Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-10-21
BATTLE IN CHINA
ENDS IN A DRAW
Rebels Engage Imperial Troops Near
Hankow, But Retreat When Am
munition Gives Out.

Hankow, China, Oct. 1S.-The first
battle since the arrival of the imperial
troops from the north was fought on
the north bank of the Han river, Just
west of this city 1t was indecisive.
The revolutionists temporarily drove
he imperial troops back from their
position. but In doing SO they exhaust
ed their rifle ammunition and were
| compelled to retire upon their base at
Wu-Chang. The revolutionists, with in
tantry and artillery, attacked the gov
| srnment troops, which were reinforc-
cd from the Chinese warships in the
river and supported by the guns OF
the feet.
While lighting was in progress the
thirteen foreign vessels in the river
landed joint force under command of
Vice Admiral Sir Alfred l.. Winsloe,
| commander of the British eastern
fleet, who. because of his seniority,
men engaged in the protection of the
foreign concessions. The Red Cross
neutral camp In charge of DR. Mac
Willie, CT the American mission. re-
ceived and cared for the rebel wound.
| CD.
Forces Equal In Number.
| About 1000 revolutionists were pit
bed against an equal number of loyal
soldiers. and II was a fair fight. Only
part OF the revolutionary army par.
| ticipated. and they are asserting that
they would have. routed completely
the soldiers from the north II their am
munition had held out.
Desultory firing continued at the
rear of the Hankow railway station,
the possession of which is continually
changing. the loyalists and rebels
holding 1t alternately.
Between 200 and 300 revolutionists
are reported killed or wounded In the
engagement. The imperial losses
were smaller. Rebel reinforcements
who we're crossing the river to support
the fighting l.ne encountered smart
royalist fire and were disorganized.
| The rebels complain that their leader
ship was feeble
A German sailor was hit by stray
bullet, but not seriously wounded. SO
! far as known this was the only injury
sustained among the foreigners. Three
imperial soldiers were waylaid by an
unarmed mob and stoned to death.
May Renew Hostilities.
A renewal of hostilities may take
1 Mo e. 10 hA
plan of the rebel leaders to force the
| fighting before the imperial troops
have been further strengthened. The
latter had intended to delay an at
tack upon Wu-Chang until their num-
| bers were sufficient to make victory
probable, and it had been rumored
that there would be no battle before
next Saturday.
The rebels, who occupy Wu-Chang,
Hankow and Han-Yang, were alive to
the governments purpose, and during
the night 1000 men crossed the Yang
Use river from Wu-Chang and at day
break they fell upon the imperial
camp. They attacked with dash and
the government troops, taken some
Wuht Ut uiSduNhHldSt, IeSpOIutl
Loyalty The fighting was severe, but
! 1t Is impossible to estimate the casual
ties accurately, as the correspondents
were not permitted near the firing line
and those who witnessed the battle
from the river we're fred upon.
At the first sound of firing Admiral
Sab Chen-Ping, in command of the
Chinese warships. ordered men landed
to support General Chang-Piao, for
merry commander of the troops of the
Wu-chang district, who had assumed
command of the imperial troops. The
rebels had anticipated this move by
the fleet, and directed a hot fire upon
the warships and the landing parties
from the Wu-Chang bank of the river.
Admiral Sab in turn ordered the
warshlps to fire upon the rebel field
pieces. and for time shells fell thick
among the rebel gunners. The warship
| officers. however. We're seriously han
dicapped by the danger 10 the foreign
concessions involved in their fire