RISING IN CHINA

Otago Witness, Issue 3005, 18 October 1911, Page 32

RISING IN CHINA

A CRITICAL SITUATION. REVOLUTIONARIES' PLANS. REPUBLIC AIMED AT. PEKING, October 10. The revolutionaries at Hankow had planned to seize Wuchang, where 28 of them were arrested and four beheaded. PEKING, October 11. Young China revolutionaries are indulging in wild incendiarism and wrecking. The Viceroy's yamen was destroyed, and fighting continues. Foreigners so far are safe, but volunteers at Hankow are standing to arms day and night. The foreign Consuls have telegraphed for further assistance. Japanese and American cruisers are expected, and other gunboats are hurrying forward. The European women and children are boarding the river boats. The revolutionaries at Wuchang have issued a proclamation threatening to decapitate a?aybody injuring foreigners. The movement is purely an anti-Manchu one. The Szechuanese rebels have captured Kiating and Yachowfa. PEKING, October 12.

Following the decapitation of three troopers at Wuchang, all the provincial troops mutinied, and are now in possession of the town. All the yamens, including the Treasury, were burnt. The Viceroy took refuge on a Chinese gunboat. General Changpao was killed by a bomb. He was one of the ablest men in the Chinese army.

Documents show that the revolutionists intended to make Hupeh their base, and thence envelope the Yang-tse province. The Taotai has requested the Consuls to instruct the foreign warships to guard the harbour. The Viceroy has urgently appealed for the despatch of a Tientsin division. The Consuls at Hankow. refused the request to patrol the river. Tlie revolutionists have written requesting the Consuls to observe neutrality. Tlie rebels attacked the local troops, who are fleeing towards Hankow. It is feared that a currency chaos will follow the destruction of the Treasury, which supplied Wuchang, Hankow, and Hangyang with notes. The revolution is spreading rapidly. The insurgents have captured Hanyang, including the arsenal and the Government ironworks, which employs 3500 men, including many European super T intendents-. Its products are able to compete successfully with those of the Steel Trust in the American market.

Six thousand troops at Hankow have mutinied.

Two hundred and fifty Manchus were tilled at Szeobuan.

The insurgents have occupied Suifu, and hold the country west of the Min River, between Kaating and Kwansien. The missionaries .at Wuchang are safe.

The Minister of War has ordered two army divisions and several warships to Wuchang.

PEKING, October 13.

The present rising is the most formidable since the Taiping rebellion. It is part of a concerted movement to take the whole Empire and create a Republic under Sun-Yan-Tsen.

Mis-government, over-taxation, and food distress paved the way. for the revolutionists, who occupied Hankow unopposed. Random shelling between the revolutionary fort at Wuchang and the loyal cruisers on the river ceased after the British and Japanese had made protests. The concessions are endangered. Foreigners, at Hankow, Wuchang, and Hanyang have been summoned to proceed to the foreign concessions. Hankow reports state that the people were well treated at the hands of the revolutionaries.

Chansa has risen, and the Viceroy's yamen and the Tartar general's residence have been destroyed. The Peking-Han-kow railway has been torn up for a stretch of 20 miles, and bridges have been destroyed. -

Between 10,000 and 15,000 troops mutinied at Hup eh, and 30 modern guns were captured.

An edict which has been issued at Wuchang cashiers the Viceroy, but orders him to retake Wuchang under pain of severe punishment. The mint, with 2,000,000 taels of Government silver, has been captured. The report of the capture of Hanyang and Chang-piao is incorrect. The authorities took refuge on .a gunboat. The Government is stupefied at the disaffection of the troops. Admiral Sah's squadron has left Shanghai for Hankow.

Semi-martial law prevails in Peking, and the residences of the princes and high officials and also the city gates are guarded. ST. PETERSBURG, October 10. A telegram from Hankow reports the discovery in a Russian concession of a bomb laboratory, bundles of forged paper dollars, and revolutionary manifestoes ur ging the proclamation of a Chinese Republic. LONDON, October 11. Reuter's Peking correspondent states that the revolutionaries have captured Wuchang, and the Viceroy has. fled. A bomb killed the commander of the troops. Five foreign gunboats are protecting Hankow.