This document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
C. O.
34850
NORTH-WEST CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 1.
[September 26.
SECTION 1.
18 OCT 04
544
Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received September 26.)
No.278.)
Peking, August 2, 1904.
Lord,
IN continuation of my despatch No. 251 of the 18th July, I have the honour to submit to your Lordship herewith copies of two despatches which I have received from the British Acting Consul at Wuchow, giving further details as to the capture of Liuchow by mutineers and rebels; also a copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton, reporting the departure of the Viceroy for Kuanghsi to conduct military operations against the rebels.
I have, &c. (Signed)
ERNEST SATOW.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
No. 12.)
Acting Consul Combe to Sir E. Satow.
Wuchow, July 16, 1904.
IN continuation of Mr. Fox's despatch No. 11 of the 2nd instant, regarding the mutiny of the troops at Liuchow Fu, I have the honour to forward the following additional information :
In Liuchow itself at the time of the outbreak were three ying or battalions (the "san-tzu-ying") under the command of Taotai Tsu. West of Liuchow, across the river, were two ying under Major Sung; on the east were three ying, on their way to Kueilin, commanded by Taotai Wang, who had just left Liuchow; and on the north, Captain Liang with two ying was stationed on the road to Ching-yuan.
Of the 1,200 to 1,500 troops composing the three ying in Liuchow, the disaffected numbered some 800. Their ranks being joined by local banditti, the number swelled to over 1,000.
To these rebels the loyal portion of the troops seemed to have offered only a feeble resistance. The Ya Chiang Taotai Ch'u, and Hsiang, the District Magistrate, fled, as did Taotai Tsu, who was responsible for the mutinous troops, shot himself. The Prefect Shen, at first reported killed, appears to have escaped with a serious wound in the shoulder. Among minor officials, two non-commissioned officers, and a certain Director of Studies lost their lives. On board the gun-boat "Tinghsi," which the rebels attempted unsuccessfully to capture, the casualties were one killed and six wounded. Among the townspeople the number of killed is yet unknown, even approximately.
On the flight of the officials the rebels sacked the town and fired the principal buildings. The yamên of Taotai Ch'u was burned to the ground, and those of the Prefect and the Magistrate, together with over 100 houses in and outside the city, suffered in the conflagration. The amount of treasure plundered by the rebels chiefly from the banks is estimated at 300,000 taels. About 2,000 rifles and several hundred thousand cartridges also fell into their hands.
Notwithstanding the apparent proximity of Imperial troops, the rebels remained masters of Liuchow for almost five days. It was not until the 29th June that the town was reoccupied. By that date the rebels had started northward, about 2,000 in number, captured and pillaged the small town of Liu-cheng, and made haste into the neighbouring district of Chung Tu. They have now reached the extensive hilly region of the Prefecture of Ching Yuan known as Shih Pa Tung.
The Imperial troops in and around Liuchow seem sufficiently numerous to cope successfully with the rebels in the open field. They include :
1. The original ying which did not revolt;
2. The seven ying north, east, and west of Liuchow;
3. Three ying of Hunanese which were hurried forward from Kueilin; and
4. Two ying just arrived from Canton.
[2172 cc-1]