New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-11-19
READY TO STORM NANKING

READY TO STORM NANKlNG
Gen. Chang's Force Strongly In
trenched on Purple Mountain.
Chin-Kiang. Nov. 1S.-Runners returning
here report that the imperial outposts have
been withdrawn and that General Changs
army is now within Marking
Estimates OF the strength OF the imperial
forces vary widely. The backbone Of
Changs army appears TO consist Of seven
thousand ShanTung troops. II is believed,
however that he is short of ammunition
and poorly equipped with artillery.
The revolutionists will advance to-mor-
row and concentrate eight thousand Of their
best troops and a number of rapid fire guns
at LungTan, twenty miles from Marking.
At the same time the rebel fleet will move
up the Yang-Tse River. The attempt to
storm Marking will follow at once.
The revolutionists are rushing troops,
guns and ammunition up the railway lire
as far as this city. Marking is cut off from
communication with the outside except by
wireless and river boats. Sensa tonal ru-
mors are current 10 the effect that the i'm
perial forces arc being weakened by de-
sertions. but this is not verified. General
Chang. who is strongly intrenched on Pur-
pie Mountain is said to he provisioning
against long siege A wireless message
from Marking to-day said that all was
quiet there.
The British Consul at Marking remains
within the city without a guard He is de-
termined to stand by British property The
American Consul. Wilbur T. Graccy. with
his effects. went 10 Shanghai on the Amer
lean torpedo boat destroyer Barry.
The American cruiser Albany. with Rear
Admiral Murdoch on board, remains Mt
anchor here. Fifteen vessels flying the
rebel flag are also here.
Wireless reports from HankOw state that
the fighting continues there. To-day there
was a sharp engagement during which
both sides lost total Of three hundred
killed. A number of shells dropped into
the foreign concessions, but no one there
was injured. II is reliably reported that
Admiral Sab Chen-Ping, commander of the
Chinese navy. Is a prisoner at Ku-Kiang.
Washington. Nov. 1s-Anairs In China
spparentlv have reached such a pass that
neither the rebels nor the imperlals are
able 10 check acts of lawlessness. Advices
from the State Department to-day report
that brigandags is on the increase In the
various parts Of the empire. Business is
reported in a critical condition and finances
in very bad shape.
From Rear Admiral Murdoch. command
ant Of the American naval forces in China.
come reports that Marking is cut off from
communication with the outside world by
railroad and telegraph. and that the ma
tives are leaving in disorder. AL the mis-
sionaries except three are reported to
have left Anking for Wu-Hu. There are
NO disorders in Chi-Fu. but many robberies
are being committed in the vicinity.
Later advices from Marking, where the
decisive battle of the revolution is thought
to be impending, are to the effect that all
Americans. with the exception Of six mem
hers of the Red Cross, are now outside OF
the walled town. The naval officers report
that it will be extremely difficult TO pro-
tect foreign property inside the walls, be-
cause it is so widely scattered. The revo-
lutionary forces are still concentrating
They now hold all of the territory in the
vicinity of Marking.
The principal advance Of the revolu-
tionaries on Marking is from the direction
Of Chin Kiang. The advance guard is
made up Of trained troops, well equipped.
Just who is to press the button which
will start the American-Chinese expedition
from Manila could not be determined to-
day, The War Department officials say
that the troops could be dispatched at
moments notice, but at the State Depart
ment II was pointed out that some arrange
ment must be made for a cOmmissariat;
that the troops could not be landed in
China without provision for food and
shelter There seemed TO be no doubt in
either quarter that the expedition would
be sent, and II appears probable that the
American Minister in Picking will have
practically a deciding voice in determining
Just when the start will be made.
All of the officials were extremely de-
sirOus that there should he no possible
misunderstanding of the object OF the eX
petition, which is simply to fulfil treaty
obligation of the United States TO keep
the railroad open from Picking TO the sea.
There is not the slightest intention OF
Selling any Chinese territory or OF inyad-
ing the country. In fact. II was said at
the State Department that probably II VIII
not be necessary for the American troops
10 20 inland beyond the point Of disem-
barkation in China The moral enect OF
their presence at one end OF the railroad
will doubtless be sufficient 10 insure the
road against interference and obstruction.
There is a possibility that the American
force to be sent TO China Will be composite.
representing all branches Of the military
service. instead Of being composed Oh IN
fantrv alone II has also been suggested
that General Frederick Funston or some
other general officer be placed IN command
OF the expedition.
san Francisco. Nov. 1&.-Chan kwai-yu'
prefect Of the Nam-Hung Province. is IN
San Francisco, on the way TO Washington
II is believed he has a mission from the
Manchu government TO the Secretary oil
state.
00MTDnI I'd MINIS hQpE al