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No. 98.
Mr. Alston to Sir Edward Grey-(Received July 20.)
[34986]
(No. 175.)
(Telegraphic.) P.
SITUATION in Kiaugsi.
Peking, July 29, 1913.
The military attaché, who is proceeding to Nanking to-day, reports that part of the 2nd division is temporarily held back in Hupei, but that the scheme outlined in his previous telegram (see my telegram of the 21st July) is being carried out. forts were captured on the 25th July with very slight loss to the army and none to the The Hukow navy. The rebels retreated south much demoralised. Their losses are unknown. Qu the 26th July Takutang was captured. The northern troops are advancing on Nanchang, via the Poyang Lake and Nankang-fu. They are co-operating with the troops coming down the railway to attack the rebels near Tehan, the terminus. The rebels have their best troops in this area, but the northern troops are superior and are certain to win.
He hears that there are only 500 troops at Nanchang, and that the arrival of the northern troops will be welcome to the inhabitants.
[35269]
No. 100.
Mr. Alston to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received July 30.)
(No. 176.) (Telegraphic.) R.
Peking, July 30, 1913. LATEST reports tend to show that the opposition of the Southern forces is persisting. Southern army on Kiangsu border is in retreat towards Pakow, and a portion is stated to have joined Northerners, Shanghai arsenal continues to repulse rebel attacks and should shortly be relieved by Northern reinforcements which arrived yesterday. Latter are expected to attack Woosung forts. During the fighting round the arsenal, property in Settlement has been damaged by shell-fire, and complete chaos prevailed in native city. Both Settlement and Chapei are now under control of the municipal volunteers and of naval forces landed from international fleet.
Hunan has declared for the South, but has not yet actively intervened in the struggle. Central Government continue confident that they can deal with the
situation.
[35438]
No. 102.
Mr. Alston to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received July 31.)
(No. 291.) Sir,
Peking, July 16, 1913. WITH reference to my despatch No. 273 of the 4th instant, I have the honour to enclose herewith a statement showing the revised estimates of the Chinese budget for the first six months of 1913, based on the actual figures submitted to the audit bureau.
From the amounts placed to the credit of the various Ministries between January and June, it will be seen that an economy, on paper, has been effected of upwards of 30,000,000 dollars, or 3,000,000. The largest reductions made by the Cabinet were in the Ministries of Industry and Commerce and of the Navy.
With regard to the revenues it is pointed out, perhaps rather optimistically, that the amount of the receipts for the first half of the present year are likely to be the minimum which is collected by the Central Government; and that China's financial salvation depends upon the ability of the Central Government to enforce the collection and remittance to the national treasury of those taxes which have always been regarded as national, as distinct from provincial, revenue. It is this centralising policy of the Chinese Government which is being put to the test at the present moment.
I have, &c.
B. ALSTON.
250
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