The searchlight., 1911-12-01
REBELS SHELL. NANKuSG
IMPERIAL GENERAL 70 AnaoNo
THOSE KILLED IN FtReTase
DAYS .FlcHTiNos
Yuan shi kai Unable to Form . cabb
net and 10 Becoming Desperate
Canton In the Hands Of
eriQands.

Nanking-After half century Of Is
lence, the hills overlooking the walled
city Of Nanking. the ancient capital of
China, are swarming with rebels de-
temined to overthrow the last strong
hold Of the Manchus, south Of the
Yangtse.
From the Tiger Hill fort, for several
hours guns spoke repeatedly, while
farther up along the northeastern
range, from the top of Purple noun
tain. overlooking the Ming Tombs.
for a 15-mile semi-circle westward to
the Yangtse, smaller forts scattered
shells into every section of the city.
So far as is known the casualty list
is not large. General Wong. second in
command of the defenders. is among
those killed.
Lion Hills reply to the lombard
ment was at first sharp, but later IL
became feeble. During the morning
there was some sharp fighting at the
eastern and southern gates. The rev.
olutionaries advanced in three col
umns, one along the railway, the sec
ond behind Purple Hill, and the third
along the river. The Imperialists
| fired upon a red cross train coming
| in on the railway.
About 1000 of General Changs
rawest recruits are now outside the
/ city with machine guns. but a number
| have surrendered.
The Imperialists attempted q sortie,
| but were driven back with consider.
able losses, The Tiger Hill batteries
meanwhile, were pounding shells into
Lion Hill and succeeded in silencing
the Manchu batteries there.
The object of the first seizure of IT,
ger Hill was shown by the early ap-
pearance of four rebel cruisers and
later of other warships. Doubtless
they will quickly reduce the lower
sections and drive the defenders to
the south.
The viceroy of Nanking and the
| Tartar general, in fear of General
Chang, the Imperialist commander,
have taken refuge in the Japanese
consulate, in which only the consul
remains. He is the sole official rep
resentative of foreign interests now
| III ANduhiuS. he SohSuidtc 10 "Sh
guarded by marines.
The attack can only be considered
a slight foretaste of bigger things
to follow, because the main body of
the revolutionaries is steadily invest.
ing every side and bringing the big
guns into position on every eminence.
The plans of the attacking force are
not revealed. The revolutionaries may
not attempt to rush the city, but
may prefer to lombard steadily and
await its surrender. But IL breaches
are made in the walls of the city
and the rebels enter, IL Is believed
that General Chang and the loyal
troops will make a desperate stand.
Pirates imperiiins Steamers.
Hong Kong.-The West river IL
swarming with pirates and traffic to
Wachow, in Kwang 81 province. IL
seriously imperiled. The steamship
companies are greatly alarmed and
are considering the suspension ol
their services, but are continuing fol
the present with armed crews.
Great indignation has been aroused
by the attack by pirates on the Brit
ish steamship Shiuon few days ago
when Chief Officer Nicolson wal
murdered. and the people are becom
, ing clamorous for Intervention o.
some kind to put down the lawiess
, ness.
Canton Is said to be in the hands
, of brigands. Grave troubles arr
feared. General Lung is almost pow
erless to maintain order and contem
plates flight.
Yuan in Desperate Straits.
, Pekin-Premier Yuan Shi kai Il
practically without a cabinet. only thu
, presidents of the minor boards hay
, ing accepted offices. The finance
, board is without a minister and tn,
, vice minister left Pekin, after inform
ing a personal friend that he did no
intend to return. The military actiy
ity on the part of Yuan Shi kai 1
considered a forlorn hope.
Thirty foreigners, most OF then
, Americans, arrived here from Tia
Yuan Flu. They were given safe es
oort both by the rebels and the I'm
D perialists.