TROUBLES IN CHINA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143674, 19 December 1911, Page 3

TROUBLES IN CHINA.

IMPERIALISTS GAINING GROUND. POSSIBLE MEDIATION. By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. PEKIN, Dec. 18. The British and Japanese C'onsulaGcneral will act as mediators at the forthcoming negotiations between the Imperialists and Revolutionaries. The Imperialists now control Taiyuanfu. General Chang, with 4000 rebels, attacked Kingchan. The Manchu garrison surrendered, their lives being spared by the intercession of a Catholic missionary. The rebels at Shansi are demoralised, poorly armed, and fleeing. During their flight four locomotives, drawing the retreating troops, blew up. The occupants of the trains fled to the hills. The Manchn soldiery have demanded arrears of pay, and stipulate that future remuneration siiail be in the nature of pay and not AJanehn bounty, also the opening of all colleges and compulsory attendance <ifStudents, the suppression of opium smoking and gambling. Misses Sears and Molloy, Australian missionaries, were conveyed to Hankau, whence they are to be deported to Australia for disobeying the British Consul’s orders to leave, TOKIO, Dec. 18. Tho newspapers assert that Britain and Japan are combining to secure peace in China. Tho Foreign Office declares the report is premature. A message from Shanghai states that the rebels have been notified that Britain and Japan are prepared to guarantee certain terms if peace is declared. The Japanese newspaper Jiji Shimpo announces that both countries will take decisive measures if the terms are refused. LONDON, Dee. 18. The Foreign Office states that tho Japanese reports concerning AngloJapanese peace intervention in China are unauthorised. It is impossible to issue a statement on tiie matter at present, pending negotiations. CONDITIONS IN CHINA. The inflowing cablegram from Shanghai appeared m the Sydney .bun of Deceiimer 7 :— Each day the apprehension grows keener that Chum is drifting into political chaos. The revolutionary party are marking time. They are awaiting the arrival ol Dr. Sun Vat Sen, hoping that ho may prove the leader who is so urgently wanted. Iluan-lifiing assorts that lie has a right to name himself ns President until Sun Vat Sen’s arrival, but it is thought that ho would not be equal to the. task of holding the rival factions togetiier. Dissension among the rebels is threatening everywhere, especially at Wuchang and Nankin. The rebel defeat at Hangyaug is now ascertained to have been partly duo to desertions from the Republican ranks, which were attributable to the ancient jealousy between the people of Shutiau and those of Hupeh. It is also thought that many of the Republicans were bought off by General Yuan Shih Kai.

I lie refit of the .struggle has been far greater than is easily realised. Apart from the great sacrifice of life, the majority of the provinces have been plunged into poverty and famine, rdl commerce has stopped, and agriculture is crippled. Huth sides arc almost on the verge of bankruptcy, and realise that the firstneed is to establish their credit. In the hone of securing assistance from abroad they are not sparing the use of illegitimate means to influence opinion. News is censored and coloured to suit the purpose of those who happen to bo in control.

Reports from the interior show that the conditions there are growing worse, and that millions are starving. Brigandage is the only occupation left to people w ho formerly led the most orderly lives. Accounts of robberies and the killing of even Europeans have ceased to be exceptional. It must be remembered, however, that atrocities which would make a European shudder cause no disturbance to the nerves of an Oriental. Close observers are becoming more uneasy with regard to the prospects of foreigners in China. The group of reformers in Nankin at present called the Cabinet do not represent the rebels of all the provinces. The lack of cohesion among the revolutionaries is shown by the suggestions that Wuchang or Canton should be made the permanent capital, despite the fart that the rebels declare that they will bo in Pekin in less than a fortnight.