Evening Star Newspaper, April 19, 1937, Page 8

THE EVENING STAR l The Kidnaping of Gen. Chiang CHIANG KAI-SHEK. This is the fourth installment of two remarkable documents— Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek’s “Diary of My Captivity in Sian” and Mme. Chiang’s own story of how she helped rescue her husband and save China from a civil war. There are nine installments, the first four presenting Mme. Chiang’s story. The first three installments told of her determined fight to keep the Nanking military leaders from carrying out their plan to attack Sian and of her flight to that city to save her husband’s life. BY MAYLING SOONG CHIANG. (Mme. Chiang Kai-shek.) (Copyright. 1937, by Mme. Chiang Kal- shek and the North American Newspaper Alliance, Inc.) reserved. Reproductions in e or in part forbidden.) SHANGHAI—These were days of increasing anxiety in Sian. The new element of doubt, injected by the atti- tude of suspicious officers, who might at any moment seize all of us in an effort to make certain of their own safeguards, produced tense nervous- ness all around us. Subdued excitement charged the ‘whole atmosphere. No one knew what might happen at any moment, the armed guards posted in the house being affected by it as much as we were. As T. V. Soong and I moved from room to room in conference with this man or that, their eyes always held unspoken questions. The only relief we had was when we could get out into the snow- covered compounds and walked around the cleared paths. At various points inside the grounds sentries, armed with submachine guns, were posted day and night to prevent any one getting in, but outside the walls more were posted to prevent the general- issimo from getting out. The watchful guards were puzzled as we circled and circled the paths and wondered why we laughed. They did not know we had to force ourselves to do so to remove the tension. T. V. Busy in Conferences. During this time T. V. was kept in- cessantly occupled with conferences with this group of officers or that. He seemed to be involved in a perpetual motion contest of defeating one set of “final” arguments and requirements, to be immediately confronted with a dozen others just as “final” and just as impracticable. From the point of view of the Sian-militarists, it was all a matter of averting punishment for what had been done. Truly enough, our arrival split the camp. Chang Hsueh-liang was held suspect from the moment Mr. Don- ald arrived, but when, after my talks with him, he more strongly as- serted his views in favor of allowing the generalissimo to leave as soon as possible, he was then classed as “one of us,” and the danger was constant that he and the rest of us would be arrested. That is why arrangements that were made by the leaders at one conference were upset at the next through the influence of some ques- tioning person encountered in be- tween times. There seemed no end to suspicion and doubt. “It is because the government troops are coming closer and closer,” I told the generalissimo. But he ‘was not so much help just then; he was so tired of the shilly-shallying, the impossible arguments and the general atmosphere of suspicion that he did not care whether he left Sian or not. “I'll refuse to go,” he exploded at one time, “if this kind of thing con- tinues.” (All rights whol Patience Important. T realized more than ever that pa- tience and control of temper were of paramount importance, and that every effort should be made to gain the confidence of the .recalcitrant leaders in the sincerity of our prom- ises that, if they repented, the gen- eralissimo would recommend that they should not be punished and that civil war would not be pursued to sup- press them. ‘We heard nothing of menaces from the Reds in all this time. Quite con- trary to outside beliefs, we were as- sured that they were not interested in detaining the generalissimo. In- stead, they preferred his quick re- lease. But we never forgot that their armies were out in the distance— silent now, but menacing and danger- ous. We were assured that they had given up their old policies and prac- tices. We refused to believe it. It is a ruse, we told ourselves and the Sian people, and we will not swallow Tuses. All day long I kept going in and out of the room to keep the generalissimo informed of every new development. At one of these recitals my amah (woman attendant) silently motioned me to go to the next room. She whis- pered in my ear, “Madame, please you be careful what you say. The guards outside had their ears glued to the door. But I stopped them,” she concluded triumphantly. “How?” 1 inquired. “I just stared at them very hard and told them they must be listen- ing to something very interesting that I also would like to hear. And I stood there till they went away.” Han-Chen Brings Mediator. Every effort was being made by Han-chen to break down the doubts of his associates. He brought to me one man said to have influence with them, and I spent two hours discuss- ing the whole situation with him. He went into the whole problem of the northwest, to illustrate the grievances which led to the detention of the generalissimo. It interested me to hear him reiter- ate again and again that apart from the generalissimo there was no one capable of being the leader of the country at this period of its existence. When he referred to the grievance Joncerning the defense of the country. he said, “We do not say that the generalissimo does not resist aggres- sion, but we say he does not resist enough or sufficiengly fast.” I very gently poin out to him that youth is always impatient, that because China is such an anclent country, covers such a large area of territory, with zuch a vast population, he who would lead the country suc- cessfully must be wisely slow, rather than spectacularly rash, in what he did. Above all, he must not be too far ahead of the mass of the people in carrying out his ideas. I em- phasized that the economic question was all-important and must be con- sidered in relation to national de- fense, and that if they really had faith in the generalissimo as the only leader they should abide by his pol- icies, otherwise there would be con- fusion, if not chaos, but certainly great losses. Result of Accident. He mentioned that the mutiny was the result of accident. I retorted that if they could not stage a simple coup bloodlessly, how could they expect to dictate the policy of the country? He reiterated that they had the fullest respect for the generalissimo, but the generalissimo would not let them talk to him on questions of policy. The result of my conversation was that he promised to use his influence with Yang to obtain the release of the generalissimo as soon as possible, and he left asking to see me again. ‘When I saw him the following day I urged him to use his influence to convince various parties of the fu- tility of opposing the government, re- minding him that nothing had been gained by any armed anti-government forces in the last 10 years. If they wanted to do something for the peo- ple, they should work with and under the government. As we were all Chi- nese, we should not fight each other. Internal problems should be solved by political means and not by mili- tary force. That had been the policy of the generalissimo, and was so even in the case of the Communists. How often had he ordered airplanes to drop leaflets telling the Communists that if they would repent and behave like law-abiding citizens they would be forgiven and could do China material good? Christmas Hopes Dashed. Ohristmas eve was filled with be- liefs and dashed hopes. I told Han- chen that he should get the gen- eralissimo out on Christmas day; that the truce was up on that day, and if an attack was launched we would surely be killed, and he with us. Apart from that, it would, as Dr. Kung had said in Nanking, be “a splendid Christmas gift to the nation.” Han-chen looked baffled and be- wildered, but promised to try his best to fulfill my hopes. He explained that he had practically no troops in the city and that Yang’s soldiers held the gates. “We might have to fight him,” he said, “and that would be very dan- gerous for you. I can smuggle the generalissimo out. You and Donald fly off to Loyang. Ill persuade the CHANG HSUEH-LIANG. others you are going to Nanking to negotiate. Then I'll have the gen- eralissimo disguised, get him out of the city by car, take him to where my troops are in barracks and from there drive him by car to Loyang to meet you.” He talked over this plan with T. V., who thought it should be tried if everything else failed. I refused, not only because the generalissimo could not stand the car journey, his back having been injured, but because it was not the manner for him to leave. “He will not be disguised,” I sald, “and if he cannot go openly by air- plane, then I will stay with him. And if he is to die because of attacks on the city by the government forces, then I will die with him.” World Demands Release. I could see that T. V. and Han-chen thought I was just as obstinate as the generalissimo had proved to be when he refused to relent in his attitude, but I was determined not to com- promise. “It is imperative that you persuade them that the generalissimo must be freed at once,” I said to Han-chen as He went out. “The whole of China demands it, and so does the whole world. Chinese everywhere are send- ing cablegram after cablegram de- manding the generalissimo’s freedom and denouncing you as a traitor and worse.” “I know it,” said Han-chen. “They have sent the wires to me. However, they do not understand that I mean no harm to the generalissimo in any way.” The pressure now being exerted by T. V. and Han-chen on the others was making for increased suppressed ex- citement. We ourselves were wondering what Christmas day would bring us. It did not look too hopeful. I kept remind- ing them that the truce was approach- HOME-RUN KING! In 1931, Gehrig shared the crown as the American League’s home-run king with 46 circuit clouts. He led with 49 homers in 1934 and 1936. Gehrig’s follow- through is shown above. It takes healthy nerves to connect, and, as Lou says: “Camels don’t get on my nerves.” CLEAN-UP MAN for the most sensational slugging aggregation ever known. Pity the pitcher who faces the Yankees' starting line-up. Three heavy hitters to face—then Gehrig! Lou holds the ad American League record for runs batted in. ing #ts end, and, knowing the temper and the viewpoints of those at Nan- king who had command, I was sure that an attack under full pressure ‘would be launched, and calamity would M‘Md upon every one and every- It was all a question with the Sian leaders of saving heads. I assured the suspicious ones that if they really repented their heads would be safe, but if they did not repent no one could say what would happen. They knew the generalissimo was magnan- imous and they would have to depend ‘upon his magnanimity. Han-chen began to lose patience with them and threatened that if they did not “finish with politics” he would act “as he saw fit.” Bargaming Absent. But no question of money or in- creased power or position was at any time brought up. Indeed, that aspect of the usual bargaining by recalcitrant military leaders was entirely absent from this mutiny. That is why it was different from others, why it showed an improvement in political develop- ment, and provides the hope that it will be the last attempt at mutiny. As the sun went down on Christ- mas eve there was more dejection than hope apparent, but talk and more talk went on far into the night. And then came the dawn of Christ- mas day. The generalissimo and I have always had a game on such festive occasions, the one who gives the first greeting shall determine the program of the day. He won. Just after daylight appeared came “Merry Christmas” from the depths of his bed clothes. It seemed to me & dismal outlook on that cold dawn, but I responded cheerily enough, with- out specially feeling it. “Merry Christmas to you,” I said, missing the Christmas tree and real- izing that in this predicament and in this place there could be no such thing as a Christmas tree and that Banta Claus would pass by Sian. These lugubrious thoughts had hardly flashed through my weary and sleepy mind when the door opened and in paraded two servants. Each held in his hands what looked like & gargantuan stocking, streached taut by a weight. It was a stocking, truly enough—a golf stocking, having tied to its foot a portable typewriter and a cheerful Christmas greeting for me, while at the end of the other golf stocking was suspended a warm ‘steamer rug for the generalissimo, his own having been lost with his other possessions in the mutiny. Santa Comes to Sian. 80, after all, Santa Claus did come to Sian, and we lived under the same roof! He was & friend of my father; he is a friend of ours, and his inti- mates call him “Gran,” or “Don.” The generalissimo threw back his head and laughed, saying “That'’s just like the old gentleman.” It was the first time I had heard him laugh in Sian. 80 some cheer and some hope came to us with the Christmas sunlight, but throughout the morning the doubts remained. The recalcitrants wanted signed orders from the gen- eralissimo before they were willing to let him go. And the generalissimo would not sign anything. Nor would he talk. But to keep up my own courage I began to pack. We hoped that we would be able to leave Sian 80 a8 to reach Nanking before sunset. We should leave by 11:30 am. in order to do that, but 10 o’clock came with no result. And 10:30 came. “The plane is ready,” seid Han- Chen, “but nothing is settled.” Eleven o'clock came. Our hopes were dashed, but we did not give up. “We can go to Loyang and stay there the night,” said some one. “Yes,” I responded eagerly, “don't let’s give up hope. If we pray hard enough I am sure our prayers will be answered somehow.” Every one seemed to be running about in confusion. T. V. went off to the city to see Yang; others went “hither and yon,” pulling this string and that. Came 1 o'clock. “Tiffin (luncheon) is ready,’ announced some one. Hopes further crashed, but wg ate—and, with food, optimism re- asserted itaelf. “If we get away by 4 o'clock we can make Loyang by dark,” some one said, and we made 4 o’'clock the zero hour. Permitted to Leave. A coolie carrying a suitcase, fol- lowed by Chang Hsueh-Liang, was seen crossing our courtyard shortly after 2 o'clock. Much interest was visible among the guards. There was no report from the city, where T. V. and others were endeavoring to allay the fears of those who grew afraid of reprisals if the generalissimo was released without definite undertak- ings in writing, or by the issuance of desired orders insuring their im- munity from punishment. Telephones were incessantly ring- ing and there was continuous talking. T. V. suddenly came through the gates, and from him we learned that those in command of the city had agreed that we could leave. “But why leave s0 late?” asked Han-Chen, “would it not be better to wait till the morning and go direct to Nanking?” “Wait?” I cried. “The quicker we clear out of here the better. Wait till these people change their minds again? Give them another night in which to vacillate, to develop more fears, perhaps to run amok—and this is Christmas day? No, indeed! Leave while leaving’s good.” Han-Chen said that although Yang agreed we could leave, some of his subordinates might start trouble if they got wind of it, and therefore, we should make our departure as un- ostentatious as possible, and were not even to take my amah. “What,” I exclaimed, “leave her to the mercy of mutinous troops? I do not know what would happen to her after we leave.” “She will be quite all right,” he aasured me. “No, I have not the heart to let her run any risk when she has been 3o faithful. When I left Nanking I ex- plained to her the dangers we were running into and told her that if she had the least fear she need not come A DOUBLE YESTERDAY ! A HOMER TODAY— YOU'RE DOING ALL RIGHT THIRTEEN YEARS in the big league. Z_e “Rookie” Gehrig signed up with the New York Yankees in 1923. By 1927 he was the AmericanLeague’sMOST VALUABLE PLAYER. And again in 1931, 1934, and 1936. SOCK IT, 'iron mAN'! R WASHINGTON, D. C, MONDAY, APRIL 19, 1937. with me, and she replied that she in charge of Col J. L. Huang, and everybody was setisfled. ‘When I told the generalissimo we ocould then leave, he recided that he should speak to Han-Chen and Yang Hu-Chen together before he con- cluded his fbrtnight’s stay with them. 80 Yang hed to be cailed. While we were waiting, the generalissimo was told that Chang was determined to go to Nanking with him. The gen- eralissimo remonstrated; told him that there was no necessity for him to do so; that he should stay with his troops; that, in any case, he ordered him to stay. Han-Chen explained that he was under obligation to go to Nanking. First, he had undertaken with his associates to take full responsibility for what had happened, and second it was his duty to show that what had been done was not with mutinous intent, nor against the generalissimo, his position or power. Realizing that this request had in it new elements, when compared with former mutinies or rebellions, and constituted s new phase in Chinese political development, the generalis- simo withdrew his objection. He saw that the unusual request would set a precedent that any others who might in the future contemplate using force to obtain personal or political adjust- ments would have seriously to con- sider. Conduet Brings Leniency. I wish specially to point out that this is the first time on record that any high officer responsible for mu- tinous conduct had shown eagerness to proceed to the capital to be tried for his misdeeds. This explains why the central government was lenient to Han-Chen, a fact which many for- eigners could not understand. The excitement was even more in- tensified when Gen. Yang, with some bodyguards, came to the house. He and Han-Chen went straight to the generalissimo’s room. They stood at rigid attention, despite the general- 1ssimo’s invitation to them to sit down, snd they only did so when I finally told them it would be easier for the generalissimo to talk to them if they were to sit down, since he was com- pelled to lie down. When the generalissimo began to speak to them I decided to take notes of what he said. He was gentle and If Your Dentist Hurts You Try DR. FIELD PLATE EXPERT Double Suction guarantes a Tight Fit in any Mouth Vielet Ray Treatment for Pyorrhea Extractions ___$1 & $2. Alse Gas Plates 810 to 8 Gold Crew: Fillings _ DR. FIELD 406 7th St. N.W. MEt. 9256 Over Woelwerth 5 & 10¢ Store $1 G A GREAT FIRST BASEMAN. Lou’s prowess as a slugger is matched by his play at first base. His record last year was only 6/1000ths short of PERFECT. He had 1,377 put-outs. PACK OF CAMELS ? earnest with them. They were vis- ibly moved. It was now getting late, and we made haste 10 Jeave. The generalis- simo and I rode in a car with Han- Chen, who sat with the chauffeur, in spite of the generalissimo’s invi- tation to sit with us in the back, while T. V. and Mr. Donald were in snother car with Gen. Yan At the airfield the cars drove close to the door of Han-Chen’s airplane, in which we were to leave, and we stood not upon the order of our going. The motors were already warmed up, there was a roar from the engines and we were off. I heaved a sigh of re- lief for the first time in two weeks. Gladly enough I bade farewell to Bian. “Quoth the raven, nevermore.” (To be continued.) HIGHLIGHT IN OUR ANNIVERSARY SALE TUESDAY NIGHT ONLY TUESDAY and FRIDAY Till 9 P.M. Other Days till 6 p.m. FURNITURE 1245-47 Wisconsin Ave. Georgetown’s Leading Furniture Store i | | | a LOU HOLDS MORE RECORDS than any other man in the game today. Here are a few for any four-game World Series: most runs batted in (9); most home-runs (4); most bases on balls (6). He has scored 100 or more runs for 11 consecutive seasons and batted in 100 or more. HERE’S LOU'S FAVORITE BAT and his favorite first baseman’s mitt. His bat is especially made. It weighs 37 oynces—is 35 YES, MABEL, 1T'S HIS 1809™ GAME WITHOUT | A BREAK BASEBALL'S “IRON-MAN"] This secutive game. Injuries never stopped “Iron-Man” Gehrig. Once he chipped a bone FOR A SENSE OF DEEP- DOWN CONTENTMENT— JUST GIVE ME CAMELS AFTER A GOOD, MAN- SIZED MEAL.THAT LITTLE PHRASE ‘CAMELS SET YOU RIGHT’ COVERS THE WAY I FEEL. CAMELS SET ME RIGHT.. | WHETHER I'M EATING, %1 . WORKING, OR " ENJOVING UFE j*. A gala 'show with Jack Oakie running a “college”! Holly- wood comedians and singing stars! Join Jack Oakie’s Col- lege.Tuesdays-8:30pmE.S.T. (9:30 pm E. D. 5. T'), 7:30 pm C.S8.T, 6:30 pm M. S. T., 5:30 pm P. 8, T, over WABC-CBS. in his foot—yet knocked out a homer, two doubles, and a single next day. Another time, he was knocked out by a “bean ball,” yet next day walloped 3 triples in 5 innings. Gehrig’s “Iron-Man” record is proof of his spleadid physical condition. As Lou says: “You can bet all the years I've been playing, I've been careful about my physical condition. Smoke? L smoke and enjoy it. My cigarette is Camel.” SMOKING inches long. He wears out two mitts a season. um-m-m! HERE'S THE BEST PART OF EATING X MARKS THE SPOT where once there was a juicy steak smothered in mushrooms—Lou’s favorite dish, Gehrig is a big man. And he has a big man’s appetite. Lou eats what he wants and isn’t bashful about coming back for “seconds.” Read what he says below. Copyrieht, 1987, R. J. Reynolds Tobacce Company, Winston-Salem, North Carelina CAMELS AT MEALTIME AND AFTER GIVES DIGESTION A HELPING HAND BY SPEEDING UP THE FLOW OF DIGESTIVE FLUIDS ~INCREASING ALKALINITY. ENJOY CAMELS FREELY. THEY'RE MILD = AND DO NOT IRRITATE THE THROAT