Bottom of the Barrel

Six months ago, Marshal Yen Hsi-shan, commander of besieged Taiyuan, kept 500 vials of poison in his office, swearing that he and his staff would kill themselves if the Communists took the city (TIME, Nov. 15). Last week the Reds held Taiyuan and the Marshal, unpoisoned and unbowed, was Premier of China.

He got the job by default. Last week, for the third time in six weeks, Premier Ho Ying-chin sent in his resignation. This time President Li Tsung-jen accepted it. Li submitted to a Legislative Yuan meeting at Canton the nomination of Elder Statesman Chu Cheng (age 73). Opposition included a woman legislator in slacks and a Hawaiian blouse, who yelled into a microphone: "He's too old for the job." Shocked oldsters came to Chu Cheng's defense. Said one: "Chu Cheng can still climb the hundreds of stone steps leading up to Chungking." The argument availed nothing. When Marshal Yen's name was submitted, a legislator said: "The Kuomintang has scraped the bottom of the barrel."

All knew that President Li had been unable to get another candidate for the post, so Yen was confirmed. The Yuan members were more interested in a counter on one side of the meeting room above which was a sign: "Legislators planning to leave for Formosa must register here."

Last week also brought news to Canton of the fall of Tsingtao, last Nationalist pocket in North China. South of the river Communist armies advanced without opposition. The Formosa registration counter did a brisk business.

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