Evening star., 1912-11-06
CELEBRATION AT CAPITAL
President Yuan Shih-Kai Reviews
Sixteen Thousand Troops.
FOLLOWS WITH RECEPTION
Soldiers in "March Past" Greeted by
the Leaders of the New
Government.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

| A year ago today Peking was electrified
/ by the news that revolution had broken
out at Wuchang. Today the anniversary
is being celebrated a national festival
throughout the country. A year ago to-
day Yuan Shh-kai was rusticating at
Changtehfu in Honan, his native town.
| supposedly nursing an injured leg. To-
day, as president of the Chinese republic.
| he reviewed some sixteen thousand
| troops, horse, foot and guns, including
the Imperial Guards division. AT his right
hand stood Gen Yin Chang, a Manchu,
who twelve months ago held the position
of minister of war, and who was sent
| hurrying southwark, in command of the
/ imperial troops, when the seriousness of
| the Wuchang outbreak was realized by
the throne. What must have been Yuan
| Shih-kais feelings as, lingering the hilt
of his sword, his lips slightly parted, his
keen eyes watching every movement of
the armed host, he took salute after sa-
j lutte, as head of the largest republic that
the world has ever known?
| 1t was a bright. crisp morning. Invita-
tions to the review and the subsequent
| official reception contained warning to
he punctual, and accordingly arrived at
| the cabinet building on the stroke or y
| am This building is the old war office
and is adjacent to the new war office
which for some months past has been
used as the official residence of the presi-
dent.
All approaches to both buildings were
lined on both sides by the president S
guards, who wore blue uniforms with
red facings. From an early hour in the
morning troops had been pouring into
Hatamen street, the main thoroughfare
running from south to north of the city,
and it was believed that the president
would drive down this road to inspect
the troops, and subsequently review them
in the spacious inclOSure IN front or tne
cabinet Offices
Feast for the Guests.
Along the north side of this nclosure
an enormous straw-mat pavilion had
been erected, in which, upon long tables.
refreshments had been prepared for the
guests From am. onward stream
of foreign and Chinese guests, the former
including practically the entire foreign
population of Peking, with the exception
of the legation officials. poured into the
inclosure. At short intervals prougham,
surrounded by cavalry escort, Wouio
draw up before the entrance of the
pavilion, the mounted retainers flogging
their shaggy ponies into gallop for the
last few yards and pulling them up
sharply and suddenly as the carriage
L
cabinet ministers alighted, all other
guests having to leave these conveyances
outside the inclosure. 1t was noticeable
that many of the ministers and vice MIN
listers wore the wide yellow sashes and
enameled badges OF the new CnlneSe
orders of merit.
Just as the review was about to begin
curious and gaudy Peking cart. OF
antiquated design, entered the compound,
surrounded by a small retinue of retain
aIa in vol
vehicle emerged Mongolian Hutukht'u
(saint), one of the living reincarnat1Ons
of Buddha, clothed from head to foot In
quilted yellow raiment.
The march past is now about to be-
gin. There is much scampering to and
fro of mounted staff officers, shouting
Of commands and blowing of bugles, and
through the east gate of the 1nclosure
enters what one might be pardoned for
thinking is a German military band. The
bandsmen are clad in blue uniforms, with
bright yellow belts and pickelhaube. but
as they draw nearer it is seen that the
Teuton headdress and uniforms are worn
by Chinese musicians. Following them
through the gate comes detachment or
khaki-clad infantry, its bayonets glisten-
ing in the sun.
Procession Moves at Command.
The head of the procession halts awhile
and then, at a sharp word of command,
the march of the 10000 begins. The presi-
detn is not in sight, and it is obvious
that he is taking the salute from the en-
trance to his own residence, whittier |
repair at the first opportunity.
The presidents residence is a modern
building, designed by European archi-
tect but the main entrance is of the typ
ical Chinese style. 1t is approached by
broad flight of steps. leading up to three
arches which are sheltered beneath
curved overhanging roof. These arches
were gayly decorated with flowers and
bunting and beneath the middle and
largest of the three a scarlet-draped dais
had been erected Standing upon this
dais, clad in the uniform of general
with wide crimson sash across his breast
and his tunc covered with glitter1ng or
ders, was a short, thick-set man. He
smiled pleasantly as each fresh detach-
ment of troops hove into sight, and
promptly acknowledged the salute of
every officer. He is the president Of the
Chinese republic, the man upon whom
more than upon any one else are cen
tered the hopes of China. To his right
and left stand cabine ministers and high
military officers, among the latter being
Gems Tuan Chi-jui minister of war;,
Yin Chang, Ma Lung-piao, Chang kuei-
tih and other veterans Massed round the
entrance at the sides and rear Is strong
force of the presidents trusted Honanese
It would be difficult to imagine a more
imposing picture, or one in which one
man SO completely dominates the whole
scene Standing upon the dais, he is in
the full glare of the sunlight. For eighty
minutes he stands there almost motion
less except when gravely acknowledging
a salute as infantry, mountain artillery
and cavalry march past. First come the
Kung Wei Chun, a force recruited al
most entirely from Honanese, and known
as the Presidential Guards. There are
now upward of 5000 of them, many of
them veterans who have served under
the president before; some of them mere
youths who reveal their rawness by some
what clumsy marching
Imperial Guards 1000 Strong.
Then come the Imperial Guards, over
1000 strong, headed by their scarlet
coated band. Composed almost entirely
of Manchus and Mongols and subjected to
a long and rigorous training, they may
still be regarded as the pick of the Chi
nese army and their marching elicits
general admiration. They are followed
by the constabulary, whose marching is
little if at all inferior, and in turn by an
other detachment of the kung Wei Chun.
After them come several batteries of
mountain artillery, drawn by mules, and
finally squadron after squadron of cav
airy, mounted upon shaggy, unkempt
ponies.
An officer rides forward and, saluting,
announces that the march past is at an
the president re-enters his residence,
The p1laSfS foreign and Chinese fhap