Battle at Hankow

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 102, 20 October 1911, Page 5

Battle at Hankow

REBELS DEFEAT ROYALISTS. CASUALTIES ABOUT 1500. Isy Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Pekin, O.tober IS. Two thousand of the Imperial forces, supported by a cruiser, are engaging ten thousand rebels near Hankow. The foreign warships are landing men. Admiral Sachengping ordered the cruisers to land men to join two thousand Imperial troops under General C'hangpiao. The rebels observing the movement gave battle. The cruisers kept up ■desultory shelling, but the Rebels drove the Imperialists back until their ammunition was exhausted. Then they retired to Wuchang. The rebels on the previous night tried to capture Changpiao's camp. Admiral Winde commands the foreign naval forces at Hankow. An unconfirmed Shanghai telegram states that the rebels have captured Nanking. The Imperial troops have captured Hankow railway station, and reinforcements are rapidly detraining. The casualties on the Revolutionaries' side totalled 300. The Imperialists' losses were slightly fewer. London. October IS. The Times reports that the Berlin semi-official press maintains that the activity of the Powers in China must be confined rigidly to the protection of tbeir respective subjects and their trade. AXTI-MANCHU DEMONSTR ATIOXS.

REBELS' BAD LEADERSHIP. CONFLICTING REPORTS. FOTHER ROYALISTS GO OVER. SEVERAL TOWNS IN HANDS OF REBELS. Received 19, 10 p.m. Pekin, Oetober 19. Anti-Manehu demonstrations took place during the celebration of Confucius' birthday in some of the disaffected districts in the south. The people compelled the lowering of the Imperial flag. Competent believe that the rebels' recent inactivity has jeopardised their chances of success. The rebels complain of the bad leadership of Li Huan Hung, who was coerced into leading them. Correspondents, on the other hand, emphasise the rebels' retreating to Wuchang, not being pursued or harrassed. Fighting of an indecisive character took place around the Hankow railway station throughout the afternoon. The position was sharply contested, the place continually changing hands until the Imperial troops finally got possession. Advices from Shanghai state that the commander of the corps at Kiukiang has joined the revolutionaries, who later captured Kiukiang and the fort opposite. Several towns in the Szcehuan province are in the hands of the rebels. It is not clear whether the movement is connected with the Hankow revolt.

Missionaries in North-West Honan are preparing to leave. THE GERMAN WARSHIPS. PROTECTION OF GERMAN INTERESTS. Received 15. 8.30 p.m. Berlin. October 19. It is officially stated that ihe cruiser Gneisenau remains at Nanking, as the river is falling but Vice-Admiral Vonkrosigk proceeds to Hankow aboard the gunboat litis. Newspapers state that the Germans engaged in the recent fight with the mob acted after consultation with the other foreign commanders, solely for the protection of Germans endangered.