LOOTING OF HANKOW.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 3, 13 December 1911, Page 8

LOOTING OF HANKOW.

TERRIBLE AND WANTON HOLOCAUST.

DESPERATE RESCUE WORK

The burning of the native city of Hankow, which lias been progressing under the direction of the Imperial general, during the first week in November is now complete , (writes the “Sydney Daily Telegraph’s” Shanghai correspondent on November litJi). Where there was once a splendid city with a population of over half a million, lino streets adorned with bus;ness houses which would have been a decoration to any city, teihples innumerable, missions, hospitals, foreign residences, electric light, and water services of great value, there is now nothing hut smoking ruins. With live shell, lyddite, and kerosene the Imperial troops swept through the streets, destroying and burning. Nothing could stay them. Shells from the flatteries posted at Wuchang by the rebels had no influence in checking the .terrible and j wanton holocaust. Nor were their I feelings touched by the sight of thousands of residents running screaming from the flames, from .bursting shells and burning buildings. Immense clouds of smoke totally obscured, the sun. From the midst could be hoard the noise of- an inferno. Foreigners stood by to save the Concessions from envelopment, but fortunately the wind favoured them and drove the flames in other directions'. How much the damage represents in actual money cannot he estimated. How many lives were sacrificed will never bo known. How the Blind Beys Waited Death. Only three-quarters of an hour was granted the foreign volunteers who wished to penetrate the flames to bio hospital sucltaring 15U wounded soldiers and 80 blind boys to effect a rescue. For that brief space of time the Imperial general said he would hold his shell tire from tiie city. But he would resume without fail upon its expiry. Twenty foreigners with a detail of the Chinese Bed Cross

rushed into the rolling smoke, penetrated two miles of smoke and liame filled streets, under the hail of screaming shell destined for the forts across the river, and found the mission intact. On the lawn wore all the blind boys, clinging together, hearing the ''terrible roar of flames, the

screaming and demoniacal detonations of bursting shells, the wild, terrified yells of flying fugitives, and seeing nothing. They dung together, waiting in terror for merciful death from a shell; some lying on the ground in abject fear;' /others sobbing quietly; but hoping that the foreigners away out on tlie Concessions would remember them where their own countrymen failed. The wounded soldiers unable, to move, stretched out in front of the hospitals, watched the oncoming flames, and great clouds of black smoko roll-

ing ' Overhead, wondering where the next , shell would burst. And when

hope _ must have gone, they heard shouting from the smoke-filled streets and saw the foreigners running towards them. No pen can describe the scene enacted, for the rescuers came when hope had been'abandoned. I i •, , '( l . Dash fer Utio Launch.

_ There was no time for any reception but tearful gratitude. White men shouldered the litters, carrying the founded men—whom, a week ago, they would have kicked out of. their

way—the whole distance to the river, where a launch was waiting. Before they reached the outside of the city the Imperial general resumed shelling. Grave risks were run, but none

of the rescuing party nor of the rescued suffered. imperialists’ Difficult Position,

Under stress of flumes and shells Lhe rebels retired across the river to the tortilieations of Hanyang and Wuchtiug, and there sent back a telling fire against the Imperialists, but could not shake the artillery fire. Later the force of imperialists were using heavier guns than formerly, but it was difficult to make any effect on the fortifications. Unless an enveloping movement is made little result will be achieved, with a great expenditure of ammunition that the Imperialists can’t afford, in view of the fact tiiat no supplies can pass, as the rebels are holding the line to the north. ■Already on,e train-load of ammunition has been seized and detained on the railway, and the ships on the river are prevented from running supplies through jtho foreign consuls maintaining strict neutrality. For this reason the Imperialists arc in a difficult position. Unless a truce is called, as is daily threatened, or they win out Illicitly,, they will he in a desperate position shortly. Already 10,000 of their men have disappeared somewhere. Meantime about 20,000; with good artillerists, keep the rebels engaged in front. Some of the loyalists are getting very tired of lighting, and would desert if it were possible. But any tendency directed in that direction would bring the executioner’s sword into operation without delay. Wanton Excesses. Who is in supreme command of the ‘lmperialists it is difficult to say. Yuan Sain Kai was accorded the 'command, bu& never seemed to get any further down the line than twenty or thirty miles from Hankow, and then was only there one day, leaving almost at once for Pekin. To Iris door is being laid the charge for the destruction of Hankow City, and the National Assembly is calling upon the imperial House to pay the indemnity out of its own pockets. More harm has been done the Manchu cause by the wanton acts of the Imperialist soldiers than by anything since. These people, who like and sympathise with them, have gone to the rebel side, ihe troops in the northern garrisons refrain from action. Seeing what has gone forward in the vortex of conflict, it is now impossible for the I nrone to command their services. In the southern provinces Lhe whole people have turned against them. \o troops ,no money will be forthcoming, the Mancluis have placed themselves in a position to be hoist with U.eii own petard. The people arc ready to do the hoisting. What will bo the result of the terrible sacrifice of blood at Hankow it is difficult to say; though it is believed the rebels will hold out. They have recruits by the thousands a day; despite the deaths daily occurring before their eyes, raw men are wishing to enlist. '! lie Chinese have a bigger score than ever to wipe out now. 'J hey arc not lacking in men for the task. They are handicapped, of course, not being able to get trained men, but hope that num-ac-is will prevail. Almost in the midst of tne carnage, lhe foreigners stand by their threatened property, heartily hoping taut tin 1 rebels will Vila, but maintaining flic strictest neutrality. Deprived of servant labour, they arc compelled to fetch and carry for themselves and do menial housework, with winch they have never been acquainted. Sin attempt has been made to barm the Concessions, hot, as is only natural, shells and bullets occasionally fall about, to .the danger of pedestrians. Even

from this source nothing serums .ms happened, and the foreigners congratulate themselves accordingly. Commerce has been absolutely stopped.