The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1896-09-01
CHINESE REVOLT.
Uncamy Condition of Affairs In
kiangsu.
MohammedansS Slaughtered Ruthlessly.
Probability of the Insurrection
Becoming more General.

The Chinese Government seem likely
TO have some little trouble in quelling
the rebellions in Kiangsu and kansuh
unless they act with vigor and promp-
Iitude. says the Hong Kong Weekly
Press. As we have on previous occa-
sions pointed out, there is little chance
of insurrection in China proving sue
cessful or even formidable if the Impe-
rial Government only take care TO nip
it in the bud The insurgents are in
variably badly provided with funds,
have few arms, and possess no organ
ization. Imperfect, therefore, as the
organization of the Imperial troops un-
doubtedly is, inferior as the arms used
often prove, and gross as the corrup-
ton in the military administration is
known TO be, they are immeasurably
superior in arms and even discipline to
the unframed mobs that are hurled
against them. But there is such a
thing-as British commanders among
others have found out ere now-as un-
duly despising the enemy. In kiangsu
the Taotai who has charge OF the troops
appears to be quite unable to meet the
foe. and he is practically shut up with
about two thousand troops in the town
Of Hsuchow Meanwhile the rebels are
every day increasing their numbers and
STRENGTHENING their position. The reb-
els have lately been Joined by upwards
OF three thousand local banditti, and II
the prospect of plunder seems good,
this number will no doubt soon be
largely augmented. II is also stated
that if the rebels can manage to keep
the Imperial troops shut up in Hsu-
chow they will march on Yang-chow.
Meantime, another rising is reported
to have taken place in Hupeh, where
/ the granaries have been looted and the
/ insurgents have defeated the Imperial-
! ist troops. Unless the reinforcements
sent by the Viceroy Chang Chihtung
! soon reach the scene of trouble there
/ will be little doubt the area of the last
named rebellion will quickly widen.
The necessity for severe measures
seems. however. to have been recog-
nized in the Northwest, for the latest
/ news from Kansuh is TO the effect that
i General Tung Fu-hsiang, in obedience
/ to orders from Peking, has commenced
a massacre of all the Mahommedans he
i meets. At Hsiniug-fu he is said to
have slaughtered three thousand men
I and sold their wives and female chill
i dren into slavery These were the tao
i ties resorted TO in the suppression OF
the great Mahommedan rebellion in
i Yunnan. where a war of determination
was so ruthlessly carried on that hall
the province was laid desolate, and vast
districts full of ruined towns and vast
ed fields still attest-more than twenty
years later-the thoroughness with
which the Imperial orders to kill and
spare not were carried out. These
! seventies. however, may have the op-
posite effect to that which they are in
tended to produce. Instead OF daunt'
mig the rebels they may render then
/. desperate, and they are said to be medi
tating the declaration of holy war, il
which event, it is alleged, the MahOm
> medans across the Russian frOntie
, have promised their aid If Jehad b.
. declared By the Central Asian Mahom
: medans, it might prove difficult for III
! Gar TO restrain their fire, and it Nigh
even be found necessary for Russia L
: intervene on behalf of the followers o
the Prophet in China. The Chimes
: |8Iahommedans can fight If they receiv
I announcement. and they could b
turned into useful allies by any Powe
having schemes of aggression in China
: II will be well therefore for the Chi
nese Government TO set TO work [
, paeify the country, not by means c
: exterminating the discontented, but b
redressing their grievances, by putin
: down brigandage where it really exist
/ with firm hand, and by abolishing III
q Just squeezes. If China is to exist muc
. longer as an independent Empire, III
: Central Government at Peking wi
have exercise their capacity for admir-
? istering, and not merely to show, 3
= brutal wholesale massacres, that the
a have power to punish disloyalty.