Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-11-03
Being Ruth|ess|y Used by
Chinese at Hankow.
Feared That Massacre Will
Retard Peace Movements.
The'Fighting Severe and Unframed
Rebels Are Slaughtered.

Pekin, Nov. 1.-The massacre of the
natives ut Hankow by Imperialist
troops, intelligence of which has
reached both the war board and the
German legation. may prove a seri-
Gus ninderauce TO the peace neSotia-
lions which Yuan Shkai has been en-
dcavoring to begin with the rebel lead
,rs. Tho population of HankoW is es-
timatcd ordinarily at 100000, but IL is
believed that every non-combatant
who was able to escape proceeded into
the country prior 10 the conflict The
Hankow streets are very narrow and
the houses are closely packed.
The concessions are divided from the
native city by streets 50 or SO feet
wide. and it viii be difficult to pro-
tcct the foreign houses from fire or
even from attack, for the 1mperialists
have evidently got beyond the con-
troll of their officers. The foreign de-
tenders include marines from II gun
boats of eight or nine nations and also
volunteers from among the mission
aries and business people.
1t is reported that the war board at
Pekin has declined to accept the sug-
gcstien by foreign doctors that Red
Cross Society be formed on the lines
Of the Geneva convention. The board
seems to feel that the rebels do not
deserve humane treatment. According
70 some advices, the massacre began
before the departure of General Yin
Tchang.
The exodus from Pekin continues.
the doors of many shops, as we'll as OF
private houses, being closed in antici
patton of a massacre. The American
missionaries who have consulted with
the legation, have decided that a few
soldiers placed in each of the four
large mission compounds would suffice
TO prevent ordinary outlawry and loot
ing, which is expected to begin any
night. But should there be a general
outbreak all the others could take
refuge in the Methodist mission. which
is Immediately east of the legation
quarter and could be easily defended.
The diplomatic body will meet. to-
morrow, to reconsider the question of
allowing the Chinese troops to enter
Tien Tsin, consul there having made
serious objection.
An official dispatch from Shih-Kai-
Tar, Shan-Si province. says that a
regiment of Shan-Si troops. which had
been dispatched to assist the Imperial
lists, has mutinied. The mutineers kill
ed their brigadier general and bonn
barded a Manchu city, massaereing
1000 Manchus, including the governor
and his family. The governors Yamen
was destroyed
Gen. Yin-Tchang, who, until lew
DAYS ago was commander of the Inn
today. There was great crowd at
the station at the time of his arrival,
but no demonstration resulted.
It is understood that the National AS
sembly is showing determined opposi-
ton to the foreign loan, for which ar
engagements already have been made,
arguing that such "A loan is unneces-
sary because many millions are hoard
cd in the Forbidden City
Letters dated Oct. % and 80 from The
Associated Press correspondent with the
1mperialist army at Hankow. say that
in the struggle for the possession OF the
city there was hand to hand fighting in
the streets the quarters being too close
for shooting. The rebels, mostly raw re-
cruits, did not understand the use OF
rifles and were driven back with much
slaughter and their dead piled upon the
quay. The casualties among the 1mpe-
rialists during two days, Oct Is and q.
were 50 killed and $50 wounded. The reb-
els had about 100 killed or wounded.
London, Nov. "A special dispatch
from Shanghai says that the Imperial
troops set fire to the native city of Han
kow, Monday night, to drive out the reb-
els The city has been burning fercely
ever since, the dispatch says.
Hankow, Oct. 31.-Via Wu-Hu, Nov 2
in the fighting at Han-Yang. Sunday
night, the Imperialists were victorious
and entered the native city. Looting was
permitted and there were many fires.
Late at night the Imperialists Withdrew
to their camp, and the rebels, having
been reinformed reoccupied the city. 1t
is reported that they numbered 5000.
On Monday morning. an artillery en-
gagement began, but it was not decisive.
The rebels at Hankow have beheaded
Col. Chang Sin Yang, who commanded
in the battle. on Friday, when the rebels
met with reverse. Other officers in the
revolutionary cause also suspected of
treachery have met a like fate. A for
eigner reports that he saw the rebels
kill 20 Imperialist prisoners and 1000 of
the wounded.
Shasi, in Peh province, and Yochow,