Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-10-28
CONDITIONS MORE
! SERIOUS IN CHINA
Relieved That the Eleventh Hour Ap.
/, = no;ntment of Yuan Shi Kai Prac-G
icaIiDictator will notfBring
.;aaggaa ..Ar Peace. e &
A DECISIVE BATTLEalF0U
News of Engagement Near Hankow
Picked up by wireless by German
Warsuips-said to HIVE Resulted III
Rout Of Rebels-No Details Received.

pekin, Oct. 2S.-ln the foreign le'
cations here grave doubt is expressed
that the eleventh hour appointment
Of Yuan Shi Kai to a practical dic'
tatorship will be sufficient to put ar
end to the rebellion that is sweep
ing over China.
In the first place, there are many
who do not believe that China
strong man will really make deter
mined effort to stamp out the rebel
lion if he can gain anything for him
self by fostering insurrection.
Then, too, the orderliness with
which the revolution has been han
died has impressed the Chinese peo
nile favorably and should Hankow fall
in the approaching battle, il is be-
lieved no power can stop the spirit
of revolt.
That the imperial government re-
aiizes the gravity OF the situation is
shown by the dictatorial powers I'M
posed on Yuan Shi kai, after he had
once been degraded and driven from
court. Yuan Shi Kai is made an i'm
perial minister and given supreme
command of the army and navy. All
viceroys in the affected districts are
ordered to place themselves under
his command.
The new imperial minister left to-
day for Sin Yang Chow to assume
direct control Of the military. He is
sued orders sending Gen. Yin Chang
the minister Of war, back to Pekin.
Yin Chang's inactivities have resulted
in casting suspicion upon him. Cen.
Feng Kuo Chang, has been appointed
to take command Of the imperial fore
es already in the field, while Gen.
suan Chi Jul will command the Sec
ond corps, now mobilizing. Both these
generals are stanch supporters OF
Yuan Shi Kai.
All of Yuan Shi Kai's preliminary
steps indicate that he expects to tenn
porize with the rebels. Many believe
he will go even further and make
terms with them which will be more
advantageous to himself than to the
Manchu dynasty. Yuan Shi kal no
toriously hates the AIanchu rulers,
and the fact that ne was called upon
to aid them was simply their resort
to the last desperate measures.
The Dowager Empress has sent to
the minister of finance 100000
taels, or more than 100000, from
her own private purse. This money
she ordered sent into the war chest,
for the recruiting and equipping OF
more soldiers.
Shanghai, Get. 2S.-German war
ships here have picked up wireless
messages being sent from the Imperial
forces at Hankow to the War Depart
ment in Pekin declaring that decls-
i've battle has been fought near Han
kow, and that the rebels were COM
pletely routed and driven across the
Han river with great loss.
No confirmation of these messages
has been received. The fact that
they came from the imperial COM
mander makes foreign residents here
believe they are greatly exaggerated.
According to the messages, the bat
tie ragged all Of yesterday. The i'm
perial commander communicated with
Pekin that he attacked the rebels and
drove them from all their fortified
places around Hankow. He declared
the. imperial forces were victorious
at every point, driving the rebels
in panic from their works and send
ing them ina rout back across the
Han river into Han Gang.
News from rebel sources is being
anXiously awaited.
Pekin, Oct 2S.-It was officially
announced here today that in an all
day engagement yesterday the I'M
perial forces completely routed the
rebels around Hankow and recaptur
ed that important city.
No details of the battle have beer
Will Make Periious Voyage