Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1912-03-06
TIENTSIN SEEMS
DOOMED BY TORCH
Flames and HordeS of Crazed
Troops Sweep City.
DIPLOMATS CALLED FOR AID
Foreign Ministers in Picking Decide TO
Bring Into Chinese Capital All
Available Troops-Missionar-
les Reported Butchered.

Tientsin, March 4.-Tientsin, at the
mercy Of mobs Of disgruntled soldiers,
seems doomed. The torch has been
applied and great fires are sweeping
both sides Of the river.
Property valued at several million
dollars has already been destroyed.
No respect is shown to foreigners and
one German physician has been killed.
Fearing an attack on the foreign set
Elements, the consular body placed the
entire situation in the hands of the
military commanders.
Feng Tai is in flames and crowds
are pouring into the foreign conces-
sions.
1t is reported here that the Third
and Twentieth divisions are battling
at Feng Tai, where 100 British troops
are stationed.
The Britishers, while protecting
women and children, have been un-
able to stop the looting and could not
prevent the burning of the station A
passenger train, which was bound for
Picking, returned to Tientsin, fearing
to pass through the Feng Tai region.
Diplomats Call for Aid.
Picking, March 4.-The foreign min
listers here, after a conference, have
decided to bring into Peking all the
available foreign troops stationed in
adjacent ports in China.
A strong detachment of United
States troops has been ordered to pro-
coed to this city from Tientsin imme-
diately, according to dispatch re-
ceived here from that city.
French Missionaries Massacred.
The French and Russian legations
have received authentic news that the
French missionaries in Pao Ting Flu
have been massacred.
Martial law, which has been pro-
claimed in the capital, is operating
successfully.
Legations Prepare for Siege.
The legations prepared for siege.
Direct attacks on the legation quarter
are not feared, but the Chinese troops
possess many modern guns, which
might be used effectively If turned on
the legations.
By the dynamiting of the bridges on
the Hankow railway and because OF
the fighting along the Tientsin line Pc
king is temporarily out of cOmmunica-
ton with these places. The foreign
guard along the railway will be in
creased.
The diplomatic body held q confer
ence and considered measures for the
restoration and maintenance of COM
munication with Tientsin. The river
is now open, therefore it may not be
necessary to guard the line between
Tientsin and Chin Wang Tao, as it
will be possible to reach the sea by
way Of the river.
Arranging Wireless System.
The legations would not be sur
prised should al Geographic cOmmun1-
cation be interrupted, and because of
this they are arranging a wireless sys-
tenn between the Italian towers here
and a Japanese warship at Tientsin.
The ministers are agreed that the
present garrisons are sufficient TO pro
tect the legation quarter, but think it
advisable that the guards be rein
forced by 1000 additional troops.
The action of the ministers in call
ing in foreign troops to Picking was
decided on at a meeting convened
partly as result of a communication
from Tang Shao vi asking the powers
to take measures to prevent further
bloodshed and loss of property in Pc
king.
Tang Shao Yrs communication is
regarded as unofficial, but the foreign
ministers were satisfied that action
was necessary. The foreign troops
will be mounted and will patrol the
city during the daytime.
BattIeship Sent to Taku.
A Japanese battleship has been or
dered to Taku at the mouth Of the Pei
Ho river, in the province of Chi Ii,
about thirty miles southeast of Tien-
tsin, so as to establish wireless COM
munication with the italian station at
Picking.
A train load of mutinous soldiers,
belonging to the garrisons Of Pao Ting
Flu, started for Picking, but the rail-
road authorities blew up the bridges
and stopped the traffic.
Chang Huai Chih's soldiers have
killed many innocent persons passing
along the streets Of Picking and carry
ing parcels. They were mostly panic
stricken people fleeing from the city
with their own effects