New-York tribune., 1913-07-27
AMERICAN AND BRITISH
FORM GUARD At KU-L|NG
President Yuan'S Forces Begin
to Dominate Situation After
Fortnight of Fighting.
NO CECISIVE BATTLE YET
Signal Victory Essential to Con-
vince Rebels Their Cause
Is Lost-Japanese May
Be Aiding South.

can, British and other citizens are to-
night guarding the approaches to the
mountain town of !<u-Ling. where
thousands of foreigners. mostly Ameri-
can and British women and children
have taken refuge from the heat of the
Chinese summer months. The few
american bluejackets or the heights
are maintaining signal communication
With the United States gunboat Helena.
which is lying off the river port of
Kiu-kianC.
Foreigners have been able to see
some of the fighting between the gov
rrnment forces and the rebels from
their position on the mountain top.
/ They advise other foreigners TO remain
away from Ku-Lirg owing TO the diff
culties of communication and the
shortage Of provisions.
The Right Rev. Logan II. Roots.
Il Bishop of Hankow, advocates the safe
guarding OF Ku-Ling as a place Of
refuge for foreigners. Civilians be-
heve despite the proximity Of the fight
i ing, that Ku-Ling is a safe place. Only
one case Of interference with foreigners
has been reported
After fortnight Of rebellion the
/ northern or government forces have
had the better Of the fighting at the
| three main points of contact, namely,
| Shanghai, Kiu-Kiang and along the
l Tien- -Tsin-P Pu-Kow railway. While
much ammunition has been expended
| by gun firing lasting whole days, the
/ decisive battle, which foreigners be-
Meve is essential to Provisional Presi-
/ dent Yuan Shih-kai's ultimate success,
/ has not been fought.
The sizes Of the armies engaged are
small compared with those fighting in
/ the Balkan war. At Shanghai the
northern troops on shore humber 1000,
while pitted against them are 1000
| southerners. The army of General
Chang -Hsun, which repulsed the rebels
above Su ChOw-fu, numbers less than
/ 5000 officers and men. The largest
/ northern army consists Of probably
1900 to 10000 men and is now in the
/ province Of Kiang-Si.
| European and American sympathy in
| the Yang-Tse ports as we'll as at Pc
King is overwhelmingly in favor of
President Yuan Shih-kai, while the
IJapanese and Russians apparently favor
the southerners.
The opinion prevails among Euro
Ieans i'm the capital that the President
Twill soon be victorious. II is pointed
cut in some quarters. however, that the
liability of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the first
provisional President of the republic,
land his party to create rebellion aud
10 spread disaffection among the troops
in the principal cities along the lower
lYang-Tse River was not suspected
three months ago.
Government officials are indignant
because the foreign consuls at Shang-
hai and at Hankow did not expel the
Irebel plotters from their concessions.
Many foreigners and even members Of
1.-THE legations here likewise consider the
Inactivity of the consular bodies in the
south unjdstifiable.
| Vice President Ii uen-heng stated
Icategorically in an interview to-day
that Japanese we're aiding the rebels.
Nanking. July 26.-The city OF Nan
king has been denuded of troops. Only
Ienough soldiers to maintain order have
lbeen left. Foreign residents here fear
trouble from the thousands OF coolies who
Ihave been thrown out OF work.
The Su Chow-fu rebels have retreeted
Ito the Huai River, where they have ex-
Itended their front for a distance Of sew
sral miles TO resist the Northern army ad-
Iyancing from the province Of Ngan-Hwei
Northern troops to-day fired upon the
Imperial customs steamer Ku-Two on the
IYsng-Tse at Ching -Kiang forty-hve miles
least Of Nanking Seventy shots struck
1.-The vessel, but no one was wounded.
/ The British gllnboat Woodcock escorted
Ithe Ku-Two up the river and demanded
THAT the commander OF the government
forces explain. He apooglzed profusely
land said that the attack on the river
Isteamer was a mistake.
Shanghai. July 26.-The landing OF sail
lors from the foreign warships at this city
To-day has greatly relieved the foreigners
land better class Of Chinese, and the coun-
IuE people are btSiilllI4b " ~ S''N''
homes The country districts around
Shanghai present an aspect of desolation'
Villages have been burned and the crops
Iruned Dead men are lying everywhere.
Ihnanthrooic organizations are caring for
Ithe refugees, thousands OF whom are still
camping in the streets Of this city.
The forces manning the Wu-Sung forts
lWont over to the government yesterday,
fLLs on the same evening they retoined the
STANDARD Of the rebellion. The command
ling general fed, and the troops, TO the
humber Of 3. 600 all Of whom are strongly
Irro-rebel. elected new leader. who de-
lylares he will not participate in the fight
Elng until attacked.
special train is being kept in readi-
Iness TO remove foreigners from Wu-Sung
kshould the situation make such course
Iadvisable.
All was quiet about the arsenal here to-
lday. The bombardment which 1t received
Ifrom the government forces yesterday
Iseems 10 have effectively silenced the reb-
lels. The bulk OF them are concentrated
H. the nelghborhood Of Cha-Pai, to the
lrorth Of Shanghai
Peace proposals are under discussion
There between two parties Dr. WI Ting
Hang formerly Chinese Minister TO the
limited States, Is the most prominent
Ismong the Intermediates. but It is doubt
L ed here whether he 10 authorized by Pro-