"ALL MY FAULT."

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1274, 1 November 1911, Page 5

"ALL MY FAULT."

AMAZING CHINESE EDICT. EMPEROR APOLOGISES TO THE REBELS. ARMY RETAKES HANKAU. By Telegraph—Frees Association-Copyright (Rcc. October 31, 11.35 p.m.) Peking, October 31. An Edict has been published in tho name of the Emperor blaming tho officinls and the gentry for tho embezzlement of public funds, and declaring that tho Imperial Edicts have frequently been promulgated and not obeyed. The Emperor has not been allowed to hear grumbling or to see disaster looming ahead, aud thus tho whole Empire is now seething with discontent, and the people's minds have been perturbed.

The Edict adds that the spirits of nino late Emperors are unablo properly to enjoy the sacrifices made to them, and it is feared that tho people will sutler grievously. The Emperor then declares: "All this is ray fault. I swear I will carry out reforms, and with our soldiers and people execute the Constitution faithfully, modifying legislation, abolishing hardships, and realising tho union of Manchus and Chinese."

HANKAU RECAPTURED.

IMPERIAL TROOPS VICTORIOUS, REBELS WITHDRAW. London, October 30. Router's Agency confirms the report of tho Imperial troops' victory at Hankau, which is in their possession. The fighting was one-sided, the iusurgenta being meroly an armed rabble.

It is reported from Shanghai that tho Imparialists are burning Hankau.

Keuter's correspondent states that tho battle near Hankau lasted all day. The rebels abandoned a position commanding the bridges, whereupon tho Imperial troops crossed, and at dawn attacked 5000 rebels entrenched at Kilometre Ten.

The Imperialists, win had ton guns, maintained a severe shrapnel fire, while Admiral Sah-Chen-Ping's ileet shelled the rebels' rear. After great slaughter the rebels withdrew in orderly fashion. Later they returned, reinforced, but a raking shrapnel fire finally compelled them to retire.

The Rev. Mr. Kepler, an Amerie.au missionary, while watching tho fight from tho Japanese Concession, wab wounded by a stray bullet.

MANCHU APOLOGIES. A PARDON FOR THE REBELS. Peking, October 30. An Edict has been issued, stating that tho Throne apologises for past neglect, and grants a Constitution. Manchu nobles arc to bo excluded from the Cabinet. Tho Edict grants a pardon to thu rebels.

CABINET REFORMS. REBEL NOTIFICATION TO THE CUSTOMS.

(Rec. October 31, 11.35 p.m.) Peking, October 31. Tho gliding band of Yuan-Shib-Kai is apparent in the establishment, of a real constitution.

Le-Chia-Chu, a Chinese, lias succeeded the Mancliu President of tho Assembly, and Chao-PiEg-Clnian, also a Chinese, and n. foremost politician amongst Yuan-Shih-Kni's. supporters, has superseded the Manchu Minister for the Interior.

Tho foreign troops majched round the tho foreign concessions at Tientsin, tho demonstration being intonded to impress the Natives.

Tho Commissioner of Customs has received a letter signed Huyen-fong, on bohalf of tho Revolutionary Committee, announcing that it is shortly intended to seizo Tientsin and Peking,' and adding that the revolutionaries intend to abolish all likin (inland Customs) duties. The letter advises the foreign employees in tho Likin Departments to obtain a situation in tho Maritime Customs.

COMMUNICATIONS CUT. ALARM IN PEKING. • Poking, October 30. Tho Government is in a state of consternation at the fact that the rebels at Taiyuan-fu are holding a portion of tho Peking-Hankau railway, cutting tho Imperialist communications.

Manchu officials are preparing for flight.

The troops are preparing to defend Peking.

THE YOUNGER GENERATION. THE PARTY WITH MEN AND MONEY. Tho Young China Party, says Mr. Sun Johnson, editor of the "Australian Chiueso Herald," look with contempt upon tho supposed numerical strength of the Imperial forces. It was stated some days ago that the NationJs could raise a. quarter of a million men, but the conditions under which the Imperial forces have to exist—bad pay and bad focd—have made tho men discontented, and there is more likelihood of defection than rallying to the Imperial standard. Mr. C. B. Leo four months ago foreshadowed to Mr. Johnson that on or about tho Chinoso August—September 22 to October 21—"there would l>o some active service," and ifr. Lee's prophecy came true, remarked the editor of the "Herald."

Tho Young China Party, according to Mr. Johnson, engineered the whole rising, and they attribute their success to a series of opportunities which they promptly availed themselves of. One of the opportunities was the occasion on which tho Viceroy of Szeckucn took possession of the public railways from millions of shareholders. This arbitrary act caused widespread discontent. While the quarrel wag proceeding between the Government officials and the dissatisfied shareholders, it was considered a good chance for the Young China Party io step in, more particularly as there were thousands of shareholders in their ranks. Thousands of frantic shareholders had gathered round tho Viceroy's Yamen. This irritated him, and he took the ill-advised step of firing upon tho crowd. Thus another good opening was made for the Young- China Party. "This shows," said Mr. Johnson, "that the Young China Party had been making chances for attacking tho Government. It co.st them a very large sum to hold banknotes, representing millions, up to a point when it suited them to distribute tho paper to the public for presentation to the banks. This shows that they have money as well as men behind them.

"You remember the Tatsu Maru incident.-" Mr. Johnson went on to remark,

"The guns and ammunition sho had on board for the port of Macao were to the order of tho Young China Party. It was merely an accident that tho Tatsu Maru was detected in tho attempt to land this contraband of war. But the authorities were asleep when scores of other vessels succeeded in bringing to Macao war supplies for tho Young China Party. This has been going on for the past fourteen years or more; the revolutionaries have not started on a hazardous undertaking without a considerable amount of preparation. Millions of money have been collected from nil classes nf anti-llanahua for.thn purpose of carrying on tho revoluting y.