The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-09
FIRST UNCENSORED NEWS FROM SIAN FU 5000 Manchus Are Slain By
 Chinese ENTERTAINMENTS Letters From Missionaries Say Four Americans Were Killed-Yuan
 Shi Kai Meets Offers
 of Rebels
AREAPPARENTLYS SAFE

Picking, December S.-The first di- rect and uncensored news received from Sian Flu since the recent outbreak there was brought here today by messenger. It consists of letters to the British and American legations and the director or posts. The letters say 5000 Manchus were slain by the Chinese and that there was much footing, Several mls- sion houses in the province were de- stroyed and eight foreigners, some Of them children, were killed. Four of the dead were Americans.
 According to the letters, foreigners in the province of .Shen Si of which Sian Flu is the capital, numbered 70, lnclud- ing r Americans A majority of these are now in Sian Flu, but others fled to the province of Kan Su, where trouble is expected.
 we apparently are safe now" says one of the letters, but the lawless are in the majority. We had hoped to es- cape down the Han river, but the road is dangerous. The Kan Su missionaries have had a hard time. Twenty-one of them, including children, are Americans. Money cannot be sent them as all the mails have been stopped and the banks here were robbed and burned This letter is signed by W. J. Plymire of the Christian and Missionary alliance at Tao Chow, province of Kan Stu It is dated November 26.
 The terms which the imperial delegates will take to Shanghai or Ranking, in an endeavor to settle the questions in dis pute between the government and the rev olutionists, are believed to provide, first, that the Emperor shall be retained, though he win be entirely without power second. that a president and cabinet shall be elected by the nation and the presi- dent shah possess the same authority as the president of republic, and third. if the foregoing conditions are accepted, the government will grant provincial au- thority.
 These terms are considered largely a bluff Yuan Shi Kai still controls suo- stantal army, but is unable to pay me soldiers and desiring to save the nation must accept the republican demands. Therefore. he offers authority which the provinces already have assumed His call for delegates from the provinces having met with no response, Yuan Shi kai ap- ponted residents of Picking and natives of the various provinces to accompany Tang Shao Vi. former minister of posts and communications, who is acting as go- between in efforts to reunite the coun- try.
 There is slight difference between the terms of Quan and those demanded sev- eral days ago by the revolutionary leaders who offe-ed to leave the Emperor as titu- lar sovereign. Members of the legation are ready to harbor the Emperor in case of his abdication, but it is believed the court will select either of the United States or Japan if the step is necessary There was. a fire late tonight near the forbidden city. which is believed to have been of ineendiary origin.
 Shanghai, December S-A telegram received here from Ranking says that Gen Chang Hsu, commander of the imperial troops who, with a fore re- cruited from the city when the revo- lutionists acaptured it, annihilated q band of revolutionists who attempted to bar his retreat 100 miles up the Tien Tsin-P -Pukow railway.
 Further northward from the, scene of .his fight the revolutionists are re- ported to be blowing up bridges with dynamite.
 Wu Ting Fang professed ignorance oi the decision of the revolutionaries at Wu Change to accept an imperial mon archy with Wuan Shi Kai or some other satisfactory Chinese as ruler uil- der constitution and parliament. pr Wu declares that no negotiations con ducted at Wu Chang can be regarded as official