THE CHINESE REVOLT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 59, 5 March 1912, Page 5

THE CHINESE REVOLT.

VIVID DETAILS OF LOOTING IN PEKIN. MANOHU BUILDINGS SPARED. Pekin, March 4. Five thousand Japanese troops at Port Arthur have been ordered to proceed to Tientsin, whore there are only 1500 foreign troops. The rabble joined the mutineers o.n Saturday night, looting the shops and banks in Tientsin and burning property, the soldiers firing continuously. ' The rattle of musketry terrified the city.

The few police remaining loyal were outnumbered and powerless;

There were fourteen simultaneous fires, and the town is burning. The pillagers entered the Peiyand mint, destroyed valuable machinery, and emptied the silver stores. Dr. Schreyer, a German, whilst assisting friends to escape from Tientsin, was killed by a policeman, who himself was shot. . I It transpires that the French en-j gineers merely disconnected a portion of the bridge previously reported to| have been blown up, and communieaitnn has been restored, enabling 2000 of Yuan-Shih-Kai’s troops to proceed to Poatingfu to suppress the mutiny. Rebellious troops occupied and sacked Tungehau. The old stylo troops, under the aged general Chiangweiti, succeeded in restoring order. The guilty soldiers, mostly belonging to the third division, escaped scot free, except two, who, as they were not wearing their uniforms,, were executed, the authorities fearing the effect on their comrades if they punished the whole of the offenders. A hundred alleged looters were executed. They included many povertystricken men and some women who

had gathered scraps amongst the ruins.

Eight hundred foreign troops patrolled the outskirts or the legation quarters. 'li’.ree thousand foreign troops arc now in Pekin. i no fires caused twenty deaths.

A detachment of muiineens with ar iilLr.v, headed by a band, marened 0.. Saturday to me palace of the Dowager’s father, blew up the gate and burned a portion of the building. It is a significant fact that no Mancliu houses or shops were looted. General Gliing is serio isly ill in the French hospital.

I he legations consider that judicious support of Yuan-Shih-Kai is the surest means of overcoming the anarchy. Li-Yuan-Hnng -lesires to assist in restoring Yuan-Shih-Kai’s autliority. Dr. Sun-Yat-S<;n declares that the Nanking Government is ready to temporarily assume responsibility in the north. Effective measures will be taken to assist Yuan-Shih-Kai.

The Nanking delegates suggest a combination of northern and southern troops and the establishment of a huge police force, with headquarters at Pekin, inasmuch as the southern districts are quiet.

MARTIAL LAW WORKS WELL

(Received 5, 8.30 a.m.)

Pekin, March 4 . Martial law is operating successfully in Pekin. The business quarter of Pao-Ting-Fu was sacked. No yamens were destroyed, and foreigners were not injured.

DILATORY “MOVING ON.”

(Received 5, 9.55 a.m.)

Pekin, March 4. Fifteen hundred Chinese troops stopped trains between Pekin and Tientsin. The Second Somersetshire Regiment deployed at Feng-Tai station, and ordered the Chinese troops to clear out within an hour. The Chinese did not move until seveai hundred of tho Enniskillen Regiment detrained, when they fled hurriedly.