The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-12-04
Soldiers Hurried Forward to Meet the
Hordes Advancing Towards Pekin.
The Great Wall Where the Decisive Struggle
May Take Place-Yiews of a Chinese Dip.
lomste-Real Cause of the Uprising.
CHINA AROUSED TO ACTION.

CHINA AROUSED TO ACTION.
Troops Sent to Stay the Advance of the Mon
golians-The Great Wall.
Special 10 the Indianapolis Journal
LONDON, Dec. S.-A dispatch from Shang-
hal says: 1t is stated that the French min
lister has made an imperative demand on
the Chinese government for the punish
ment of the rebels who perpetrated the
massacre of the Belgian priests and nuns.
and also the exemplary de gradation and
punishment of the msndarins who feasted
and encouraged the rioters. The minister.
it is said. stated that France would hold
China responsible for the outrsges, and
that it was necessary for his government TO
know whether China was unable to protect
foreigners residing in it's territories. The
Chinese profess their ability to punish all
who were engaged in the massacre. and are
summoning the Manchoo garrisons from in
terror towns where there are no signs of
disturbance to strengthen the force sent
to oppose the rebels. Desultory skirmishes
are reported between flying bands of the
rebels and the imperial troops. Orders have
been given by the government for the i'm
mediate execution of all prisoners, except
the leaders, who are to be reserved for
f1aying alive and other tortures, provided
they are caught. No confidence is placed
here in the Chinese protests of the insig-
nificance of the outbreak. which is believed
to embrace the greater part Of ManchoOria.
1t is said that lranga, Governor of northern
Manohooria is q fugitive at Pekin.
CHRISTIANS BUTCHERED.
The Chronicles correspon dent at Tien
Tsin telegraphs: 1T is reported that
band of rebels has murdered Nom golian
prince. Some more villages have been
sacked and looted, and all the native
Christian residents have been ound MUIR
dered. The mandarns are not attempt
ing to stop the butchery. which
is being executed by an associa-
object of which was tho determination of
foreigners and Christians. The senior
British officer here has received an official
message from Nuichang stating that the re-
volt there has been suppressed and the
rebels dispersed. laconic dispatch from
Chinese sources announces that q number
of the rebels have been summarily be-
headed"
A dispatch from Pekin says: "The Chi
nese government has received an official
handing the troops in the kinchOw dis
trict. announcing that he engaged and de-
feated the rebels on Nov. % and Is. killing
their leader and six hundred men. The
general commanding the imperial forces at
Jeho also announces successful engage
ment with the rebels"
Sir John Walsham. British minister to
China, in q telegram to the Foreign Of
flee. confirms the report of an out
break of brigands. assisted by q
III
and beyond the great wall. The minister
says: Possibly the insurgents have also
been joined by Chinese Mohammedans from
Mongolia. 1t is reported that two or three
important towns have been captured and
that hundreds of natives have been mae.
sacred. There is no reason to believe that
any Europeans have been killed. The six
thousand picked troops which the govern.
be able to quell the rising. No credit
should be gwen to the sensational stories
daily set atioat. There is one British gun.
boat at Tien Tsen and another has as
cended the Yangtse-kianR to lchang."
THE GREAT WALL
It is' believed that. Notwithstanding the
governments attempts to stay the advanc-
ing hordes of Mongols, the struggle for
mastery will eventually take place at the
great wall of China. This marvellous work
of defense was built by Chi-Wang-ti. more
than two thousand years ago. for the pur-
pose of keeping off the Tartars who con-
sisted of numerous tribes who wandered
about the barren plains of central Asia
living partly by hunting and partly by
plunder. Their mode of life and the con
tinual fighting which they were enga oed
in made them dangerous enemies to
the less hardy Chinese. The En-
peror ordered every third laborina
m uh Chinn aid in the
struction of the wall. for which labor they
received only q bare subsistence. The wall
extended ], 800 miles from the Gulf of Liam
Tung, an arm of the Yellow sea, to the most
westerly province of Kansuh. 1t was car
ried over the highest mountains, through
the deepest valleys. and. by means of
arches, across the rivers. Its breadth al
lowed six hOrsemen to ride abreast on its
summit, and at short intervals 1t was forti-
fed by strong towers. we'll guarded. The
exterior was formed OF stone and brick
work, and this shell was filled with earth.
Five years were consumed In completing
the work.
Notwithstanding the immensity of the
sist the wild hordes under Genghis-Khan,
who succeed in passing ii. He was. how
ever, stopped at the inner pass of Chu-yung-
| kwan. But the wall is no more occupied by
| troops. In the towers there are generally
guns mounted, but they are of an antlquat-
| ed pattern, and would be almost useless for
! repellIng troops armed with modern
weapons. The height of the wall varies,
| including the parapet. from twenty-sIx to
| fifty feet, and depends on the character
| of the slope that it is built upon.
| The breadth of the outer parapst is four
teen feet on the top. with q gradual in
| crease toward the ground. both aspects OF
| the wall having O considerable slope Each
| tower has four embrasures, which are used
| as lookout places. The wall Is on the whole
in good repair. The great wall passes with.
| in thirty miles Of Pekin. IL the forces oi
| the empire which still remain loyal be con
| centrated near TO where the rebels must
pass the wall. they may make some use o.
| this clumsy. antiquated bulwark OF defense
| and save China from the perils attending
n, N panrpaf;np of tha throna