CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911 — Page 628

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were efficient, but it is difficult to understand

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regular forces from Canton, but it is more likely

622

why the conspiracy was ever allowed to come to a head.

The conspirators called themselves the "True

Chinese Soldiery", and their password was "Avengers of

the National Insult". Their leaders wore a distinct-

ive uniform, blue coat with a white sash and white

trousers, and some of them wore white handkerchiefs

round their heads. The majority were well dressed in

semi-European fashion, but the dead include a large

number of the coolie class, Though the suppression of

gambling was not a factor in the conspiracy, no doubt

a certain number of desperadoes helped to swell the

revolutionary ranks on account of this measure.

It cannot yet be said that all trouble is over

but, having successfully coped with the disturbance

in Canton, the authorities should have no difficulty

in suppressing risings in the country districts. It

is reported that these risings were to have taken

place a week ago in order to draw off most of the

that the various secret societies and malcontents

in the outlying districts were deluded by lying reports

of the success of the revolutionaries in the City,

and seized the opportunity afforded by the withdrawal

of the regular troops. It is generally agreed that

there was no definite connection between the various

outbreaks.

regular