Taiwan Today

No fallen leader of modern times has been mourned by so many people as President Chiang Kai-shek, who died in Taipei April 5. Nearly 6 million people either paid tribute at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall where the body lay in state or lined the streets and roads taken by the hearse and accompanying cortege. Memorial services were held on every continent and in every major city of the free world. The picture above shows the blocks-long line of mourn­ers waiting to enter the Memorial Hall to pay their last respects. People came not only from throughout Taiwan but from all over the world and then waited patiently, hour after hour, to file past the bier.

These are scenes from the Joint Memorial Services for President Chiang Kai-shek and the cortege which conveyed the body to Tze Hu southwest of Taipei for tem­porary repose in a simple house that the Generalissimo used for prayer and meditation. Perma­nent entombment will be on the Chinese mainland after the return of the National Government. Top left(1): The Rev. Chow Lien­-hwa presides at Christian ser­vices at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall; the flag-draped cof­fin is seen just below the por­trait of President Chiang. Top right(2): Hearse flanked by the 21 members of the Funeral Commit­tee begins the journey to Tze Hu. Center left(3): Some of the dignitaries who came from all over the world; they included Vice President Nelson Rockefel­ler of the U.S., Premier Kim Jong Pil of Korea and former Prime Ministers Eisaku Sato and Nobusuke Kishi of Japan. Center middle(4): Mourners .in cars follow the hearse past throngs lining the street. Center right(5): Many people made offerings for the comfort of the President's soul; some had waited since be­ fore dawn. Bottom left(6): Arriv­ing world statesmen and digni­taries went first to the Memor­ial Hall to make their bows to President Chiang; this group includes Anna Chennault and for­mer Ambassador Walter McConau­ghy. Bottom middle(7): Mourners from Japan, including former Prime Minister Sato, recalled the benefactions of President Chiang after the war. Bot­tom right(8): Many of those lining the route of the cortege came in groups and held portraits of the President or made offerings. Some knelt or prostrated themselves. There were few dry eyes.

The simple house where President Chiang will repose until the return to the main­land lies in quiet and peaceful country­ side southwest of Taipei. Top(9): President C.K. Yen places a wreath in front of the black granite sarcophagus. The cross of chrysanthemums was from Madame Chiang Kai-shek. Bottom(10): Mourners in long dark gowns leave through the Tze Hu main portal after paying their last respects to the leader.