CHINESE REVOLT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 26, 13 January 1912, Page 2

CHINESE REVOLT.

CONDITIONS IN CANTON

The Rev. G. N. McNeur, in a letter dated December U, writes :

“Many of the country districts are ijn U'terriljle state of iawlcssuess. Owing to the first officer of a British ouat on tlie West River Haring f.een snot by pirates, the Hongkong Government nas sent three gimuoais up to protect the trade route between Hongkong and W inflow . Some faetinis in cue new Canton Government are concerned about this, and demand the removal of these offending gunboats —if necessary, by force! Of course, bfie new Provincial Government is not recognised by any foreign Government, and we are in constant fear of complications. Canton City is all on edge, but outwardly things are peaceful. Tne other day 1 happened to be not far from a spot where a bomb burst, accidentally it was said; In a few minutes all the shutters were on the doors and windows of every .-hop for streets around. “If is said there is , now an army of about 75,000 to 100,000 in Canton. It will take over a million dollars a month to keep this army alone. Where is the money coming Horn, and what about the indemnity and the interest on foreign loans? Kwang Tung is sending an army up north. The situation there suggests an early compromise, leaving the youthful Emperor on the throne, with Yuou-Shih-,ivai as Premier. But to suggest such a thing to the leaders here, tvould be a red rag to a bull. The Chinese fully believe that Japan, and Germany have been helping the Imperialists. The probable fact is that individual Japanese and Germans have been helping both sides, and the revolutionaries most. But the Cantonese are extremely touchy just now. We are trusting that the Christian element in the new Administration will keep them sane in their relationship with foreign Powers. The Consuls are gathering women and children to the ports all over China, and it is very evident that they fear the time may come when foreign intervention will bo necessary. 1 hope they will give the Chinese time to do something first. . . Yon will understand that we are perfectly peaceful hero. Probably we,are more disturbed over the anxiety of our friends at home than over anything else.” THE REVOLUTIONARY FLAG. Under dato January 6th the Wellington correspondent of the Christchurch “Press” writes as follows: If the weather be propitious and the wind not too boisterous. any passer-by may see waving gallantly above the promises of Wall Lee on Lambton Quay—opposite the Bank of New Zealand’—a bright emerald green flag having in its centre a circle of white with' a serrated or star-like, edge—a plain but effective device, and one withal that is striking terror into the heart of the Manchu at the present time. The flag is the peace flag of the new Chinese Republic, i,ind it flies over the fruit shop on the Quay because its owner is a hot revolutionary who has the cause of the Republic at heart with many hundreds of other Chinese residents in New Zealand. .. i, This green hit of hunting is called the “Peace Flag,” for the reason that the party has another and more ominous banner—a war flag, one of which is also in the possession of Wah Lee. The blood flag is of the same device as that described—with this, important difference, that the ground colour of. the flag (all ,green is divided vertically in halves—one half green and the other red—bold colours for a bold cause, which are to supplant the yellow dragon ’ 6f the'-Man-ohn dynasty, if Providence, or _ the Chinese gods, will it so. Wall Lee is a prosperous trader, and a man of education. His enterprises are .not restricted to Wellington, and whenever he takes his walks abroad he spares no effort to spread the propoganda of the new Republic. Not only tins, but he lectures to the Chinese community about the political sit nation in Celestia, and translates in flowing Cantonese the cabled news of the war now in progress. . i., Wall says that, when the Manchu is fired from the throne, <r d the Republic is established—believing that a Republic is the only solution of China’s national problem-—there will bo very few Chinese left in New Zealand. ■ • In explanation, he says that many , of the Chinese who have settled in New Zealand, Australia, and America., have been forced to seek homes over the sea for political reasons, and owing to the extortionate demands of the Manchu Government and its hirelings. But with the establishment of the Republic, a change will come over the scone in the home country. The ancient conservatism, which has blocked progress and prevented the development of the Empire’s great resources, will lie swept away in favour of a policy which will make China one of the foremost nations on earth. The policy of the Republic will favour the opening up of, the great hack country and the working of vast areas of land, known to lie rich in copper, gold, coni, and other minerals. There will be no inducement for Chinese to leave their own country ; indeed, the inducement will He for “foreign” Chinese to return to the land of their fathers, for, at heart, the Chinaman is fervently patriotic and home-lov-ing. Hundreds of pounds have already been subscribed in Wellington for the Republican cause, and there are those, it is stated, who are prepared to give their all to help to remove from the throne the Manchu Dynasty.