Omaha daily bee., 1911-10-12

consuls at q conference decided not to
comply with the Chinese request that they
employ foreign gunboats to prevent the
revolutionaries from crossing the river
TO Hankow. The revolutionaries sent o
circular note to the oonsuls asking that
foreigners remain neutral and assuring
them that they would not be harmed.
HANKOW, China, Oct. 1.-THE revolu-
tionaries have won notable victory,
gaining possession of the city OF WI
Chang after a battle with the loyal
troops that began yesterday and con-
tinued we'll into last night.
Today the foreign residents had not
been molested- The revolutionary COM
mittee issued a proclamation exhorting
its followers not to harm the citizens of
other countries. The fact that the
wishes of the committee have been re-
spected thus far while reassuring to
other nations. lis in itself sinister sign
for the government at Peking; as It in
dicates that the rebellious movement is
now more thoroughly organized.
Five gunhoats are now in the river in
readiness to protect Hankow should the
necessity arise. The foreign cousuls
nave dleO Itl6BIdpneu lnelI governments
asking that warships be sent to the
scene. American and Japanest cruisers
are expected here today, while several
gunboats are fastening hither.
Prisoners Behended in Street.
According to the officials uprising In
WI Chang was planned for last Monday
night. The plot was discovered early
that evening and thirty-two arrests were
made. Desixing to terroriEe the revoiu.
tionaries. four Of the prisoners were be-
headed in the street before the vioeroy's
yamen yesterday
The energetic action of the authorities
did not appear to have HAD the desired
effect. Immediately after the execution
a portion of the government artillery
forces within the city mutinised and the
uprising was precipitated.
The dieaffection in the artillery spread
TO other forces and the revolutionarles
took advantage of the situation They
started fires IN many parts Of the city
and attacked such troops as refused to
Join them. The forces that remained
loyal were overcome.
The Nceroy sent a message TO Peklng
urgently requesting the immediate dis
PdlSh VI WaAhHlpS IGN Lbll II u
nally seeing that further resistance was
useless the viceroy fled the city and
found refuge on a private yacht that was
lying IN the river. The military COM
mander was assassinated.
Capital of Populous Province,
wu-Chang is the capital Of the central
province of Hu-Peh and a town OF about
10000 inhabitants. II is situated Just
across the Yang-Tse Kians river from
widespread disaffeetion throughout China.
Hankow and IN a sense the two may be
regarded as the same city Of 100000
souls.
Hankow is the great trading center for
all central China, but wu-Chang takes
precedence over II in political Importance
As the capital OF the province and the
seat of government of the viceroy II has
great population of officials, including
all the high provincial mandarins and
the mandarins responsible for the gov-
ernment of the city and the prefecture.
The province of Hu-Peh,>a name which
may be translated north lake" is con.
siderably larger than England and Wales
put together and has a popuation Of
81, 5,OOO.COO
Wu-Chang and Hankow. as great trade
oenters and ports for ocean steamers have
both felt to considerable extent the in
fluence Of western civilization ideas.
Royal Troops Flee to HankOw.
Today the loyal troops fled across the
river, followed by the bullets OF the in
surgents- Fugitive colonel Of the Chi
nese army informed the correspondent
OF the Associated Press at Hankow that
the entire provincial army Of Hu Peh,
with the exception of three thousand
men mutined. Tie proclamation Of the
revolutionary committee threatened with
decapitation any one who assaulted a
foreigner.
The movement aims at the overthrow
OF the Manchus. the reigning dynasty