This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
WHO'S WHO IN CHINA
261

ing this appointment General Feng transferred all his troops to Peking. These troops which are estimated to be over 40,000 men strong, have been stationed at Nan Yuan the Imperial Hunting Park to the south of Peking. General Feng himself is also living there. In January 1923 General Feng was made a 'Full General. In April 1923 he was awarded the First Class Wenfu Decoration. In May 1923 he was appointed concurrently Director General for the Defence of the Northwestern Provinces. In November 1923 he was made "Yang Wu Shan Chiang-chun," a Marshal. General Feng is a Christian and so are most of his soldiers. He has been known by foreigners as the "Christian General". He became a widower in 1923 and in February 1924 he married Miss Li a secretary of the Peking Y. W. C. A. When the war broke out in September 1924, between the Chihli and Anfu-Fengtien parties, it was generally known that Marshal Feng was opposed to the war at that time. His argument being that the country was in no condition to finance the war, principally on account of the floods and famines of 1923-1924. However, at a military conference held in Peking and participated in by Marshal Feng, Marshals Wu Pei-fu, President Tsao Kun and other leaders of the Chihli party, General Feng was finally won over and was assigned to the job of defending the districts of Jehol, to the North of Peking. General Feng began the movement of his troops into this district and was seriously handicapped by the lack of roads and lack of funds. Finally on October 23 1924,, he suddenly turned about and returned to Peking with his army, taking complete possession of the city and making the President a prisoner. His action in this regard which has never been completely explained resulted in the defeat of Marshal Wu Pei-fu in the fighting in the vicinity of the Great Wall and the complete demoralization of the Chihli forces. At a conference held in Tientsin between General Feng and Marshal Chang Tso-lin, Marshal Tuan Chi-jui, was induced to accept the Provisional Presidency. Late in 1924, General Fong was appointed Defence Commissioner of the Northwest Territory which position he is still holding, although it is frequently reported he desires to resign and go abroad.