The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-12-03
THE CHINESE REBELLION.
Conflicting Reports from the Center of the
DIsturbance-The Defense of Pekin.

Conflicting Reports from the Center of the
Disturbance-The Defense of Pekin.
LONDON, Dec. 2.-Advices to-day from
Pelxin state that the government has re-
solved, in view of the reported strength OF
the rebels. not TO attempt to stay their
passage short of the Chinese wall, where
an effective resistance can be offered.
The troops that ore hey ond the wall will.
probably, fall back on that line. The
rebels captured great quantity of ammu-
milton at Leao Tong. as well as modern
arms and equipments. Most of the gar
rison at LeaO Tong joined the insurgents.
Among the spoils of the place was guam
tIty of field artillery. which the rebels
are said TO have taken with them on
their march. The fight at the wall Is
expected to decide the fate of Pekin,
and should the government be defeated
the Emperor and his court will abondOn
the capital. The rebel army is said TO be
not entirely MongollaD, bat TO contain u
large number of Chinese from the Chinese
colonies In Manchooria. The Chinese at
Shanghai are greatly excited. and a close
watch Is kept by the foreign authorities
for any symptom or disturbance or out
break. The Chinese navy Is as near the
scene as possible, but in the present stage
of the struggle is unable to give any aid to
the government. the fighting being wholly
inland. A large number of the TeDels are
armed with Mauser rifles from the arsenal
at Leao Tong. Many of the Tartars are
mounted.
Another dispatch says: The advioes re-
ceived by the government as To the strength
of the insurgents in the field place the
total mum ber of men at 1,JO0 It would be
a foolhardy undertaking for such CON-
paratiyely Insignificant body OF men to at
tempt the capture of the capital or the
nf ii WI in
armament, drill and esprit du corps Is the
best in China. and would be able. II it came
to lighting, to sweep their enemies from the
face OF the earth. To Judge from the activ-
ity In military circles, however. the i'm
perial authorities do not place implicit con-
fidence in the reports reaching them and
they are making preparations &c deal with
much larger force than that which
is said TO be heading toward the
capital In addition to the troops
already dispatched to prevent the
insurgents passing the great wall. one
thousand have been drawn from the garri-
son at the Taku forts and sent to reinforce
the troops already at the front. There are j
now six thousand imperial troops guard
ing the places along the great vail where
it is expected the rebels will attempt 10
force a passage.
The advices received by the government
further state that the movement. instead
of being a concerted rising TO depOse the
Emperor, Is nothing more than an attempt
these adylces. the wife OF the Ieades OF an
armed band of maIauders was seized and
forcIbly abducted from her husband. he
latter swore vengeance against those who
bad despoiled him of his wife, aud. calling
his followers together, started IN pursuit OF
her. He determined to make the innocent
suffer with the guilty. and so. as he swep.
through the country ne instructed the men
who followed his banner 10 make reprisals
for the loss OF his wife upon the inhabi-
tants.
A cable dispatch has been received &C
London from the British consul at New
Chwang. a treaty port OF China, IN the
province OF Leao Tong (ManchOorial, stat
ing that rnmors were current in New
ChwaDg that the people IN the country $50
miles TO the westward had risen IN revolt
AGAINST the authorities. The diepatch adds.
however that the rising Is now reported
To have been suppressed. No Europeans
were In any danger from the revolt The
native authorities feet confident that they
VIII be able TO prevent any further disor-
deTs. The consul further says IN his dis
patch that a PresbY terian missionary who
has arrived at New Chwang from Kin
Chow, eight miles from the north shore OF
the Gulf OF LeaO Tong reports that band
of bandits numbering two hundred recent
ly looted a village in the province OF Shing
King. which is another name for leao
Tong. The missionary says that such an
occurrence ~ nothing unusual IN the win
ter season. The people. as "A whole. through
out the province are friendly 10 the native
Christians and TO Europeans.
priest who has long been engaged IN
foreign missions. recently returned 20
Paris from mission in Manchooria. lasting
twelve years. In an interview had with
him IN regard 10 the startling events which
have occurred OF late IN that land. he ex-
pressed doubts as 10 the truth OF the TO-
ports telling Of the massacre at the Belgi
mission. He said that from his long and
varied knowledge of the country and its
he " m fo
that the insurgents were occupying towns
without meeting with any resistance. and
had captured an important place Like Less