New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-11-17
REGENT TAXES STEPS TO
CHECK REBELLION.
Many Banks in Peking Fail-Paldcs
Intf7gues-Yudn Shi kaS2s Poscer
IN the Government.

/ at HrSL little cnange IN Inelr unemotlOnaI na-
! lures. but to-day there is marked change Prince
! Chun, the regent OF the empire, IN fear Of the
| increasing excitement and revolutionary move
ments. has taken firm grip on affairs. and has
adopted stringent measures which will result
! in the maintenance Of peace, for time at
! least
At three thousand gendarmes guarded
the streets, and other military forces were held
/ In readiness for any emergency. Every pre-
/ caution was taken to prevent recurrence of
the revolutionary tactics of last April and May
! which were marked by widespread incendiarism
! The foreign legations under guard. special
| detachments OF Chinese troops keeping watch
at the approaches and in some cases the regu-
lar legation guards have been reinforced from
other places. Fifty Highlanders from Tien Tsin
were added to the British forces to-day
The statement was made, however at the
legations that there was no fear that the Chi
nese government would be unable to AFFORD ample
protection. but those within the legations were
more alert than usual and seemingly anxious to
have set at rest the doubts arising from the
swift occurrences OF the last few days.
There were many incidents to-day TO add 70
the sinister aspect of affairs. Ruuors were cur
rent for time that the new Dowager Ye-Ho-
Na-La, and Yuan Shi Kai. the Grand Councillor
and one OF the most powerful men In the empire
had committed suicide. Though there was no
truth in these reports, they went Ear toward
disturbing the people and creating alarm among
Chinese and foreigners alike. who realize how
delicate the political balance Is ar the present
moment
FOURTEEN PEKING BANKS CLOSED.
Serious runs on banks occurred yesterday and
to-day. and fourteen native banks closed The
crowds wild with excitement and toward
the close Of the day the police drove them back
One foreign bank. the Yokohama Specie Bank
suffered a big run on its Tien-Tsn notes. but
the British Russian and German banks were
not affected It is probable that tomorrow g
number OF other native banks will be closed
and it is believed that the government will In
tervene to prevent financial panic among the
poorer classes.
The belief is general here that Pu I.un will
eventually succeed Prince Ching ths president
OF the Board OF Foreign Affairs and that II his
adherents make threats he will receive this ap-
pointment soon The Regent, who IS twenty
six years old, is open minded and ready for re-
forms, but is not considered a strong man The
Empress Dowager, Ye-ho-na-la, is colorless.
The government entertains fears of the Keh-
Ming-Tang reformers, who reported TO be
assembling with a view TO taking advantage OF
the present disturbed condition Of the country.
While matters have appearance Of tranquil
lity, there reports of disanection among the
adherenLs of half dozen rival candidates for
the throne, and to the minds Of the foreigners
the government itself is disaTected. It is con-
tended by some that the eldest Pu-that Is. Pu
Lun-is the legitimate Emperor, and that there
fore the selection of PU II was another of the
Dowager's illegal acts
An imperial order issued to-day in the
name Of the Empress Dowager Ye-Ho-Na-La
expelling all palace visitors which means the
clearing away OF the masses which assembled
while the rulers believed to be dying and
have remained within and near the palace pre-
cincts ever since.
The authority OF the Pe-Chi-u troops has been
divided. division being under the direction
OF the throne and two divisions being placed in
command Of Tieh Liang. the Minister of War,
who is Yuan Shi KaI's bitter opponent. In this
way. Prince Chun will have restraining hold
on Yuan Shi Kai, who, on account of the gov
ernment's weak personnel. is at present the only
visible support of the Emperor and regent It
is apparent however, that the regent does not
wish the Grand Councillor to have too strong a
control Of the army of which he has up TO the
present been the head
RJTMOR OF REVOLUTIONARY ACTIVITY
There are rumors among the revolutionists
that some OF their leaders about to return
TO Peking This is the first boast that the late
Dowager's enemies have made since her impris
onment of kuang Hsu.
The government, however. seemingly mas no !
fear that the conditions now prevailing will be |
utilized for greater reforms. large number |
of the gendarrnes we're withdra wn tonight. and /
the streets presented deserted appearance |
The police tore the remaining shreds of color /
from the shops and vehicles before sundown.
The people have adopted a dress Of mourning. /
and all officials are attired in white The oulld- |
tngs are draped in blue and black.
AS vet the causes of the deaths of the En- !
naror and Empress Dowager have not been |
made public A number Of long reports have |
been written regarding the subject, but they are /
unintelligible to the foreigners here who have |
not vet recovered from the widespread suspi- |
cion of foul play. There is no reasonable evi- |
dence. however to show that death in either /
case was the result of anything except natural |
causes.
INFLUENCE OF YUAN SHI KAI
Doubt which arose yesterday regarding the /
leadership Of Yuan Shi Ka has been otsDeed /
bv the Emperors vaedictory. which the Grand |
Council wrote In Kuang Hgu's name. This shows
tho ovprba la ncing influence of the Chinese
statesman against the Manchu element Being
in the name of the late Emperor. It must be a.
cepted az a definite declaration OF the new gov
prnment's policy the enforcement of the reform
programme embraced in the ten years constitu-
tional plan. The Emperor is made to say that
during his reign he labored with the difncultles
of foreign intercourse, difficulties among the
Christians and nom Christians. the organization
D schools and the extension Of the army, the
OF industries and commerce. the
revision Of laws and the preparation of a con-
,fitution Therefore ofnciais outside of Peklug
are commanded abandon obstructive prac-
ices. So tnat the edict relating 10 the constitu-