Who's Who in China (3rd edition)/Tu Hsi-kuei

Admiral Tu Hsi-kuei

杜錫字慎

Admiral Tu Hsi-kuei was born at Foochow, Fukien province, in 1875. He was graduated from the Naval College, Nanking with the highest honors in 1902. Subsequently he was given the rank of sub-lieutenant on board the cruiser Hai Chi. Sixteen months later he was promoted to the rank of junior lieutenant. After holding the ranks of navigating lieutenant and gunnery lieutenant for a short time he was appointed commander of the torpedo boat Chien Tze, and five months later acted as commander of the cruiser Kien An. In this capacity he directed the survey of the Port of Lungkou. He was appointed to the rank of full commander and was posted at Chefoo in charge of the marine corps, later being posted to the Kiang Ting, and Hai Yung respectively. Upon the establishment of the Republic, Admiral Tu was still in charge of the Haitung, China's largest cruiser. He was ordered to act concurrently as director of defences in Fukien. In 1915 the Chinese government appointed him commander of the training cruiser Chao Ho. From there he was transferred to the Hai Yung. In 1917 he was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Second Squardron. In January 1920 he was awarded the Second Class. Tashou Chiaho. In August 1921 he received the Fourth Order of Merit. In October 1921 he was made a Rear-Admiral. In January 1922 he was awarded the First Class Wenfu. In June 1922 he became Commander-in-chief of the Chinese Navy. During the Chihli-Fengtien War in 1922 he played an important part which was partly responsible for the Chihli Party. In October 1922 he was awarded the First Class Tashou Chiaho. In the spring of 1923 the Shanghai Section of the Chinese Navy declared independence of the Peking government. As a result of it Admiral Tu tendered his resignation. In October 1923 he was made a Chiangchun with "Ying-Wei” as special title. In November 1923 he was again appointed Commander-in-Chief of Chinese Navy. In March 1924 he was made an Admiral. In September 1924 he was appointed to command the fleet to participate in the Punitive Expedition waged by the Peking government against Marshal Chang Tso-lin.