The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-04
RiOting of Serious Nature Breaks Out; Shops Loot
 ed and Wrecked
JAPANESE TROOPS
 ORDERED TO SCENE
Legations Consider It Judiciou V: Support Yuan as the Quick Means of Overcoming
 Anarchy

Tien Tsin. China, March S.-Rioting of a serious nature took place here last night. The outbreak had been feared and pre- cautions were taken as far as possible to protect residents from harm. Between 9 and 10 o'clock the soldiers mutinied, set fire to a number of buildings and then be- gan footing from house to house. They were joined by the rabble. Shops and banks in all districts were footed md some of them were wrecked.
 In order to intimidate the populaee the soldiers kept up continual fire. The rat tie of musketry could be heard through out the night Only few police remained loyal and they were outnumbered and un- able to suppress the disorders.
 No fewer than IA fires were raging simultaneously in various parts of the city. The soldiers broke into the Pei Yang mint, which was set on fire Machinery to the value of many thousands of dol- lars was destroyed. The looters entered the silver stores, wrenchlng off the iron shutters and even making holes in the walls. The mint was footed of everything portable and the ground was strewn with empty cartridge clips and cases.
 Guards to Protect Germans
 The German consul dispatched guard to protect German residents in the city, composed chiefly of the engineering staff of the Tien rsin- Pukow railroad. A Ger man doctor named Schreeter, who entered the city to assist German friends, was shot dead by footing soldiers. Foreigners generally, however, were not molested
 A company of the Somerset regiment was sent to the British station at mid night to protect the railway property The damage done cannot be estimated The city was quiet this morning all though hundreds of carts laden VI n household belongings and loot w1re leaving for other parts. Further dis turbances are anticipated
 An Associated Press correspondent, -while. proceediog from. Pekins tq sfian Tsin today. witnessed a critical incident at Feng Tai, which was in the hands of the mutineers. The train pulled in be- tween lines of troops of the Somerset regiment, who were crouching with guns loaded and bayonets fixed. one hundred yards away groups of Chinese soldiers were sulkily discussing the action of the Britishers. It was ex- plained that the Chinese had stopped the trains and had threatened not to let any pass.
 They were given offF hour by the British commander to vacate their po~ sitions Just about that time TOO of the Innisklling fusillers arrived and be- gan to detrain quarter of mile away. The Chinese, who numbered 1900, did not move until the lnnisl<il- lings marched up and took their po- sitions. Then they scurried away In all directions as the train continued on to Tien Tsin.
 The gentry and officials of the native city met this morning and confesseu to heir inability to cope with the sit- ua tion. They sent a deputation to the senior counsel requesting the assistant ance of the foreign troops to preserve order. The consul referred them to the military authorities, who, while sym pathizing with them, considered that meeting of the consular body to dis- cuss the matter was necessary. The meeting was held this afternoon ana all the consuls attended. It was unan imously decided that the question was not political one, but merely one of policing and in consequence, they re- ferred the question again to the mill tary commanders to take what steps they considered fit.
 The question of what action should be taken was somewhat complicated by the reported threat ol lilt Oiu oA9 lioopS Sto- toned near Tien Tsin to pllage the for eign concessions tonight.
 The foreign forces are already serious ly depleted by the dispatch of drafts of British, German, French and American troops to Picking.
 The total foreign forces now available, here are, roughly speaking, lo0 British, chiefly of the Indian regiment; 800 Jap snese, 300 French, l70 Russians and Ger mans and 20 Americans. 1t Is believed if would require a minimum of l5oo men to police the city effectively. This cannot be dcne, and therefore 1t is anticipated that the disorder Is likely to increase.
 Numerous executions took place in this city today, but the authorities are prac- tically powerless, as they cannot rely on the loyalty of the troops or the police, and have no means to prevent further outbreaks.