Hsu Dead, Hsu Premier

One evening last week a thickset, oval-faced Chinaman with eyes like pinpoints of black steel, strode up and down the station platform at Langfang. The twilight gathered about him. Awed travelers whispered that he was "Little Hsu," the son of "Old Hsu," who was President of China from 1918 to 1922, and that he was the most trusted friend of the present "Chief Executive of China," Tuan Chi-jui.

"Little Hsu" cleared his throat and spat contemptuously in the general direction of the travelers. For a decade he has rejoiced at being known as "the worst hated and most utterly unscrupulous man in China." The travelers drew back and whispered lower.

They recalled that in 1919 "Little Hsu" performed the miracle of marching 10,000 men across the Gobi Desert and the Mongolian steppes to Kalgan and Urga, where he deposed the so called "Living Buddha" (Hutukhtu) and blasted the power of numerous Mongolian

Princes. He retained his grip upon Mongolia for only a year. Then he disappeared for a time, and later set out on a world tour upon which he was received by President Coolidge and many another. Two months ago he left for China from New York.

Among the numerous atrocities of "Little Hsu" one is especially notable. Seven years ago he was the guest of General Lu Chien-chang at Tientsin. While they were walking in the garden, "Little Hsu" whipped out a revolver and shot Lu point blank through the heart. "Little Hsu's" power was at its height at the time, and no one dared to lay a finger upon him. Such was the steely eyed man whom Chief Executive Tuan Chi-jui was rumored to be on the point of calling to the post of Premier last week.

The appointment was not made. As "Little Hsu" continued to wait for his train, a shot rang out through the darkness and he fell dead. The next day General Lu Chengwu, son of the man whom "Little Hsu" had murdered at Tientsin, blazoned abroad a proclamation that he had at last avenged his father.

Following the murder of "Little Hsu" (Hsu Shu-tseng) his friend, Chief Executive Tuan Chi-jui, announced that he had asked Hsu

Shi Ying, former Minister of Justice to form a Cabinet. Dr. Cheng Ting Wang, Yale graduate, sometime President of the Senate, was declared to have accepted the post of Foreign Minister in the new Government.