Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-23
MISSIONARY WRITES
OF CHINA UPRISING
Revolt Against Yuan Shi Kai Is De.
scribed by Rev. j. Mercer
Blain.
EFFORTS AT sELF-GovERNMENT
China Has Gone Through Many
Changes Since Overthrow Of Man
chu Dynasty-Yuan's Death Oc-
Cured Since Letter Was Written.
by REV. j. MERCER BLAIN.

SION, HANGCHOW. CHINA, April 10
Awakened by tho popping OF rifles. tho
occasional booming OF n big gun, and
finally by the rapid fire OF machine
guns. Such was our experience yes
terday morning. The first we heard
were at 4 o'clock say We, but Mrs.
Blain did not hear these at all. l got
UP and won't on tho porch. Later we
were both awakened by the loud re-
ports. and got up to see IL we could
discover the trouble. Some OF the
women on the compound slept through
II all. although one of the camps where
a good deal OF the firing was done was
quite near us. / ate my breakfast hur-
riedly. and thon took my wheel up
town to see II It would be safe for
tho women TO go out about their mis-
sion work as usual. There WAS a good
deal Of excitement. but no danger. SO
hurried back TO reassure all Then
went back uptown and Joined three
other bicyclers. missionaries, and We
proceeded to go over tho city wherever
there was any prospect Of seeing any
thing or learning anything. AS wo
said. we were looking for trouble.
1t all meant that Chekiang had do
o.ded to declare it's independence
Yuan Shi Kai. y number OF the
southern provinces had already done
We went over TO the handsome
residence of the military governor. who
has been such n progressive official
Crowds OF people were there. II IS
said that tho hrst shell fell over in
tho compound as early as 2:3o o'clock
In tho morning. and with that tho
the better part OF valor. so decampcd
His Whereabouts are unknown.
do not think that the governor left
because he was coward, but because
he knew that resistance was useless.
and would bring greater calamity on
tho province than was necessary. We
cannot help respecting his position. rs
he had promised to remain faithful to
Yuan. The civil Governor issued a
proclamation, saying that the province
had declared against Yuan because OF
tho latteFs position In regard TO a
change TO monarchy. He assured
every one that peace would be main
tanned. and urged the people TO go
about their regular business. This
quoted the crowd and dispersed them
1t seems that conference had been
officials. and that the majority were
in favor OF declaring against Yuan. but
that the military governor was for re-
naming neutral in the present troubles
between other provinces and PekinE.
Another military official. however, was
determined TO put the thing through.
and brought in soldiers and nrcd on
the cove. nor's residence. 1t seems that
nd
moro in the way OF celebrating the
going over than for any other pur-
pose.
ALL MESSAGES ARE
STOPPED BY CENSOR
After riding pretty much everywhere.
we finally turned up at the TELEGRAPH
office. but found that no messages were
being sent Later. after the proclama-
ton was Issued, we went again and got
of messages TO the Shanghai papers.
OF which we arc the correspondents.
These messages were sent to Shanghai
hut were there stopped by the censors.
This shows that Shanghai is in the
hands Of the northern troops and still
loyal to the Picking government.
About $50 o'clock last night | re-
ceived a telegram from Kashine ask
ing me TO see certain official and see
II 1t would be possible to secure an
engine to bring foreigner to Hang
chow on important business. On the
way over TO see this official ] found
the streets all heavily guarded The
city is practically under martial law.
The people retire about dark, and the
streets are full OF guards. was
stopped twice, but allowed to proceed
after explaining that I was a mission
airy. We have no communication with
the outside world. No kilograms that
mention independence are allowed to
be transmitted. Trains are not run
ming. Everything is in the hands OF
the new authorities.
It's very difficult to say what NAV
happen. Yesterday trainloads Of SOL
diers we're sent down beyond Kashing
TO the border of Kiangsu Province to
prevent northern troops from coming
to Hangchow. If they meet the north
ern troops and are victorious, things
will BIO quiet enough. but IL Yuan's
men defeat the Chekiang men, thew
Will probably come on and recapture
Hanschow. In that case. there would
probably be lootng. the thing which
tho people dread more than anything
else. At times like this. bad soldiers
are apt to mutiny and loot right and
left
SO far as we are concerned, we do
not feel that there is any danger.
Neither side would make any attack
on the foreigners here The south has
never liked Yuan. and his move to-
wards monarchy has brought on the
crisis. He has been forced to cancel
the monarchy, but the rebellious prov
inces are not willing to make peace
until he resigns. He and his friends
are determined to keep him in as
President anyhow, although many have
advised him to resign.
THINGS SETTLE DOWN,
AND TOWN Is QUIET
April lettings have settled down
during tho week. and the situation
remains quiet. Railroad communica-
tion Is still interrupted except as far
as Kashng. but we are getting malls