New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-10
One Hundred Who Were at
Chengtu Believed To Be on
Way to Yang-tse River.
IN a DANGEROUS COUNTRY
Thirty Americans Among the
Fugitives-No Word Received
from Them at Peking
for Three Days.

received IOT liItt Ae - A+'tt- N'-r
dred foreigners who gathered at
Cbenatu capitaI Of Sze-Chuen Province.
for safety from the mobs which have
been running riot in the surrounding cis-
tricts for some time. The Chinese vice.
rov ordered the foreigners 20 leave ne
civ. and IL Is believed that they are no"
making their way toward the Yank-tse
Kiang, which is about three hundred
miles by cart or by river, through A
country where anti-foreign placards
have been posted for many weeks.
II is understood that the fugitiyes are
under the escort OF Chinese troops out
{. is considered doubtful If these troops
would oppose their own people should IN
attack be made on the foreigners. There
are British gunboats on the Yang-ts'
above the gorges which extend from
Ichang 10 Chung King. The American
ships were ordered up the river bit
were unable 10 proceed above lchang.
many hundreds Of miles from Chengtu.
Thirty American Refugees.
Tho Americans among the refugees
number thirty. With the exception OF
representative Of an American tobacco
corpanv. all are Methodist or Baptist
missionaries. Placards which have been
posted in many places say that foreign
| bankers have been enrichng themselves
! ar the expense of the poverty stricken
/ Chinese.
! The most influential Chinese newsps-
! pers in Pekng give unqualified support
TO the agitation IN the provinces. and
petitions have been presented 70 the
| throne asking that the railway pro-
gramme be rescinded and that the prov
/ inces be permitted 10 construct the lines
which have been projected by the gov
/ ernment with the aid OF foreign capital
! II is pointed out that surrender on
! the part Of the government would mean
the gravest calamitlcs. In the first place,
no railways would be constructed. as IL
| has already been urged by the govern
ment that the provincial authorities are
not competent for such a task and are
corrupt In the second place. it would
practically mean the end Of government
control in the provinces, and finally, a
reactionary relapse would be certain.
which some of the legations believe
would be the beginning OF the empires
downfall.
Flood Situation Grave.
The food situation in China is the
most serious in years. Reports come
from Hankow that the troops are driving
the food refugees from the cities. The
English papers in Shanghai say: We
suppose that half the population OF the
Yangtse Valley must be supported
through the coming winter or starve.
Probably this is the most appalling dis
aster in the history Of China"
Washington, Sept. 9-Anti-foreign pla-
cards are being posted in Chengtu, according
TO rumors reaching the State Department
The apprehension OF foreign residents IS
shown by the fact that British subjects, ac-
companed by other foreigners have already
left Chengtu for Chungking. where British.
| French and German gunboats are lying.
Mr. Williams, American charge d'afaires
at Peking, informed the State Department
to-day that he had learned that the British
left the city yesterday IL is not known
whether or not any Americans accompanied
ince found an echo in the Chinese capital
through public meeting OF sze-Chuen
residents on Thursday. when the removal Of
Sheng. the Minister Of Communications.
who is held responsible for the govern
ment's railway policy, was demanded.
Advices which reached the State Depart
ment from other sources than the Ameri-
/ can legation not only confirm Mr. Will
iamss reports Of the dissatisfaction OF the
natives nth the railway projects Of the
/ Chinese government. but foreshadow a
great extension Of the native agitation. ow-
/ ing TO the distress resulting from the floods
| in the lower Yang-tse Kiang. These reports
/ say that the great distress is almost GER
/ tain 20 cause extensive riots later. and
| these probably will assume an anti-foreign
/ phase In that case the disturbance which
/ is now confined to the upper reaches or the
/ Yang-tse Kiang. in Szc-Chuen Prov
! ince may be expected 20 extend down the
/ river from Ichang 10 Chin Kiang.
Reports 20 the Navy Department to-day
/ indicate that Admiral Hubbard Is rapidly
/ dsposng the American warships under his
/ command for the protection OF American
/ interests as far possible His flagship.
! the Saratoga, accompanied by the New Or
! leans and the Helena, will leave Shanghai
| tomorrow 10 ascend the river as far as
Nanking. about l5o miles up the Yang-tse
/ Kiang At that point the Nilalob0s. a light
| draft gunboat captured from Spain. has
been stationed The Villalobos viii move
up the river another 80 miles 10 Hankow
and take station. Another Eunboat. tho
| Samar. has been ordered 10 continue uJs the
| river 10 Ichang. The Callao is stationed ac
Hong Kosg in readiness for river service
! at moments notice
| II the Viceroy OF Chengtu has asked the
| foreign residents 10 leave the city. DR.. II.
| T. Canright who has been medical mis-
sionary there for twenty-five years, said
Yesterday that they must comply, even
! though II means a long. difficult journey
through a country infested with robbers
DR.. Canrlghr is here on visit. The for
eien colony In the metropolis OF Western
China numbers barely one hundred, and
the nearest foreign warships are AT Chung
King five hundred miles away.
DR.. Canright does not believe the lives
OF foreigners are In danger although an
anti-foreign uprising may destroy their
property. II the danger becomes acute. ha
said. the British. French and German gun
boats at Chung King might send marines
in small boats up the Yang-tse kiang To
Kiat!ng within one hundred miles OF
Chengtu. 20 meet the refugees coming down
the river.
DR.. Canright went 10 Chengtu as medi-
ltaeE Eft,t1 al