Pinging bullets and popping firecrackers accompanied the celebration last week of China's New Year. The bullets were pinging a scant 150 miles outside Shanghai, but in that city and most others green paper dragons a block long were writhing through the streets borne by scores of coolies. Over 500 wounded soldiers were brought in during the week from the battle lines defending Shanghai;† but simultaneously Shanghai Chinese were calling at one another's homes to pay off debts contracted during the old year and to present huge New Year's "cards" on thin red...
To continue reading: or Log-In