The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-10-28
CHINESE REVOLT SPREADS.
REBELLIOUs SPIRIT Is SPREAD
ING THROUGHOUT CHINA.
n Believed That War Minister Desires
20 Give Battle to Rebels, but Fears
Loyalty Of Troops.

"Systss VI AHOops.
Peking. Oct. 24.-The revolution
ary spirit Is now manifesting itself
In the north as we'll as In the south.
Those who heretofore have believed
,@.the northern provinces might rally
around the government are now Of
the opinion that that section will
follow In rapid succession.
The precautionary measures taken
|, IN Manchuria. where the government
does not permit mention Of the revo-
luton. show the anti-government
spirit In the far north.
There are reports that risings
have been planned for the next few
days In the immediate vicinity Of the
. capital. 1t may be that these will
} not be fulfilled. but they indicate a
Widespread sympathy with the re-
volt.
The diplomatic corps has discussed
the necessity Of maintaining commu-
nication between Tien Tsin and
: Peking. The military commanders
Dreport only sufficient troops to pro-
tect the legation quarter In reking
and the foreign settlement in Tien
rsin. which number approximately
1000 and 5000. respectively. Con-
seouently In a serious emergency only
! japanese would be Immediately avail
able from the garrisons Of Port Ar
thur and Dainy.
A yet the legations have not been
considesing seriously the suggestion
OF an Engiishman In Shanghai that
the Manchus when desperate might
endeavor secretely to encourage the
! ignorant multitude to attack foreign
ers and thereby attain foreign inter-
vention. which would initiate In their
favor. they being the only established
dynasty.
II In argued that such machina-
ton will prove more dangerous to
the Manchus than any one else, be-
cause II b known that the rebel or
gs,ization is able To- restrain its ad-
herents. The Manchus. however, are
apparently following a weak and va
cillating policy which might be fol-
lowed by desperate measures.
!. A prominent Chinese ofYicial of
western education In discussing the
possibilities gave II to be understood
that precautions against such a ma
noeuvre should not be overlooked.
The increase In the activity Of the
press shows either defiance or relax
alton Of the censorship whether from
venality or sympathy on the part Of
the police is unknown.
Gen. Yin Tchang. the war minister.
seems TO have pushed his troops
through the passes on the Honan. Hu
Peh border without resistance. Some
Therefore. are Of the opinion that he
intends to attack promptly. 1t is not
generally believed that he has above
$4,000 troops Of which only two bae-
talions are Manchus. They are guard
ing tho railway in the rear. Other
troops intended for the Hankow camr-
paign have not been sent. owing TO
the fear OF their desertion. There
was also necessity for the retention
Of strong force near Peking.
1t In believed that Gen. Yin Tchang
Manchu-like. desires to give battle,
although the haif-hearted spirit Of
his troops may deter him.
The foreign customs commissioner
at Chang sha has telegraphed the in
spector general Of customs here that
the city revolted. The officials were
killed and the viceroy fed.
IL In officiaily stated that the d.
piomatic body has informed the
Chinese government that It is unable
to reply on the subject Of indemnisIes
which Is so complicated and impor-
tant that China had better approach
-. H. Il..NI