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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 38, Number 7. 15 April 1975

Memoriam

Memoriam

He may best be remembered by the following anecdote. In 1944, General Stiliwell, a man with a vinegar tongue and a sharp eye for detail, accompanied the Generalissimo to graduation exercises at the Chinese Military Academy and noted down in his diary this description of the ruler of China as he appeared before the future defender of the country:

'As the Peanut (Chiang) mounted the rostrum, the band leader counted 1-2-3. The Peanut was furious, stopped the band, bawled out the leader, 'Either start playing on 1 or start on 3. Don't start on 2'. Then a speaker pulled his notes out of his pockets. This infuriated the Peanut. He bawled him out and told him that in foreign countries you could put a handkerchief in your pants pocket, but not papers. Papers go in the lower coat pockets and if secret in the upper coat pockets. Then someone stumbled or procedure and the Peanut went wild, screaming that he ought to be shot.'...