The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-14
DRAKE'S JUDGMENT
 SAVED FOREIGNERS U. $. Naval Officer in China Prevents Attack by Rebels DISCOVERED PLOT IN TIME At the Last Moment the Rebels Aban- doned Their Attack, Seeing That
 the Americans Had Clearly
 OutwItted Them.
DISCOVERED PLOT IN TIME

Washington, April 13.-Quick action and common sense treatment of a critical situation by an American naval officer in China recently saved the foreign residents in the province of Kwon Tung, along the east bank of the Canton river from falling victims to plot which, while directed primarily against the Manchurian dynasty, inevitably would have culmin- ated in an attack on the foreign popula- ton. While thls attack was ayerted by the precautionary measures taken by Commander F. J. Drake, commanding the United States steamer Monterey, with the assistance of the English gunboats San Pipper and Britomart, the French gunboat Avalanche and the German tug Shameen, the coalition. known to have fomented the trouble extends to several provinces and official advices received both at the state and navy departments show that reactionary measures on a scale far larger than Is admitted either by foreign representatives or the Chinese government have been planned by the rebels.
 Prepared a Defense.
 Hearing that a force or reDelS With Hung Chun Fuk native of Wal Chow, had planned an attack on the viceroy and Chinese officials of Canton during the celebrations Of the Chinese new year, during the night of January 2S-29 Com mander Drake prepared to defend the for eign residents. An armed force of 5000 men had entered Canton surreptitiously l.. At,a and were hiding with sympathizers.
 As most of the foreigners and official representatives of the various nations re- sided in Shameen, Commander Drake first completed his plan of defense for this section and then to allay the excite ment which prevailed. he officially inform ed the consulates and Chinese officials of his preparations and advised the com manders of the English, German and French gunboats of the line of action to be pursued in case such an attack occurred. The foreign commanders offer ed their cooperation and plans were per fected to meet any trouble that developed, whether on the island or on water.
 Were Closely Guarded.
 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 yamens securely guarded. Around the. viceroys yamen alone were assembled four thousand armed troops. By [ o'clock the gates to the inner city were closed and the streets cleared.
 Many arrests were made that night In which some comparadores were implicat- ed and large amount of stores were seized in houses and shops in Fong Chun and Fates, opposite to Shameen. Many other indications of the intended at. tack were found and the officials agreed that the rebels abandoned their plot only because of Commander Drakes discovery and his prompt action, and that of the other foreign commanders in taking ample precautionary measures. Landing of an armed force from each of the foreign men-ofwar had been agreed on by the American, English, German and French commanders at the first evidence of at- tack on the foreign section.