Background
General Chang Huai-chih was born at Tung-a Hsien, Shandong province in 1860.
General Chang Huai-chih was born at Tung-a Hsien, Shandong province in 1860.
Mr. Chang began his military career as Adjutant Aide-de-Camp to the late Yuan Shih-kai. In 1905 General Chang became Commander of the Defence Forces at Shanhaikuan. In 1908 he was sent to Japan to witness the Grand Manoeuver.
Upon his return to China he joined the Peiyang First Division. After several promotions he became Commander of the Shantung Fifth Division stationed at Tinafu.
Shortly before the establishment of the Republic his division was transferred to Tientsin. After the First Revolution General Chang was appointed Defence Commision of Tianjin. Later he was transferred to be Defence Commissioner of Paotingfu, from which position he resigned in the middle of 1914.
In September 1915 General Chang was appointed Tutung of Charhar Special Area. In May 1916 he was appointed Military Director of Shandong and two months later he became Tuchun of Shantung and was also given the concurrent position of the Civil Governor of that province.
In May 1917 General Chang received the Second Order of Merit. In June 1917 General Chang joined with Generals Ni of Anhui, Chang Tso-lin of Feng- tien, Tsao Kun of Chihli and others in defending the position of Marshal Tuan Chi-jui against President Li Yuan-hung. This political issue finally resulted in the attempt by Chang Hsun to restore the old monarchy. When Marshal Tuan declared war against Chang Hsun, General Chang stood with the former and rendered valuable service by cutting off at Tsinan Chang Hsun’s reinforcement from Anhui. In January 1919 General Chang was appointed Chief of General Staff.