HUNANESE RIOTERS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 801, 26 April 1910, Page 5

HUNANESE RIOTERS.

CONSUL'S EFFORTS, WHAT ONE WHITE DEATH WOULD HAVE MEANT. By Telegraph—Press Assooiatlon-OoMrirtl (Rec. April 25, 9.55 p.m.) ' Peking, April 25. Reports from Changsha, the centre of the riots in Hunan province, indicate that matters are at present quiet, but tho situation is precarious, -and the populace in the vicinity is extremely dissatisfied. . The British Consul, Mr. circularised refugees on April 18, emphasising a astatoment, by theo fficials that if one foreigner's life had been lost during the riots, the whole of the province would havo risen, as it only awaited the word from Changsha. . , ■ Although scarcity of rice was the immediate cause of the outbreak, behind it is the anti-foreign feeling of the Huna'nese'. The evidence of the Changsha refugees concerning, the growing intolerance of the people during recent years is highly' significant. ~ , ' , ' ' The refugees pay a glowing tribute to Mr. Hewlett. .From April 13 till April 17, when'the British gunboat Thistle found her, way up the river, . bringing succour, he was practically sleepless. It was largely due to Mr. Hewlett's efforts that no foreigner was killed. Some of the native military' officials also stood' firm, and helped foreigners' to escape. ■-';''-■: '■■■'. '' • Peking, April 24. The British Consul has • returned to Changsha; He declares that organised bands are rioting in the neighbourhood. AH foreigners have taken refuge in two British vessols. .