Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-10-20
REBELSI!;DEFE EAT.
IMPERIAL TROOPS {.
Governments Losses are Heavy and
Further ReverSeS Expected
Rebels Control HankOW.
UPRISING GROWING.
Foreigners Not Believe to be In Dam
ger and Great Consideration Is Shown
Cruisers on Hand to Take OF Natives
of Different Countries.

Pekin, Oct. 20.-The rebels over
whelmingly defeated the Imperial
troops at Hankow yesterday, accord
ing to a message received here today
from the scene OF the battle by way OF
kiu Kiang. Direct telegraphic COM
munication with Hankow is still in
terrupted and few details are known.
1t is said the Imperial forces loss
was heavy and that the rebels are
in complete control of Hankow.
The victorious rebels are reported
to be ransacking Hankow now for
Manchus and mercilessly killing
them wherever found. Not even ba-
bies are spared. The Chinese seem
fairly mad with hatred of the alien
race which has so long dominated
their government and oppressed the
country.
Diplomats here do not believe that
foreigners at Hankow are in much
danger, as accommodations can easily
be found for all of them aboard the
ten or twelve cruisers and gun boats
off the city, but it is feared they may
suffer heavy property loss if forced
TO abandon their homes and places
of business.
From the governments standpoint
the seriousness of the rebel victory at
Hankow cannot be exaggerated. Lit
orally millions of Chinese have been
awaiting the outcome of the fighting
there TO decide whether to remain
loyal or to cast in their lot with the
reyolutionists. The latter having
won, it is a foregone conclusion that
outbreaks will begin starting in every
direction. There is q growing belief
that the present government is
doomed. In Pekin itself the well-to-
do Manchus are preparing to flee the
country.
Yuan Shih Kai's appointment as
commander in chief of the Yang Tse
Kiang valley is generally regarded
as something of a joke, inasmuch as
practically the whole of the valley is
under rebel control and not the
slightest attention will be paid to
his edicts The veteran reformer has
to tell the truth, lost much of his in
fiuence over his countrymen by ac-
cepting a commission under the Man.
chu government. The people hold
that he should have placed himself at
the head of the rebel movement.
The authorities are massing troops
to defend the approaches to Pekin
at present, but disaffection is SO gen.
eral there is hardly regiment in the
entire army which can be relied upon
and scores of mutinies occur daily.
What has especially surprised for
eigners here has been the determin-
alton with which the Chinese, all
ways considered hitherto a distinctly
anti-military people, have fought
since the present uprising started.
On both the rebel and imperialist
sides the most reckless bravery has
been shown. Much of the fighting
has been at close quarters, with the
bayonet, and in every engagement
the dead have been actually piled in
heaps before either side would give
way.
The rebels, wherever victorious,
continue to show the greatest con-
sideration for foreigners, but it is
appreciated that this is due to the
leaders intelligence and that the
rank and file are as bitterly anti
foreign as ever. In diplomatic circles
it is gravely>feared that the masses
will sooner or later get out of hand,
in which case every European and
American in China will be in the ut
most danger.