Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-19
Fight OF
CHINESE CIVIL
WAR IS DRAW
Revolutionists Make Attack
on Force Of 1000 Imperial
Troops, but Battle Proves
to be Indecisive.
FOREIGN VESSELS
HAVE LANDED FORCES

During the Fighting the la
Boats of Other Govern
ments in River Sent Ma
rines to Protect interests.
Hankow, Oct. 18.-The first battle
since the arrival of the imperial troops
of the north was fought today on the
bank of the Han river, just west OF
this city
! 1t was indecisive. The revolutions
lists temporarily drove the imperial
troops back from their position, but
in doing so they exhausted their rifle
ammunition and were compelled to
retire upon their base at Wu-Chang.
The revolutionists with infantry and
artillery attacked the government
troops which were reinforced from
the Chinese warships in the river and
supported by the guns OF the feet.
While the fighting was in progress
the thirteen foreign vessels in the
river landed Joint force under Com
mand Of Vice Admiral Sir Alfred l..
Winsle, commander Of the British
eastern fleet, who because of his sem
iority has been given the direction OF
the men engaged in the protection OF
foreign concessions.
The red cross neutral camp In
charge of DR.. MacWillie, of the Ameri-
can mission, received and cared for
the wounded.
About 1000 revolutionists we're pit.
tied against an equal number OF i'm.
perial soldiers. and 1t was ferce
tight. Early reports that the rebels
outnumberth the enemy Ave to one were
incorrect.
Firing Continues This Evening.
Desultory firing continued this even
ing at tho rear Of the Hankow rail-
way station, the possession Of which
is continually changing, the loyalists
and rebel bands holding it alternately.
Between two hundred and three
hundred revolutionists are reported
killed or wounded today. The imper-
ial losses We're smaller Rebel rein
forcements who were crossing the
river to support the fighting line en-
countered q smart royalist fire and
were disorganized.
Second Battle Imminent.
Only part OF the revolutionary
army participated, and they are claim
ing tonight that they would
have routed completely the soldiers
from the north If their ammunition
had held out
This evening the imperial troops are
waiting reinforcements while the re-
volutionists are replerishing their sup.
plies A renewal of hostilties may
take place soon, If it 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 victory prob
able, and 1t had been rumored that
there would be no battle before next
Saturday.
The rebels, who occupy Wu-Chang,
Hankow and Han-Yang, were alive to
the governments purposes, and during
the last night. 1900, men crossed the
Yang-Tse-Kiang river from Wu-Chang,
and at day break they fell upon the
imperial camp They attacked with
cash and the government troops, TAX
en- somewhat at disadvantage, re-
sponded loyalty The fighting was
severe, but it is impossible to esti-
mate the casualties, as the CORES
pondents were not permitted near the
firing lines. and those who witnessed
the battle from the river, were fired
upon.
At the first sound of firing Admiral
Sab Chen Ping, in command of the
Chinese warships, ordered men land
ed to support General Chang Piao,
formerly commander of the troops OF
the Wu-Chang district, who had as
sumed command Of the imperial
troops. The rebels had anticipated
this move by the fleet and directed a
hot fire upon the warships and the
landing parties from the Wu-Chang
bank Of the river.
Admiral Sab in turn ordered the
warships to fire upon the rebel field
pieces and for a time shells fell thick
among the rebel gunners. The ship
officers, however, were seriously
Handicapped by the danger Of the for
eign concessions Involved in their fire.
The engagement continued for sew
eral hours, while the combined land
and ship forces Of the imperials were
driven some distance back and the
rebels, retiring re-crossed the river to
Wu-C Chang.
Some Of the rebels applied at the
foreign concessions to learn whether
they would be protected If they enter
ed the concessions. The foreign forces
are, however, concerned with the pro-
lection Of foreign interests only. No!
trouble at present is anticipated The
r,-onHs.ued on Page 4. Col. 81