CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909 — Page 39

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by the present Governor, Chu Chia-pao, who was transferred to Anhui from Kirin. He is a protégé of Yuan Shih-k'ai.

The garrison of An-ch'ing consists of-

(a.) Modern army (the "Lu Chün "), composed of--

Two regiments of infantry armed with 1888 model Mausers

One battalion of mountain artillery with twelve Creuzot 75 mm.

mountain guns

One squadron of cavalry with (888 model Mauser carbines Que company of engineers

One company of transport corps

Total

Number in the Ranks.

(About) 8,000

378

224

126

126

3,854

The men all come from the Province of Anhui. The first battalion of the 2nd Infantry Regiment (about 504 strong) were absent on special employment in the manoeuvre area, whilst the other two battalions were mostly scattered about in camps to the north of the city, only 200 being actually inside the walls. The three battalions of the 1st Regiment were quartered in new barracks about a mile to the east of the city, whilst the cavalry had a camp outside the west gate, and the artillery occupied an old fort on the east side of the city on the river bank.

(b.) Partly-trained troops, viz. :—

Two battalions of infantry (Hsüu-fang Tui), total strength, including coolies

(they are armed with 1884 model Mauser rifles and are poorly trained) Eighty infantry and 40 cavalry of Governor's bodyguard (armed with 1888

model Mauser rifles and carbines)

Total

•

602

120

722

There are also about 800 police, 100 of whom were absent at manoeuvres, but the officer in charge of the latter assured me they were quite useless.

On the news of the death of the Emperor and Empress-Dowager it was anticipated there might be trouble; rumours were afloat in the city, and many people fled. Governor Chu, who was attending manoeuvres, hurried back, and fortunately arrived the day before the troubles, and, owing to warnings, took precautions. The prime mover of the mutiny was Captain Hsiung of the artillery. It was arranged that fires should be lighted in the cavalry and artillery camps on the night of Thursday, the 19th November. The custom is that when a fire breaks out outside the city the gates (which in all Chinese cities are closed at night) are opened, so as to enable the people to assist in putting out the fires. The Governor, however, being warned, gave orders that, should a tire take place, the gates should not be opened, and thus frustrated the plans of the mutineers, who had intended to enter and seize the armoury near the west gate.

The artillery major, having refused to join the mutineers, was killed, and the news taken round to the cavalry camp. The latter then made an attack on the cavalry major, who, however, managed to escape with two sabre cuts on the head, and who was eventually treated in the American hospital. The cavalry then tried to induce the 2nd Infantry Regiment to join them, but they refused, and remained more or less in a state of neutrality till the troubles were over. The cavalry then joined the artillery, who were unable to use the Creuzot guns, owing to an absence of ammunition. They fired several shots at the city from several old guns, and also made attacks on the city gates without any result. If they had had any plan, leadership or pluck, they ought to have had little difficulty in getting ladders and scaling the walls, but no such attempt was made. Governor Chu rode about the city, in general's uniform, directing the fire of the men on the walls, and calming the fears of the inhabitants. Plenty of ammunition was served out to the old troops (Hsun-fang Tui and bodyguard), 722 strong, but probably the ammunition was poor and the men could not shoot, and very few people were hit on either side. On Friday, the 20th November, the mutineers looted two Chinese banks outside the city, and three Chinese gun-boats moved down to

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Opposite the fort. The gun-boats, however, would not take the responsibility of shelling it till they received direct orders from the Governor, who sent Brigadier Yü-ta llung on board to direct. The shooting of the gun-boats was poor, but after some time they were able to dislodge the mutineers, who moved round to the north-west of the city, and indulged in some more futile attacks on the gates, but were driven off by the old troops.

The 1st Infantry Regiment remained in barracks and refused to take any steps against the rebels.

Desultory firing continued, the mutineers scizing a small repairing arms factory outside the west gate, but neglecting to make any serious attempt on the magazine about a mile to the north, which was only guarded by 100 infantry. In it were stored 7,000 boxes of S.A.A., besides shells for the Creuzot guns, all of which were brought into the city after the troubles on the 21st November, the coolies being paid 1 dollar for each box brought in. As the whole of the Lu-Chun were looked on with suspicion. the 200 infantry in the city were only served out with a few rounds. The whole affair, owing to the prompt action of the Governor, was very small, about 720 men of the old troops defending the city against about 800 mutineers (400 infantry, 100 cavalry, 300 artillery) of the Lu-Chün.

On Saturday, the 21st November, the Governor sent orders to the 1st Regiment of Infantry to disarm, promising them that if they did so they would not be punished. This they complied with; some disbanded and returned to their homes, whilst 600 or 700 remained unarmed in the barracks. During Friday night and Saturday morning the mutineers fired off a lot of rounds and made two or three futile attacks on the north gate, but were finally shelled out of the cavalry camp by the gun-boats. The Governor himself later on, on Saturday morning, led out a party of the old troops against the mutineers, who were beginning to straggle off northwards, and he succeeded in cutting off one party and capturing two leaders, after which the remainder scattered away to the north.

A third battalion of Hsün-fang Tui (301 strong), brought from Ta-T'ung, lower down the river, arrived at An-ching on Saturday afternoon, after the troubles were over. The mutineers with little ammunition left were reported to be retiring north, exchanging their uniforms for ordinary clothes, and demanding food and money, but doing no personal violence. They are reported to have captured some mules, bringing down 8,000 taels (1,200%) of taxes.

They are pursued by half-squadron with one battalion of infantry, belonging to the 7th Division, who were returning from manoeuvres, under the energetic Major- General Tien Chung-yü, Chief of the Staff in Manchuria. Fortunately, Governor Chu brought him to reorganize the Lu-chün of An-hui, and though absent at manœuvres at the time, he ought to have little difficulty in dispersing the rebels, whilst later he will be the best man to restore disciplíne at An-ch'ing.

As it turned out, the whole mutiny was a very small matter, with no definite plans and no competent leaders, but it might have been a very serious affair, had it not been for the prompt action of the Governor, who compelled the higher officials to come out of their yamens and do their work, and kept up the confidence of the people, keeping the shops open and calming the fears of the inhabitants. If the mutineers had got into the city and captured the armoury, it is more than probable that the Lu-chão infantry would have joined them, the city would have been given up to looting, and the lives of the English and American missionaries endangered. The French priest was absent, but both he and the other missionaries are unanimous in giving all the credit for the quelling of the outbreak to the courage and energy of the Governor. The 9th Division, of Nanking, who were marching back from manoeuvres, are known to be liable to break out at any time, and if they had found the city in the possession of the mutineers, they would probably have joined them.

China at the present moment is in a state of unrest, owing to the change of Rulers, and a big conflagration in the Yang-tsze would probably have excited lawless spirits in other parts of the Empire.

Three days after the troubles the American Military Attaché and myself walked all over the city in uniform, and the people, as is usual in the Province of An-hui, were everywhere most friendly. As a precaution the city gates were only opened for tour

* General Chang-piao afterwards told me they are being pursued by seven battalions of infantry (chiefly 8th Division) and one cavalry squadron from south and south-west, one battalion of railway guards from north-west, and some of the Pin-k'ou troops from the south-east. All these troops are converging on Liu-an Chou, to which city the rebels are reported to be bound.

† We also called on the Governor and congratulated him on his successful action.

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