Who's Who in China (3rd edition)/Wang Keng

Colonel Wang Ken

王字段

(Wang Keng)

Colonel Wang Ken was born at Wu-hai Hsien, Kangsu province, in 1895. He was graduated from the Anting High School in 1910. In 1911, by competitive examinations he was admitted to the Tsinghua College, Peking, which sent him to study in the Unïted States in the summer of 1911. Upon his arrival in the United States, he entered the University of Michigan. In his second year of stay in America, he studied at Columbia University, and in his third and fourth year studied at Princeton University and received his B. Litt. in 1915. In the summer of the same year, he joined Westpoint as a Chinese government student, where he was graduated in 1918. Colonel Wang graduated from Princeton with honor, and at Westpoint his graduation standing ranked the 12th, although there were 140 students in his class, most of whom went to France to participate in the war. He was awarded "marks-man” for target shooting and appointed cadet sergeant during his last years of stay at Westpoint. Two other Chinese were graduated from this national military academy of the United States of America before, but Colonel Wang was the first one to get appointment of cadet sergeant on account of his high military efficiency. Owing to his excellent command of English he was chosen a member of the staff of the “Howitzer Board,” a class annual. Colonel Wang returned to China in July 1918 and was at once appointed a member of the Ministry of War. At the beginning of 1919 he was sent to Europe as a member of the Chinese Peace Delegation. He returned to China in the winter of 1919 and was appointed by General M. K. Tinn to be a member of the Chinese Aeronautic Department, Peking. In September 1921 he again joined the Ministry of War. In April 1923 he was awarded the Fourth Class Chiaho. In October 1923 he was appointed as Assistant Commander of the Government Railways Garrison under Director-General Tang Tsai-li, the post being created as an aftermath of the Lincheng Outrage.