The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1911-12-01
NANK|NCSHFLLED
IMPERIAL GENERAL is AMONG
THOSE KILLED IN FIRST
DAYS FIGHTING.
TO FORCE A SURRENDER
Yuan Shi kai Unable to Form a CabL
net and Is Becoming Desperate
Canton in the Hands of
Brigands.

Nanking-After half a century of is.
lence, the hills overlooking the walled
city of Marking, 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
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 1t
became feeble. During the morning
there was some sharp fighting at the
eastern and southern gates. The rev.
dictionaries 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 Chang's
rawest recruits are now outside the
city with machine guns, but a number
have surrendered.
The Imperialists attempted a 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 TT.
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 Marking 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
in Marking. The consulate is well
guarded by marines.
The attack can only be considered
a slight %foretaste Of bigger things
to follow, because the main body OF
the reyolutionaries 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 it's surrender. But if breaches
are made in the walls of the city
and the rebels enter, it is believed
that General Chang and the loyal
troops will make a desperate stand.
Pirates Importing Steamers.
Hong Kong.-The West river IL
swarming with pirates and traffic to
Wachow, in Kwang ST province. il
seriously imperiled. The steamship
companies are greatly alarmed and
are considering the suspension Of
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 a few days ago
when Chief Officer Nicolson was
murdered, and the people are becom
ing clamorous for Intervention Of
some kind to put down the lawAess
ness.
Canton is said to be in the hands
of brigands. Grave troubles art
feared. General Lung is almost pow
erless to maintain order and contem
plates flight.
Yuan In Desperate Straits.
Pekin.-Premier Yuan Shi Kai II
practically without a cabinet, only thu
presidents of the minor boards hav
ing accepted offices. The finance
board is without a minister and thu
vice minister left Pekin, after inform
ing a personal friend that he did mo-
intend to return. The military activ
ity on the part of Yuan Shi Kai II
considered a forlOrn hope.
Thirty foreigners, most Of then
Americans, arrived here from Ia
Yuan Flu. They were given safe es
cort both by the rebels and the I'm
perialists.