Anarchy in China.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 211, 5 March 1912, Page 5

Anarchy in China.

FURTHER TOWNS SACKED. WHOLESALE BURNING AND LOOTING. FOREIGN TROOPS TO THE RESCUE. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 4, 9.45 p.m. Pekin, February 4. fire thousand Japanese troops at Port Arthur have been ordered to proceed to Tientsin, where there are only 2600 foreign troops. The rabble joined the mutineers on 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. It transpires that the French engineers merrily disconnected a portion of the bridge previously reported to have been blown up, and communication has been restored, enabling 2000 of Yuan-Shih-Rai's troops to proceed to Poatingfu to •oppress the mutiny. Rebellious troops occupied and sacked ITungchau. The old style troops, under the aged general Chiangweiti, succeeded in restoring -order. The guilty soldiers, mostly belonging to the third division, escaped ■cot 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 of the legation quarters. Three thousand foreign troops are now in Pekin. The fires caused twenty deaths. , A detachment of mutineers with artillery, headed by a band, marched on Saturday to the palace of the Dowager's father, blew up the gate and burned a portion of the building. It is a significant fact that no Manchu houses or shops were looted. General Ching is seriously ill in the French hospital. The legations consider that judicious support of Yuan-Shih-Kai is the surest means of overcoming the anarchy. Li-Yuan-Hung desires to assist in restoring Yuan-Shih-Kai's authority. Dr. Sun-Yat-Sen 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.

REPUBLICAN ARMY SENT FOR. • CIVILIANS ARMING. ; SUMMARY DECAPITATIONS. Pekin, March 3. A train load of rioters quitted Paotingfu for Pekin, but the authorities blew up a bridge and thus stopped the traffic. The Nanking delegates telegraphed to Li-Yuan-Hung to bring the Republican Army to Pekin, as the Government was unable to cope with the situation. The Northern Chinese army participated in the looting, believing the arrival of the Nanking delegates to be a prelude to their dismissal.

Loyal troops killed many panicatncken inhabitants, who were fleeing with their effects, mistaking tbem for looters.

Prisoners were summarily decapitated, many being left headless in the streets. Civilians are arming and barricading their premises, and erecting gates to th» streets. The British railway guard K protecting women and children. The populace have been notified that anyone found in the streets after eight at night will be shot.

A mob looted Fengtai and Yupinggu and looted and burned many streets in Tientsin. Hundreds have been arrested