General Chao Yu-k'e was born at Tientsin in 1877. He is a graduate of the Military Academy of Pei Yang. After his graduation he became the Drill Officer of the Bodyguards of Viceroy of Hung-chang. For some time he was also teaching in the College for Military Officers. He was instructor in cavalry in several provinces. Later he was promoted to be battalion commander in the 3rd Division, in charge of transportation, and other works. During that period he wrote several books on military science, strategy and cavalry drilling. In 1912, General Chao was promoted to be Commander of the Right Wing of the Metropolitan Defence. Concurrently he acted as Chief of the Military Compilation and Translation Bureau. In 1916, when the trouble in Kweichow and Yunnan began, he was appointed chief of the general staff attached to the commander-in-chief for the suppression of the uprising. He commanded the troops which advanced into Szechwan, and personally went to Luchow to supervise the operation. For this service he was awarded the rank of Major General. In the midst of the advance, Peking ordered the cessation of hostilities and General Chao returned to Chihli to resume his old office. In April 1917 General Chao was appointed Occupation Commissioner of Tientsin with the concurrent position of Commander of the Defence Force for the first area of Chibli. In July 1917 when General Chang Hsun attempted the monarchical restoration, he participated in the expeditionary forces led by General Tuan Chi-jui against the monarchists, After the restoration of the Republic, General Chang was conferred the Fifth Order of Merit. In the latter part of 1917 a revolt broke out in the southwest. In the Spring of 1918 General Chao was appointed Chief of Staff to the First Forces sent down by the Peking governinent to suppress the revolt. After a while he returned to Chihli where besides taking up his old offices he was given the concurrent position as Chief Judge of the Martial Court for Chihli. In December 1919 General Chao was appointed Chief Staff Officer to General Tsao Kun, Tuchun of Chihli. During the Anfu-Chihli War in 1920, he was Chief of Staff of the Chihli Forces engaged in the strife. In September, after the civil war, he was conferred the First Class Tashou Chiaho and in October 1920 he was given the Fourth Order of Merit. Subsequently he was appointed Chief Staff Officer to General Tsao Kun. High Inspecting Commissioner of Chihli. Shantung and Honan. In November 1921 General Chao was made a Chiangchun with the special title of two words “Ching Wei.” In February 1922 he received the First Order of Tashou Paokuang Chiaho. In March 1923 he was conferred the Third Order of Merit. In November 1923, General Chao resigned from the post of Occupation Commissioner to become the Directior-General of the Aviation Department. He also took over the post of the Chief of the Aviation Department as a concurrent position. In the same month he was given the brevet rank of a Full General. In March 1924 he was made a Full General. General Chao is still holding the two positions in the Aviation Department.
