As the
writers say in the Introduction: “Few in the English-speaking world have any
idea of China’s participation in the First World War”. This books puts that right.
Initially
neutral, in October 1915, China presented a military aircraft to the British
government;
300,000
Chinese workers served during WW1;
140,000
Chinese workers served in France;
200,000
Chinese workers served in Russia; they were caught up in the Revolution and
‘disappeared’;
One of the
first battles of the First World War was on Chinese soil;
10,000 or
more Chinese workers died or were killed – some at sea during the perilous
journey by sea to France - due to the intense German submarine campaign against
Allied shipping;
China
officially joined the Entente Allies in 1917 and declared war on Germany;
China
attended the Versailles Peace Conference in 1919 but felt belittled and
betrayed and did not sign the Peace Treaty.
Reading this
book, which, the writers explain, is aimed at ‘the general reader’ (that is
most definitely me) helps us to understand the current situation in the world. The writers explain in detail the recent
history of China which became a Republic in 1912. They tell us about the political intrigues,
secret dealings and complex diplomatic negotiations that went on behind the
scenes during the war years in the Far East.
What happened during the Versailles Peace Treaty is also explained and
this undoubtedly led to the conflicts of the 1930s and beyond.
I
particularly liked the notes on transliteration which explain the complexities
of the Chinese language, for instance, the word ‘coolie’ means hard labour. I knew there was a Commonwealth War Graves
Commission Cemetery for Chinese Labour Corps members who died or were killed in
France but I did not know about the Chinese Hospital at Noyelles-sur-Mer in
France which was run by Douglas Gray, the former Medical Officer at the British
Legation in China.
And
interestingly, we learn that young British diplomats who worked for the British
Civil Service and who wanted to volunteer for military service were discouraged
from doing so because it was thought a waste of their long years of training in
diplomacy, though young men in the Consular Service were eventually allowed to
join up (p. 58).
Illustrated
throughout with maps, cartoons, photographs, charts and diagrams and including
appendices detailing recent Chinese history and prominent personalities of WW1
and with copious explanatory notes and a comprehensive index, this book is
required reading for anyone interested in the First World War.
“Betrayed Ally – China in the Great War” by Frances Wood and Christopher Arnander, published by Pen & Sword, Barnsley in 2016. ISBN 978-1-47387–501-2.
“With the
Chinks” by Daryl Klein is available as a free download on Archive: https://archive.org/stream/cu31924022973196/cu31924022973196_djvu.txt
