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(1932) Poppies & War in Shantung

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Opium

Opium had become since the 1800's the curse of China. Though the Chinese government tried to prevent the trade in opium it continued, nonetheless.

But it was evident that the cultivation of the poppy throughout the provinces of China was not eliminated, but actually seemed to be flourishing. A correspondent for the Tsingtao Times said that the growing of the poppy in the southwest section of the Kiaochow district was extensive. The colorful poppy blossoms were blowing gently in the breezes of the slopes of hills, hidden valleys, along dry river beds, and often grown among wheat or other crops. The farmers extracted the juice from the poppy by scraping or cutting the outer surface. Stopping the farmers from growing the poppy was difficult. For one mou of land a farmer might get 20 or more dollars. The same field growing poppies may give him 300 to 500 dollars. Government officials were not all that interested in eliminating poppy growing either. They levied profitable dues against the growers and sellers. Poppy growing meant money in their pockets too.

One June 1 General Han Fu-chu, chairman of Shantung Province, ordered the suppression of opium in Kiaochow district. General Chen Teh-hsien set out to eradicate the poppy in the district. Le Shi fo, a local magistrate was taken prisoner, and some forty officials in the southern and western districts seized, bound, and taken by military escort to the capitol of Shantung Province for trial.

When the poppies appeared in their full glory officials rounded up some of the planters who then waited for their punishment. On Tuesday, June 14 one Chinese dealer in morphine and heroin was punished by death. A foreigner in Kiaochow doing the same thing, however, was operating a flourishing business and would continue to do so because of extraterritoriality. This practice was of course very unfair. For the farmers planting wheat, however, this year was a bumper crop.

In the district as a whole things were improving. The villages of Wanggachoang and Chang Tsang 100 li south were now connected with Kiaochow by telephone. Roads south of Wangtai had been improved in the spring. Busses were making daily runs from Kiaochow. [According to Dollan a farmer was growning poppies for opium in a field next to their home in Kiaochow when she was a girl. Flowers were beautiful in reds, yellows, whites, and color near peach. Most were red flowers. This was no secret. The farmer was quite open about what the poppies were for. Good view of poppy field from second floor of their house. Note that the Rinell b/w movie shows this field according to Dollan.]

Bandits

Bandits were still a problem in Kiaochow. In June six severed heads one whose belonging ironically to the bandit called Iron Neck were hanging outside the city, placed there by the local military police. These bandits kidnapped people of means and demanded ransom for their release. They plied their trade in the southern part of Kiaochow and hid in the districts hills. Two of Iron Neck's companions, "Northeast Wind" and "The Great Priest" had earlier met the same fate. The beheading of these bandits helped make the last few months more peaceful ones than in former years.

The police had moved to new quarters in the City Temple. Some of the gods were locked up in a room while others were "compelled to open the bathing season in the neighboring pond."

In May General Yang Kong-hsung's force was transferred from Kiaochow to Chefoo. It was said that the troops of Chen Teh-tse, stationed at Weihsien would soon take his place. Before General Yang left, however, he commanded that the moat around the crenellated walls of the city be deepened and that it be filled with water. His men dug out a few meters as an example to the civilian laborers. With Yang's leaving the city, it was hoped that the project would be dropped because of its cost, about $60,000.

Japanese Students

On Monday May 16, twenty Japanese students arrived from Tsingtao to study the Chinese educational system in Kiaochow. Because of the tension between China and Japan, none of the schools would allow them to enter. The Japanese students returned on an early train to Tsingtao.

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Alma Matilda Jansson
Johan Alfred
Hedvig Rinell
Sweden
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War Again in Shantung

Fighting broke out between the troops of General Han Fu-chuh, Chairman of Shantung Province and the independent General Liu Chen-nien from eastern Shantung with his headquarters in Chefoo. Troops were sent for by General Han from the west to strengthen the garrisons at Weihsien, Kaomi and Kiaochow. Carts were commandeered in Kiaochow for the transport of supplies eastward. The bridge on the omnibus road between Kiaochow and Pingtu was destroyed by General Liu to slow down the advancing enemy army. Han began calling Liu a communist, saying that he has been in communication with communist elements in China. It was not known if this was true. Anyone could be labeled a Communist for propaganda purposes.

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Hedvig and Johan Alfred
at Cousin's Summer House
1932
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Johan Alfred and Hedvig Travel to Sweden

Oscar, Hellen and Dollan returned to China. Dollan's grandparents traveled from China to Sweden. To keep help keep the mission going, the Rinell families took their sabbaticas in Sweden at different times.

Of course it was a welcome break to spend with friends and family including with Hedvig's brother's family, the Janssons.

Martin Jansson

Martin Jansson arrives in China. His wife was Anna. [Not related to the Jansson above.]

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Footnotes

1. The article mentions that the foreign powers and the Chinese government were joining to end the opium trade. Oscar says this is an exaggeration. The foreign powers were not so so interested in ending it because of all the profit the trade brought.

2. Oscar says that based on his own observations this is exaggerated. Poppies were grown, but they were to be found everywhere.

3. "The Cultivation of the poppy." Tsingtao Times [English Edition], (Date article written was June 18, 1932. Date of the newspaper itself not known at this time.). (page 88 of collected articles.)

4. We are assuming it is May from an article dated May 17 that said that his occurred "recently."

5. "Kiaochow Notes: Protective measures. Japanese students snubbed." Tsingtao Times [English Edition], (Written May 17. Date of newspaper unknown at this time.)

6. "The new war in Shantung." Tsingtao Times[English Edition]. (Written September 29, 1932. Date of paper not known at this time.) (page 89A in collected articles).

CHAPTER

Foreign Devils: A Swedish Family in China 1894 to 1951
© 2012-14 Lennart Holmquist
Lorum • Ipsum• Dolor • Sic Amet • Consectetur

Updated: 10-Feb-2017

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