New-York tribune., 1912-03-04
T|EN-TSx IN FLAMES;
BURNING MINT LOOTED
Fourteen Fires Rage FierCely in
Various Parts of City-Bank
Buildings Wrecked.
TROOPS RAID SILVER VAULT
German Doctor Shot Dead by
Mutinous Soldiers-Hundreds
of Loot Laden Cars
Leave City.

Tien- Tsin, March 3-Between and 10
o'clock last night the soldiers mutinied.
They set fire to a number of buildings
and then. Joined by the rabble. began
looting from house To house. The shops
and banks in all the important streets
were looted. and some OF them were
wrecked. The outbreak had been feared
and precautions had been taken to pro
tect the foreign residents from harm.
In order 20 intmldate the populace
the soldiers kept up a continual gunttre
The rattle OF musketry could be heard
throughout the night. only a few ot
the police remained loyal. and they were
greatly outnumbered and quite power
less to suppress the disorders.
No fewer than fourteen fires were rag
ing 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 thou
sands OF dollars being destroyed. Th9
looters entered the silver vault, wrench
ing off the iron shutters and even max
ing holes in the walls. The building
was completely looted OF everything
portable, and the ground was strewn
with empty cartridge clips and cases.
The German Consul dispatched "A guard
TO protect the German residents in the
city. composed chiefly Of the engineering
staff of the Tien Tsin- Pu- Kow Railway
A German doctor. Schreeter by name.
who entered the city and was attempting
10 assist German friends. was shot dead
by looting soldiers Foreigners gen
orally. however, were not molested.
More Troubles Expected.
A company of the Somerset Regiment
was sent to the British station at mid
night TO protect the railway property.
The damage already done cannot be esti-
mated AT present. The city was quiet
this morning, although hundreds OF carts
laden with household belongings and loot
were leaving for other parts. Further
disturbances are expected.
The gentry and officials Of the native
their inability TO cope with the situation.
They sent "A deputation to the senior
consul, requesting the assistance of the
foreign troops to preserve order. The con-
sul referred them to the military authori-
tics who. while sympathetic, considered
that a meeting Of the consular body TO
discuss the matter was necessary.
The ouestion of what action should be
taken was somewhat complicated by the
reported threat Of the old-style troops
stationed near Tien-Tsin to pillage the
foreign concessions tonight. The for
eign forces are already seriously de-
pleted by the dispatch Of drafts OF Brit
ish. German. French and American
troops to Peking.
Foreign Force Available.
The total foreign forces now available
here are, roughly speaking, 700 British,
chiefly of the Indian. regiment; 800 jap
anese. 300 French, 10 Russians and
Germans and 20 Americans, an aggrc-
gate of less than LOO men. Il Is be-
lieyed that It would require a minimum
Of | 800 men to police the city effect
ivelv. The foreign troops cannot be
spared. and therefore the disorders are
likely to increase.
An Associated Press correspondent,
while proceeding from Peking to Tien-
Tsin. to-day witnessed a critical Incl
dent at Feng-Tai. which is in the hands
of the mutineers. The train pulled in
between lines of troops of the Somerset
regiment, who were crouching with guns
loaded and bayonets fixed. One hum
dred yards away groups Of Chinese sol
dIers were sulkily discussing the action
of the Britishers. II was explained that
the Chinese had stopped the trains and
had threatened not to let any pass.
One hour was given TO them by the
British commander in which to vaoate
their positions. Just about that time
700 of the Inniskilling Fuslleers arrived
and began to detrain quarter OF mile
away. The Chinese. who numbered
800. did not move until the Inniskili-
,ngs MARCHED up and took their posi-
tions. Then they scurried away in all
directions as the train cor tinued on to
TieD-Tsin.
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