The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-19
Exhaust Their Ammunition

Exhaust Their Ammunition.
Hankow. October ls.-The first bat
tie 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. . 1t was
indecislve
The revolutionists temporarily drove
the imperial troops back from their
position, but in doing so they ex-
hausted their rife ammunition. and
We're compelled to retlre upon their
base at Wuchang.
The revolutionists, with infantry
and artillery, attacked the govern
ment troops, which were reinforced
from the Chinese warships in the river
and supported by the guns of the fleet
While the lighting was in progress
the thirteen foreign vessels in the
river landed Joint force. under COM
mand of Vice-AdmAal Sir Alfred l.,
Winsloe. commander of the British
Eastern fleet. who, because of his
seniority. has been given the direction
OF the men engaged In the protection
OF the foreign concessions
The Red Cross neutral camp. In
charge OF DIR. MacWillie. of the Ameri-
can mission. received and cared for
the rebel wounded.
Each Side Mt 1000.
About 1000 revolutionists were pit.
ted against an equal number OF Iowa
soldiers. and It was q fair fsht Earl,
reports that the rebels outnumbercd
the enemy five to one were incorrect
Only part of the revolutionary army
participated. and they are claiming TO.
night that thcy would have routed
completely the soldiers from the North
II their ammunition had held out.
This evening the imperial troops are
awaiting reinforcements, while the re-
voiutionists are replenishing their
supplies. a renewal of hostilities NAV
take place soon, as IT appears to be the
plan OF the rebel leaders to force the
fighting before the imperial troons
nave been further strengthened The
latter had intended to delay an alta cl,
upon Wuchang until their numbers
were SUFFICIENT to make victory nrob.
able and IT had been rumored thai
there would be no battle before mex
Saturday.
Cross River at Night.
Ene rebels. who occupy Wuchang
tiahRow and Hanyang, were alive &c
the governments purpose. and during
last night 1000 men crossed the
ianstze River from Wuchang. and a,
daybreak 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 4,
Is impossible to estimate the cas:ai.
ies' as the correspondents were MOI
permitted near the firing line, and those
VINO 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 landed
to support General Chang Piao. former
commander Of the troops OF the WI.
chang district, who had assumed com
mand OF the imperial troops. The reb
els had anticipated this move by the
meet, and directed a hot fire on the
"arshlps and the landing parties from
the Wuchang bank OF the river.
Admiral Sab. In turn. ordered the
whrships TO fire upon the rebel field
pieces. and for time shells fell thicl,
among the rebel gunncrs. The warshir
omcers. however. were seriously hnndi.
capped by the danger TO the foreign
concessions involved in their fire
Correspondence Close Call.
Two foreign newspaper corresporSl
ents narrowly escaped with their lives
Ihey had been cruising on the river
IN expectation OF the battle. and their
iaunch had reached a point opposite
the imperial camp when hossilitieK
began. Presently they found their lit.
tie craft alongside Admiral Sah's nag.
snip and between the fire OF the two
FORCES From that spot the CORE
spondents witnessed the lighting, until
Admiral sab observing the danger of
.helr position. ordered them from the
hring line. The launch and its crew
Withdrew. and as they did so thew
were Ilred upon my men who had been
iahoeo from the warships Fortunately,
comraoes or their ASA lants inter
Iered' the shooting ceased, and the
correspondents escaped unframed.
me engagement continued for Sow
erai hours. when the combined land
and ship forces of the imperials were
oriVen some distance back, and the
rebels, retiring. recrossed the river to
Wu-Chang.
Shells Do Little Harm.
some OF the rebels applied at the
foreign concessions to learn whether
they would be protected If thew an.
tered the concessions. The foreign
forces are. however, concerned Win
the protection of foreign interests
only. No trouble at present is antici-
pated. The shells from the fleet were
comparatively few and did not do
great damage.
are expected tonight.
The imperial troops concentrated
north of the city when the lighting
ceased.
Tho general situation has not been
greatly changed by the battle and
continues sraNa
t.