Iva.i, whom they knew to be as much a patriot and as much, a reformer as themselves, to take Yung Lu, the leader of the opposition, ieheod him and come with Ins army to 'Peking to sustain, the Emperor■ in his reform programme. Yuan refuged to commit the crime appointed to him, he warned Yung Lu of the plot api»nst his life, and remained inactive with' hi* armv.

Once again this man of nerve and wisdom disobeyed an Imperial order. Before the real beginning of the Boxer war liuui had been sent with his armv to be Governor of the province of Shantung. Hero he was during the height of th« trouble ruling with a firm hand when he received orders from Peking to destroy oil foreigners; instead of obeying he saved his Government from itself, choosing to call the order a forgery and immediate y with redoubled Energy extended protection to all foreigners a,nd their properly, 'and saw them even- one safely conducted out of the province; for this he was called by the reactionaries a foreign devil, and for this he risked the anguof the Lmpress Dowager and retrioution «* her hands."