Despair in Dairen

The hugest, most lavishly gorgeous mansion in Dairen--near Port Arthur on the Yellow Sea--contains 35 pleasingly proportioned young women of assorted races, with their servants. Last week these young women were extremely anxious about their Chinaman and whence next month's rent was coming. They went down on their marble terrace and peered through foolish, expensive little opera glasses out over the Yellow Sea, strained their eyes toward the Chinese coast, tried to see a low, rakish ship. Aboard would be, they hoped, the "Sweetest Sugar Daddy in the World," as Marshal Chang Tsung-chang is called by one of his English-speaking women, Miss Anabelle ("Trixie") Cronan.

Just two months ago the young women wept and carried on, but could not dissuade doughty Marshal Chang from setting out with a shipload of adventurers to capture the Chinese city of Chefoo--just across the Yellow Sea--and thus repossess himself of the rich province of Shantung.

Two years ago as "Chang of Shantung" he wrung more than ten million dollars from its hapless people. When driven out by the Chinese Nationalists (TIME, Sept. 24), he absconded with women and loot to Dairen, bought the hugest house, made it huger, and tried to settle down with 30 pleasingly proportioned young females of assorted races. It was no use--too much of a good thing--and grizzled Marshal Chang sailed off conquistadoring.

He captured Chefoo (TIME, April 8). He drove the Nationalist General Liu Chen-nien to take refuge in the ancient walled city of Ninghaichow (TIME, April 15) and laid a siege to it which was continuing last week.

Suddenly, at blackest midnight, wily General Liu made an unexpected sortie from Ninghaichow, fell upon and routed the besieging army of 25,000 men. and advanced straight upon Chefoo. Seemingly Marshal Chang had left the siege to be maintained by subordinates. When they informed him via field telegraph of their rout, he instantly demanded two millions more from the terrified merchants of Chefoo, threatened to burn down their warehouses, kidnap their women, tear out their beards and worse--if they did not pay. When he had collected all he could, the "Sweetest Sugar Daddy in the World" sailed from Chefoo.

The Imperial Japanese Government, hitherto friendly to Daddy Chang, announced at this juncture that he would not be allowed to re-enter Dairen. When this news reached the hugeous mansion, Miss Anabelle ("Trixie") Cronan succumbed to hysterics. Chang's 34 other women--mostly Orientals--had all the blinds of the house drawn, waited.