The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-04-17
TAKES ACTION IN
CHINESE REBELLION
Commander Drake Discovers
and Thwarts an Attack on
Canton.
PROTECTED FOREIGNERS
With English, French and Germans
He Helped Put Down an insurreo-
ton and Saved Native Chi.
nese Government.

Washington, April 15.-Quick action
and common sense treatment Of q crit
lcai situation by an American naval Of
Ncer IN Chfna recently saved the for
eign residents in the province of Kwon
Iung, along the east mi Of the Can
ton river. from falling victims to q
plot which. while directed primarily
against the Manchurian dynasty, in
ev1tably would nave illuminated in an
attack on the foreign population. While
tnls attack was averted by the precau.
tionary measures taken by Command.
81 r. J. Drake, commanding the United
states ship Monterey, with the assist
ance or the English gunboats Sandpiper
n Britomart, the French gunboat
Avalanche and the German tug Sha-
neen, n coalition known to have To-
mented the trouble extends to several
provinces, and official advices receiyed
oolh at the state n navy depart
ments show that reactionary mes slres
on a scale far larger than is admitted
either by foreign representatives or the
Shlnese government have been planned
by the rebels.
Hearing that a force of rebels with
uuHs Chun Fuk. a native Wal Chow,
mad planned an attack on the yicerov
and Chinese officials on Canton DIR.
ing the celebration of the Chinese New
year during the night of nua 2S.
Drake prepared to defend
the foreign residents. An armed force
OF a.ooo men had entered Canton sur
reptitousiy several days before he
learned the news, and We're hiding with
sympathizers. AS most Of the foreign
ers and representatives of the various
nations resided in Shameen. Command
er Drake first completed his plan Of
oefense for this section. and then. to
ia the excitement which prevailed.
/ n a ~,,,. -
ana Chinese officials of his prepara-
lions and advised the commanders of
the English, German and French gun
boats of the line of action to be pur-
sued in case Shameen island was at
tackled.
Cooperate With Chinese,
Ihe foreign commanders offered their
cooperation and plans were perfected to
meet any trouble that developed, wheth-
er on the island or on the water. Instead
OF visiting the holy temple in the inner
city at midnight to offer incense. the
viceroy and officials, contrary to long
CUSTOM, remained in their respective va
mems securely guarded. Around the vice.
roys yamen alone were 1000
armed troops. By Z o'clock the gates to
the inner city were closed and the streets
cleared.
Many arrests were made that night in
winch some compradores were implicated
anu large amounts or stores were seized
IN houses and shops In Fong Chun and
rates, opposite Shameen. Many other in
dications of the intended attack were
ound, and the officials agreed that the
rebels abandoned their plot only because
OF Commander brakes inquiry, and his
prompt action and that of the other for
e1gn commanders in taking ample pre-
cautlonary measures. Thu landing of an
armed force from each of the foreign
men or war had been agreed on by the
American, English, German and French
commanders at the first evidence of at
tack on the foreign section.
Consular advices received at the state
department from Canton call attention to
the 1eel1ng Of insecurity caused by the
shortage OF the rice crop. the activity of
the reformers and the rebellion in
Kwang ST.