THE CHINA WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14845, 23 November 1911, Page 7

THE CHINA WAR.

PREMIER STANDS FIRM.

TROOPS ON THE MARCH. SAFETY FOR THE COURT. By Telegraph.— Association.— Copyright. r , . . , Pekin, November 21. .... Yuan-shi-kai, Premier in the new Chinese Cabinet, .has not visited the National Assembly, as he considers himself responsible to the Throne alone. ; '"."'. Despite the • Assembly's decision against ' hostilities, the first brigade of Manchus is leaving Pekin for the South. ■ The Assembly has approved the holding of .a conference of provincial representatives to declare for the monarchy, or for a republic. The Assembly promises to guarantee the Court's safety, but will not grant a pension to,the Emperor in the event of a change of rule.

PLIGHT OF MISSIONARIES. ESCAPE FROM ROBBERS. London, November 21. The Baptist Missionary Society cables that Tai Yuen Fie is in ruins, but the missions are safe. A message from Pekin states that highwaymen at Honan attacked" and robbed the : missionaries, who escaped to Shensi. One missionary was wounded. . The Evening Standard states that the leader of" the revolution has cabled to Sun-Yat-Sen, who is on his way to China, offering him the Premiership. He is not anxious for the position unless the country demands it. ; - . ■ - , ' ..'

REDUCED TO RUINS. • HOW • HANKAU BURNED. SCENE VIVIDLY DESCRIBED. "A BRAVE RESCUE PARTY. Stdstet, November 22. The Daily Telegraph's special correspondent, describing tho burning of the native city at Hankau, under the direction of the Chinese Imperial generals, savs that where once was a splendid city, with a population of 500,000, there is now a heap of smoking ruins. . With livo- shell, lyddite, ana* kerosene, the troops swept through the.streets, destroying and burning. Shells from the batteries, posted, by the rebels at Wuchang, had no influence- in checking the terrible' wanton holocaust. ;' •- :'■ ■■' How* much damage-' was done" and how many lives were lost will never be known. The correspondent gives a vivid description of the rescue of 150 wounded soldiers and 80 blind boys from the hospital. During the three-quarters of an hour allowed for the work, 20 foreigners, with details "of the Chinese Red Cross Society/ penetrated two miles of flamefilled, bullet-swept streets, and carried all to safety. :■ ~ ~■. ..;,. • -,^_