New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-19

Hankow. Oct. 1S-The first battle
since the arrival OF the imperial troops
from the north was fought to-day on
the north bank of the Han River. just
west OF this city. After fight lasting
all day the advantage remained with the
imperialists.
The revolutionists temporarily drove
the imperial troops back from their
position, but in doing so they exhausted
their rife ammunition and were COM
PEELED 10 retire TO their base at Wu-
Chang.
The revolutonists. with infantry and
artillery. attacked the sovernment
troops. which were reinforced from the
Chinese warshlps in the river and sup
ported by the guns Of the fleet. Firing
began about 7:30 a. IN.
While the fighting was In progress ths
thirteen foreign vessels in the river
landed a joint force under Nice-Admiral
Sir Alfred L. Winsloe. commander Of
the British Eastern fleet. who took di-
rection Of the men engaged In the pro-
lection of the foreign concessions by
virtue of seniority.
The Red Cross neutral camp. In charge
of DR.. MacWillie. Of the American MIS-
sion. received and cared for the reoei
wounded.
About two thousand revolutioniss
were pitted against an equal number OK
loval soldiers. and IL was fair hght
Early reports that the rebels outnum-
bered the enemy five to one were incor-
rect ONLY part OF the revolutionary
army participated.
This evening trGinload Of Northern
troops arrived. but the imperial troops
are awaiting further reinforcements, tns
revoutionists utilizing the interval To
replenish their supplies. A renewal &c
hostilities may take place soon as 1t
appears to be the plan of the rebel lead-
ers to force the fighting before the i'm
perial troops have been further strength
ened
The rebels who occupy WuChang.
Hankow and Hsn-Yang were alive To
the governments purpose, and during
last night two thousand men crossed tho
Yangtse- Kiang from Wu-Chang At
daybreak they fell upon the imperial
CAMP bur the government troops, al
though taken at a dlsa dvantage. respond
ed loyalty The fighting was severe, but
il Is impossible TO describe the casualties.
as no correspondents were permitted
near the firing line. Those who Wit
messed the battle from the river were
fired upon.
At the first sound of firing Admiral
Sab Chen-Png. IN command OF the
Chinese warships, ordered men landed
10 support General Chang Piao, formerly
OF the troops OF the Wu-
Chang district, who had assumed COM
mand OF the imperial troops. The rebels
had anticipated this move by the fleet.
and as soon as the bluejackets began TO
dIsembark directed hot fire upon the
warships and the landing parties from
the artillery and field guns stationed on
the wu-Chang bank Of the river.
Admiral Sah, in turn, ordered the wa--
Sims TO fire upon the rebel heldpieces.
and for a time shells fell thick among
the rebel gunners. The warship Offices.
however. were seriously handicapped ~
the danger OF the foreign concessions In
volyed in a fire from the fleet
Two foreign newspaper correspondents
narrowly escaped with their lives. Thcy
had been cruising on the river In expec-
,ation of the battle. and their launch
had reached a point opposite the I'M
perial camp when the hostilitics began.
presently they found their little craft
alongside of Admiral Sahs flagship. and
between the fire Of the two forces. From
that spot the correspondents witnessed
the fighting. until Admiral Sab. obscrv-
irg the danger of their position. ordered
them out OF the firing line. The launch
and it's crew withdrew, and az they did
so they were fired upon by men who had
heen landed from the warships Com
rades Of their assailants however, inter-