FIRE AND LOOT IN CHINA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14933, 5 March 1912, Page 7

FIRE AND LOOT IN CHINA.

! TROOPS RESTORE ORDER. REAL MUTINEERS GO FREE. EXECUTION OF SCAPEGOATS. GERMAN DOCTOR MURDERED. By Telegraph.—Press Association Copyright (Received March 4. 9.45 p.m.) Pekix, March 1. The old style troops, under the aged general, Chiang-wa-ti, have now restored order in Pekin. The guilty soldiers, who mostly belong to the third division, escaped scot free, except two who, as they were not wearing uniforms, were executed Those in uniform escaped because the authorities feared, the effect on their comrades if punishment were inflicted. A hundred alleged looters .were executed. They included many poverty-stricken men and some women who had gathered scraps among the nuns. Twenty deatns were caused by the fires. Eight hundred foreign troops patrolled the outskirts ot the Legation quarters. Three thousand are now in Pekin. A detachment of mutineers, with artillery, and headed by a, band, marched on Saturday to the-'palace of the father of ■ the DowagerEmpress, blew up the; gate, and burned a portion of the building. MANCHU PROPERTY RESPECTED. It is a significant fact that no Manchu houses or shops were looted. Prince Ching is seriously ill in the French hospital. The Legations consider that a judicious support of President Yuan-shih-kai is the surest means of overcoming anarchy.

Li-yuan-heng, general of the Republican Yang-tse army, desired to assist in restoring Yuan-shih-kai's authority.

Dr. Sun-yat-sen (who retired from the provisional Presidency in favour of Yuan) declares that the Nanking Government (Republican) is ready to temporarily assume responsibility in the north. Effective measures will be taken to assist Yuan-shih-kai. The Nanking delegates suggest a combination of the northern and southern troops, and the establishment of a huge police force with headquarters at Pekin, inasmuch as the southern districts are quiet. JAPANESE FOR TIENTSIN. At Tientsin (the port of Pekin, and distant from the capital 80 miles) whole streets of residences were looted and burned. Hundreds of rioters were arrested. Feng-tai and Yu-ping-fu were also looted. Five'thousand Japanese troops at Port Arthur have been ordered to proceed to Tientsin, where there are only 1500 foreign troops. A rabble joined the mutineers on Saturday night in looting shops and banks in Tientsin, and burning property. The. rioting soldiers fired continuously, and the rattle of musketry had a terrifying effect. The few police who remained- loyal were outnumbered and were powerless. Fourteen fires were lighted simultaneously, and are still burning. LOOTING OP THE MINT. The pillagers entered the Peiyand Mint, destroyed valuable machinery, and emptied the silver stores. Dr. Schreyer, a German, while assisting some friends to escape from Tientsin, was killed by a policeman, who himself was afterwards shot. A train load of rioters quitted Pao-ting-fu (about 80' miles from Pekin) for the capital, but some French engineers disconnected a portion of a bridge, temporarily stop-' ping railway traffic. Communication has since been restored, enabling 2000 of Yuan-shih-kai's troops to proceed to Pao-ting-fu to suppress the mutiny.

Rebellious troops occupied and sacked Tungchau. THE INNOCENT PERISH. While ' many of the panic-stricken inhabitants of Pekin were fleeing with their effects, they were killed by loyal troops, who mistook them for looters.

Th© Northern Chinese army participated in the looting, believing that the arrival of the Nanking delegates would be a prelude to their dismissal. The loyal troops summarily decapitated prisoners in the outskirts of the capital, and many headless bodies lie in the streets. The populace of Pekin have been notified that anyone found in the streets after eight o'clock at night will be shot. Civilians are arming and barricading their premises and erecting gates in the street. The British railway guard is protecting women and children.