EXCITING TIMES IN PEKIN

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 210, 4 March 1912, Page 5

EXCITING TIMES IN PEKIN

GREAT DESTRUCTION BY FIRE. FOREIGNERS SAFE. By Cable—Preg« Association—Copyright. Received 3, 5.55 p.m. Pekin, Match 2. Yuan-Shih-Kai is gratified that foreigners have not been attacked. The mutiny was due to unwarranted rumors that the soldiers' pay would be reduced. Nevertheless, the outbreak, originating as it did amongst Yuan-Shih-Kai's soldiers, has shaken confidence in the President's authority. The plunderers deposited tons of valuable loot in the Foreign Office compound, whence it' was conveyed southward by two trains commandeered by the mutineers. Fire caused great destruction. The historic gate facing the entry to the Forbidden City has vanished. The great market in the vicinity was consumed, while rows of shops are in ruins. The disorder has spread beyond the city, firing having been heard to the southwards, and general disaffection prevails amongst the troops. The looters acted at their officers' orders. Later advices show that robbery and incendiarism have been resumed in the southern and western sections of the city, where four fires are raging and the people are fleeing. Pekin consists of two portions, the North or Tartar City, called Nu-Ching, North or Tartar City, called Nui-Chin<?, former is built like a parallelogram, facing the four quarters of the globe, and consists of three enclosures, one ,'thin the other, each surrounded by a !1. The innermost enclosure is called i-Cliing (Prohibited or Forbidden y)), and contains the Imperial Palu.ce and buildings connected with it, in which the Emperor and Royal Family formerly resided. It is about two miles in circumference, surrounded by a solid wall, faced with glazed bricks and covered with yellow tiles. The second enclosure is oblong, about six miles in circuit, and is surrounded by a wall about 20 feet high. It was originally intended for the officers of the Court, but is now occupied by merchants and tradesman. The whole city is surrounded by walls 30 feet high, the circuit of which is about 25 miles, and contains in all 16 gates. FOREIGN MINISTERS. PREPARING FOR SIEGE.' Received 4. 12.30 a.m. Pekin, March 3. Foreign Ministers have decided to summon all available troops from adjacent ports. A thousand will arrive to-day. A Japanese battleship has been ordered to Taku to establish wireless communication with the Italian station at Pekin, whore the foreign legations are pieparing for siege. The mutineers have looted Paotingfu, and have burned large areas of the city. LOOTING CONTINUES. Pekin, March 1. The looting of houses and banks continues, and the property of foreigners is being damaged. Ten looters were executed. The losses are approximately three million sterling.