CHINESE REVOLUTION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 57, 21 October 1911, Page 5

CHINESE REVOLUTION.

THE HANKOW BATTLE

REBELS LOSE HEAVILY

(By Electric Telegraph.— -'Copyright.) v (United Press Association.) London, October 20.

The “Telegraph’s” Shanghai correspondent states that the rebels at Hankow are reported to have boon forced back, losing two thousand. It is rumoured that an armistice has been arranged. Twenty thousand refugees have arrived. Tiie “Telegraph’s” Pekin corresponlant reports that General Yin Chang, with eight battalions and six batteries, crossed the Yangtso river and turned tho rebels’ position. The invostmont was complete, it is hoped that bombardment will avoided in order to save Hanyang irsonal, which is valued at 30.000,000 taels.

The rebels’ collapse is possible at any minute.

A quarter of a million troops are under arms in China.

FOREIGN WARSHIPS BUSY

Pekin, October 20

Details of Wednesday’s fight state that, hoping tho proximity of tlie foreign concessions would protect them until reinforcements arrived, 1500 Imperialists encamped on tho river and near the railway station, ten milometres from the Central Station at Hankow.

The Republicans attempted to surround them. A force of two thousand was sent across tlie Yangtze River from Wuchang at night time. The force landed and crossed north-east-wards, and reached the neighbourhood of the camp at dawn. The attack ' immediately began. \] >. \ j • Tho warships landed parties under cover of their guns, but otherwise they did not prominently participate', because the direct fire would-have endangered their own troops, while the flank lire would have involved the bombardment over tlie foreign concessions, besides exposing tho gunboats to the Wuchang batteries.

Ultimately the exhaustion i of ammunition and the arrival of Imperial reinforcements decided the Republicans’ retreat. Some re-entered the native city of Hankow, and others crossed to Wuchang. Subsequently the Republicans were reinforced from Wuchang. and firing was continued at the railway station behind the French and German concessions. SUCCESS OF THE REBELS. REPORTED CAPTURE OF TWO CITIES. New York, October 20. The Chinese newspapers at San Francisco publish an announcement of the success cf the rebels, capturing Ching-giangfu and also Kiangsi. THE GHUNdiisis IN MANCHURIA. Constantinople, October 20. Reuters’s St. Petersburg correspondent, states that Japanese sources report the Clumclmses in Manchuria have promised the insurgents to organise a revolution there. THE POSITION EXPLAINED. London, October 20. Dr. Sommorville, of-,, the London Mission at Wuchang, interviewed in London, declared’ thatS the outbreak at Szechuan was almost entirely economic,, and duo to ill-advised efforts of the' Chinese to subscribe money for railway construction instead of applying for moneys for the proper purpose. The treasurers squandered the money subscribed in rubber speculations, precipitating acute distress and jnrest. The troubles at Hupeh, on the other hand, the Doctor continued, were purely revolutionary and anti-'' Manchn. Frenchmen prominently participated therein. In a club connected with the American Boone University at Wuchang, was discovered ar. indiscreet photograph of a meeting of the club. This led to the execution of several Boone students. v . Dr. Somerville was surprised at Yuan Shih-Kai’s appointment, inasmuch as the rebellious forces at Wuchang were largely due to his creation,- and possibly to his power. As a true Chinaman, he feels bound to make every sacrifice to save his family. The Doctor added that as Hanyang and the native city cf Hankow were in the rebels’ hands, the gunboats will probably he forced to bombard them from the north, and Boone University, the Wesleyan, the London, American, and Swedish mission hospitals would then ho iii the line of fire between the gunboats and the rebel camps. A PROMISE. Pekin, October 20. Yuan-shi-kai, in accepting the appointment, secured from, the Throne a promise to open Parliament in 1910, and the appointment of a purely Chinese Cabinet, with plenary power to make his own terms with the rebels, and full control of the entire Yangtszo Valley. . ,' (J/: fIT Pi FEELING OF COLONIAL CHINESE. Tong, editor of the Tung Wah Times declares that a large proportion of Chinese residents in Australia are sympathisers with the leaders in the rebellion, and arc extremely anxious for the overthrow of the Manchn Dynasty. AN EDITOR THREATENED. (Received 21, 9.35 a.m.) Sydney, October 21. The editor of the Chinese newspaper in Sydney has received a number of letters threatening him with personal violence for his expressions of antirevolutionary doctrines in the paper. REBELS REPORTED TO BE WINNING. (Received 21, S.o a.m.) London, October 20. “The Times’ ” Pekin correspondent states that the Government has notified its arrangements, and now sends from Manchuria and Shantung only a few thousand troops. This is attributed to a feeling that two divisions entraining for Hankow will he sufficient to deal with the situation. Some think that Yuanshihiki will assume command of the troops. The “Daily Mail’s” Pekin correspondent states that it is reported that the loyalists were repulsed in North-West Hankow, with losses of seven hundred. The “Chronicle’s” Shanghai representative says it is reported that a second battle of ten hours, duchy at the station below the Japanese concession at Hankow, has taken place, and the rebels wore victorious. The correspondent proceeds to show that Liyuanheug, with subtle strategy, started the revolution. Ho seized the Viceroy of Wuchang, and using his seal, despatched a messenger to the manager of the Hanyang arsenal, urg-

ing him to come to the Viceroy’s aid. \\ nilst tiie men were absent, tin; revolutionaries seized the arsenal. The manager afterwards retained the post under the revolutionaries. The “Standard’s” Shanghai correspondent declares that imperials at Hankow have retired northwards. It is believed to be a strategic movement to join the Imperials arriving by train. Heater's Hankow correspondent reports the rebels as winning.. AN ABANDONED POSITION. (Received 21, 9.30 a.m.) Hankow, October 20. The rebels advanced on Thursday and found that the Imperialists had abandoned the camp, which they thereupon occupied, capturing some baggage and ammunition. A Chinese gunboat also retired several miles down tiie river. The Imperialists are camped ten miles from Hankow.