Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-10-19

that there have been a number of seces-
sions from the government troops
| HANKOW, China. Oct 1s-The first
battle since the arrival of tho imperial
troops from the north was fought today
on the north bank Of the Han river Just
west of this city
| II was indecisive The revoludonists
temporarily drove the imperial troops
back from their position, but in doing so
| they exhausted their rifle ammunition
and were compelled TO retire on their
base at WI Chang ~'-
Tho revolutionists with infantry and,
artillery attacked the government troops
which were reinforced from the Chinese
warships in the river and supported by
the guns of the fleet.
While the fighting was in progress the
| thirteen foreign vessels in the river
landed joint force under command OF
Vice Admiral Sir Alfred L, winsioe, COM
nander of the British fleet, who, because
OF his seniority. has been given the direc.
tion of the men engaged in the protection
OF the foreign concessions.
The Red Cross neutral camp, in charge
of DR.. Melville of the American mission.
received and cared for the rebel wounded
-Four Thousand Men Engaged.
About 2,0OO revolutonists were pitted
against an equal number of royal SOL
dlers and it was fair fight. Early re-
ports that the rebels outnumbered the
enemy to were incorrect. Only a part
of the revolutionary army participated
and they are claiming tonight that they
would have routed completely the SOL
i diers from the northeif their ammunition
had held out
Two thousand rebels who, occupy. .Wu
Chang Hankow! and Hon Yang during
last night crossed the Yang Use Kiang
from Wu-Chang and at daybreak fell on
the imperial camp. They attacked with
dashes and the government troops. taken
somewhat at a disadvantage. responded
loyalty. The fighting was severe. but 1t
is impossible to estimate the casualties,
as the correspondents were not permitted
near the firing line and those who wit
messed the battle from the river were
fired on.
Fight S8rts at DRybreak.
II was Just daybreak when Admiral
Sab ordered his cruisers to disembark
their soldiers near Chang Piso's position.
The revolutionists on the WI Chang
Notifications Immediately detected the
movement and opened a hot fire with
their artillery.
The cruisers and gun boats in the
river replied with a rain Of shells, which
diverted the attention OF the WI Chang
artillerymen and effectually covered the
landing of the troops.
Scattered bodies OF revolutionists on
both sides of the river Joined in the
fighting, and by mid-forenoon It was es-
timated that 1900 imperial troops and
nearly 10000 rebels we're Engaged.
The warships used up a large quantity
OF ammunition but the effectiveness Of
their fire was hampered by fear of ell
dangering the foreign concessions
All the foreign warships in the river
sent landing parties ashore for the pro-
lection OF the foreign interests.
At the first sound Of firing Admiral Sab
Chen Ping In commend of the Chinese
warships, ordered men landed TO support
General Chang Piao, formerly commander
Of the troops OF the Wu-Chang district.
Il who~had assumed command Of the Inn
perial troops The rebels had anticipated
this move by the fleet and directed a hot
fire on the warships and the landing par
ties from the Wu-Chang. bank of the
, river.
Admiral Sab in turn ordered the war
ships to fire on the rebel field pieces,
and for a time shells fell thick among
the rebel gunners. The warship officers.
however, were seriously handicapped by
the danger to the foreign concessions in
volved in their fire.
Fire on Foreign Reporters.
The foreign newspaper correspondents
narrowly escaped with their lives. They
had been cruising on the river in expec-
tation of the battle and stationed their
launch along Admiral sah's flagship and
between the fire Of the two forces
Admiral sab ordered them out of the
firing line The launch and it's crew With
drew, and as they did so they were fired
on by men who had been landed from the
warships. Fortunately the correspond
ents escaped unhurt
the engagement continued several
hours, while the combined land and ship
forces OF the imperiaIs were driven some
distance back and the rebels retiring re-
crossed the river to Wu-Chang
The situation has not been greatly
changed by the battle and continues
grave
Fight for Railway station.
Desultory firing continued this evening
at the rear Of me Hankow railway sta
ton. the possession OF which A. cotntip