New-York tribune., 1911-11-10

! riots were skilfully turned into "A rebeilious
movement, and now no one thinks OF the
railway problem.
At Wu-Chang. the present centre OF the
storm. the rebels took advantage OF a
ton Of the army stationed at Wu-Chans
Into rebel force. The soldiers took he
city and put up the rebel flag, which In IT
self Is another proof Of organization.
The crux Of the situation lies I'm the 10y
atty OF the so-caled new army" With
in six weeks this new army" has twice
been tested, and each time il has failed.
AT ChengTu, in the Sze-Chucn province,
the troops did not actually rebel but they
behaved only one degree less badly by
adopting a neutral attitude. In former
days, in the days Of the "old army OF
which. unfortunately for the government,
there are but few organizations left, men
serving as soldiers were never stationed In
their native provinces.
Unwise Army Organization.
Thus. the garrison in one province was
always composed OF regiments organized
elsewhere, on the theory that these men
while they would refuse TO engage with
their fellow states people. This was bc-
yond doubt correct, and it is now being
proved. The new army" Is organized On
different and. as is now clear unwise lines.
The regiments are recruited locally, ana
the garrsons In each province arc com
posed of natives of that province. Here In
China, where provincial feeling runs SO
high-to the extent. in fact, that IN some
cases. people of one province regard those
of others as foreigners-this no DOUBT helps
make the soldier happier but IL has mad
quite the opposite effect upon the govern
ment
Tie troops are falling at least those so
far put TO the test have failed, and the
government now depends upon the military
organizations In the north. These soldiers
are probably not so revolutionistc as those
i'm the south. where the agitators have done
most OF their work. Then, too. many OF
the troops In this vicinity are Manchus,
who are the only ones whose loyalty is not
subject to suspicion. They would probably
never kick over their own rice bowl by
revolving. The great question OF the hour
is the loyalty of the troops Of the north.
II may be said that the government is not
confident that these soldiers have not
listened TO agltators, as have those OF the
south. The test Will come soon.
The taking OF Wu-Chsng, a vice-reSal
seat Of government and capital Of the HUI
Kuang provinces, two OF the greatest OF
the entire empire, was a simple matter.
The town was garrisoned by about fifteen
thousand soldiers OF all arms OF the SER
vice Some were stationed within but most
Of them were in large camps outside, the
city.
Execution Arouse5 Troops.
Trouble among the soldiers started in
September over some matter Of pay. This
affair was apparently settled by the mill
tary authorities, although feeling ran hiSh
and the troops, particularly those or the
artillery regiments, were highly dissatis-
fled and ready for the mutiny which iol-
lowed some days later. on October ~ JUL
Cheng, the Viceroy discovered a revolu-
tlonary plot in the city Of Hankow. lie
executed three persons and arrested many
others. II so happened that one of those
who lost his head had formerly been
soldier stationed at WuChang. His death
again dIOuSeu INC 'lODb'' CIV '''N' a.
yond control OF their officers.
1t was but short step to an attack
the town. and the troops stationed outside
of the city marched into Wu-ChahG ana
were Immediately III complete possession
Tn went the revolutionary flag, ana 'he
yiccroy fled TO a Chinese gunboat In the
Yang-Tse River. The following DAY another
blow was struck, the most Important OF all
Across from Wu-Chang lies Hanhow, one OF
the most important cities OF the empire, ahu
near Hankow are the Han-Yarg Arsenal
and tho Han-Yang steel works, the greatest
industrial institution In China. According
20 the current story. troops supposedly ioyai
were permitted TO take charge OF the
arsenal. Again the rebel flag went NJ as
soon as the soldiers had taken possession
'rhe loss Of the arsenal is a blow TO the
government.
In the meantime tho Chinese gunbodts
stationed In the river seem To have done
nothing After taking the arsenal 1t was
apparently simple matter 10 capture the
"native city" of Hankow-that is, that part
of the city not occupied by the foreign set
dement's.
The seriousness Of the movement is be-
yond doubt, yet the government seems lack
ing in that dlrectness which would appear
essential An example Of this inaction con-
Germs the autumn manPuvres. which were
to have been held next week. The troops
are already on the ground ready 10 indulge
in war game. Although the situation be-
came painfully acute three days ago. ii was
not until to-day that a decision was reached
actually to postpone the manpuvrcs. The
military commanders have thought that to
postpone the operations would mean loss of
"fsce" with the foreigners. particularly the
military attaches whom they are most anX-
ious to impress. 1t seems that these com
inanders would rather lose province than
to lose face"