The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-10-19
ey Associated Press.

Han Kow, Oct, 1s.-An indecisive
battle was fought today on the north
bank Of the Han river Just west of
this city.
The revolutionists temporarily drove
the imperial troops back from their
position but In doing go they ex-
hausted their rife ammunition and
were compelled to retire upon the base
at WI Chang.
The revolutionists with infantry and
artillery attacked the government
troops which were reinforced from the
warships in the river and supported
by guns from the fleet During the
fighting the Is foreign vessels in the
river landed a joint force under COM
mand Of Vice Admiral Sir Alfred L.
Winsloe, commander of the British
eastern feet who because Of his SEN
iority has been given the direction Of
the men engagd in tn protection Of the
foreign concessions.
The Red Cross neutral camp in
charge of DR.. Melville of the Ameri-
can mission received and cared for the
rebel wounded,
A FAIR FIGHT.
About two thousand revolutionists
were pitted against an equal number
Of loyal soldiers and II was q fair
fight. Early reports that the rebels
were incorrect. Only a part OF the
revolutionary army participated and
they are claiming tonight that they
would have routed completely the SOL
diers from the north II their ammu-
milton had held out. This evening the
imperial troops are waiting reinforce
ment while the revolutionists are re-
plenishing their aplies. A renewal OF
hostilities may take place soon es II
appears to be the plan Of the rebel
leaders to force the fighting before
the imperial troops have been further
strengthened.
The latter had intended to delay an
attack upon WI Chang until their
numbers were sufficient to make a
victory probable and it had been ru-
mored that there would be no battle
before next Saturday The rebels who
occupy WI Chang, Hankow and Han
Yang were alive to the governments
purpose and during last night two
thousand men crossed the Yang Use
Kiang from Wu Chang and at day
break they fell upon the imperial
camp. They attacked with dash and
the government troops taken some
what at disadvantage responded 10y
ally. The fighting was severe but
Il is impossible to estimate the casual
ties as correspondents were not per-
mitted near the firing line and those
who witnessed the battle from the
river were fired upon.
MEN ORDERED LANDED.
At the first sound Of firing Admiral
Sab Chen Ping in command Of the
Chinese warship ordered men landed
to support General Chang Piao. The
rebels had anticipated this move by
the fleet directed a hot fire upon the
warship and the landing party from
the Wu Chang bank OF the river. Ad-
miral Sab in turn ordered the war
ships to fire upon the rebel field
pieces and for a time shells fell thick
among the rebel gunners. The war
ship officers, however, were seriously
handicapped by the danger to the
foreign concessions involved in their
fire, Two foreign newspaper corre-
spondents narrowly escaped with their
lives. They had been cruising on the
river in expectation of the battle and
their launch had reached a point op-
posite the Imperial camp when hos
tilities began.
Presently they found their little
craft alongside Admiral Sah's flagship
and between the FIRE Of the two forces
From that spot the correspondents
witnessed the fighting until Admiral
Sab observing the danger OF their po-
sition ordered them out Of the firing
line The launch and its crew with
drew and as they did so they were
fred upon by men who had been land
ed from the warships. Fortunately
comrades of their assailants interfered
the shooting ceased and the CORE
spondents escaped unhaImed.
The engagement lasted for several
hours until the combined land and
ship forces Of the imperisls were
driven some distance back ard the
rebels retiring re-crossed the river to
New Chang, Shells from the ships
(Continued on Second Page)