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protested or have attempted to protect their goods have been ruthlessly shot down. Persons, even women and children, running away in fear from the soldiers have been shot down in the street if they would not stop when called upon.
The city is now a scene of desolation; and the inhabitants, many of them ruined, are sitting among the débris and the bare walls.
The rebel leaders have escaped; the rebel soldiers who have surrendered have been paid off and released; the whole penalty of the rebellion has fallen upon the luckless inhabitants and merchants, who almost to a man have been strongly opposed to the rebellion and all its works.
As I have already reported by telegram, some Japanese civilians were killed during the disorder in the city on the 2nd instant. to-day and proceeded to the Japanese consulate, where, I understand, he is to reside for The Japanese admiral arrived in port two or three daya.
The rebels were all driven out of the south city during the night of the 1st instant. The fighting in that quarter during the whole night was very heavy. The last rebel stronghold was the Yu-hua-tai fort, outside the south gate. The rebels were informed that unless the fort was evacuated by noon on the 2nd instant it would be attacked. The fort was evacuated. All rebels who have escaped in this district and in Anhui province are reported to be in the hinterland south of Wuhu and Nanking. An officer of the Government troops told me to-day that their number is estimated at about 10,000.
This afternoon four of General Fêng's staff officers called on me, bringing the general's card, to enquire whether any British subjects had suffered any damage or loss, and to express the general's formal regret for the inconvenience caused by the disorder consequent upon the siege.
Ho Hai Ming and the other leaders seem to have escaped into hiding in the nick of time.
[44274]
No. 142.
I have, &c.
1. G. TOURS.
Sir C. Greene to Sir Edward Grey-(Received September 29.)
(No. 247.) Sir,
POPULAR excitement in connection with the Nanking incident has shown no
Chuzenji, September 12, 1913. sign of abatement during the past week, and indignation meetings have been held out of doors and in public buildings On Sunday a mass meeting of about 20,000 persons was held in Hibiya Park, which is adjacent to the public offices and Houses of Parliament, at which violent speeches were delivered but no breach of the peace ensued. The occasion of the meeting was the anniversary of the Treaty of Portsmouth, when it is customary for a crowd to assemble and demonstrate against what is held to have been an ignoble prace for the Empire. On the original date eight years ago a mass meeting had also been held in Hibiya Park, when wild scenes of riot occurred in consequence of the police having attempted to break up the meeting, and it was at last necessary to proclaim martial law. On the present occasion the authorities had very wisely instructed the police to absent themselves from the park so that no breach of the peace occurred. At the end of the meeting the mob rushed to the Foreign Office, and endeavoured to burst in the strong iron gates which separate it from the road. Stout chains had, however, been fastened round the gates, and the attempt failed. Subsequently some men climbed the gates and demanded audience of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, but were informed that there was no one in the Office. The mob then proceeded to the private residence of Baron Makino, and sought an interview with bis Excellency. Here again the reply was that the Minister was not at home, and, after hanging about the premises till the small hours of the morning, the crowd grew tired and returned home. A similar visit was paid to the house of the Prime Minister. On Wednesday a mass meeting was held in the Meijiza theatre, at which 3,000 persons were present, and large numbers were turned away from the doors. At both these mass meetings, and at others of a less important character, speeches have been made by Members of Parliament and by politicians more or less
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