The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-03-12
Foreigners In China Are Prepared to
Defend Their Lives to the Last
II an Uprising
Occurs.

The fate of the great republic OF
China still hangs in the balance.
Three regiments of Manchu troops
guard the entrances to the palace
where the newly installed ruler Of the
new nation remains, afraid to venture
| forth because Of the danger of assas-
sination. Foreigners are virtual priso-
ners in the legation confines. The
outcome is impossible to forecast to-
night, but the final test must come
before many days.
/ The streets of the city are hideous
with headless bodies in advanced state
of decomposition. The stencil Is
ifrightful and the danger of plague is
very grave. The bodies are those of
the recent rioting. Few were guilty
Not single body observed in an ex-
jtensive tour of the city was in uniform.
l,All were OF civilians, the majority
being coolies. They were slain be-
cause it was necessary to provide vic
tins to back Yuan's declaration that
bandits were being punished. And,
while these helpless victims We're be-
4 ing decapitated by the headsmen arm
ed with their long, heavy razor-edged
swords, the real thieves, all garbed in
uniform and mans bearing on. their
collars the insignia showing they were
Officers Of the imperial army, were
carrying out of the city thousands of
wagon loads of the most valuable loot.
Gold, silver silk and other treasurers.
taken from the houses looted have
been stored In safe places. And the
majority of the rioters are back with
the regular army, defiantly waiting
for the signal to turn again to loooting
and murder.
4 The old style troops, with their pic
J ituresque uniforms and equiment, have
; been banished. They were ordered to
. Ton Ho after they had torn from the
walls of the city the flags Of the great
J republic raised in honor of the taking
the oath of office of President Yuan.
They are bitter against the republic
and the republican leaders, But Yuan
dares not disband them. He does
mot know what minute he may be
called on to summon them to the aid
OF his Manchu troops and the loyal
forces of the Third division who stand
between him and another uprising.
; The legation quarter is closed and
carefully guarded. Cannon and rapid
fire guns have been mounted wherc
they can sweep the approach to the
gates. Picked gunners are on duty
. night and day. There is a general
understanding among the legation
guards. If trouble comes, it will find
the foreigners ready to defend them
> selves.
The situation at Canton is very
grave. The mutineers nave captured
the river forts and say they will sink
any vessels that try to pass. Fighting
has been in progress for several days
and the native city is in the possession
of the rebels. In addition they hold
the admiralty buildings and have
mounted guns to retain possession
e The rebels at that point are command
l. ed by LUX, the noted brigand.
a There is grave doubt of the position
of DR.. Sun Vat Sen and the republican
r officials at Nankin. Legation officials
t here say that they have lost caste with
/ their own troops by their policy ot
e action and that most of their soldiers
d are disconnected.
e The southern army cannot go into
n the north to aid Yuan because of the
e bitter feeling between the imperia
o and republican troops. The only hope
s 1t was said, there today, lies in Yuar
l. being successful in floating the loan.
Il he is now negotiating. With plenty o
money he could pay off most of tht
l. soldiers and bring around himself az
g army that could be depended on t.
O restore order, as long as he keeps i
t. well supplied with money.
5. Experts Start Game.
I