Directory_and_Chronicle_1922 — Page 676

CHINA

organisers of the Reformation were not quite ready to attempt the coup de main they contemplated, and it is a fact that when at length the Revolution began, in October, 1911, it broke out prematurely. It started at Wuchang instead of at Canton, which had been regarded as the most likely storm centre; earlier in the year indications of grave discontent had appeared in Canton; the Tartar-General was shot dead in the streets of the city in April, and in the same month a body of reformers, assisted by discontented soldiery, attacked the Viceroy's yamen. His Excellency, however, escaped by a back way, and the insurrection was quelled, largely through the instrumentality of Admiral Li, who consequently got into bad odour among the revolutionaries, with the result that in August an attempt was made on his life. A bomb was thrown at him; three persons were killed and the Admiral was severely wounded. On October 24th the new Tartar-General was blown to pieces as he landed at Canton to take up his new command. Earlier in the month there had been a dynamite explosion in the Russian Concession at Hankow, and investigation revealed the existence of an alarming revolutionary plot, which the Viceroy took prompt measures to frustrate. This was the signal for the rising. Some of the troops mutinied, and the Viceroy, as well as the General in cominand, fled for their lives from Wu- chang. General Li Yuan Hung, who had been second in cominand of the Imperial troops, with great reluctance and under threat of instant death if he persisted in refusing, put himself at the head of the revolutionary army, which rapidly grew into many thousands. Hanyang with its arsenal and the native city of Hankow were quickly gained by the revolutionists without serious resistance, and before the end of the month Li Yuan Hung informed the Foreign Consuls that he had become President of the Republic of Hupeh. The revolution spread rapidly throughout the Yangtsze Valley, and extended southwards as well as westwards to Tibet. Consternation reigned in Government circles in Peking. The Minister of War, General Yin Chang, himself made preparations for an advance on Hankow, to re-take the cities of which the revolutionary troops had so easily possessed themselves. Meanwhile news was constantly arriving of the success of the Revolutionary movement in the provinces. Within six weeks fourteen out of the eighteen provinces of China had declared their independence of Manchu rule. Edicts streamed from the Throne yielding every demand in the Revolutionary programme short of the abolition of the monarchy. In its desperation the Court turned to Yuan Shih Kai, "the one strong man of China," who had been driven into retirement two years previously for reasons which are familiar to everyone acquainted with the history of the Reform movement in China. Yuan showed no eagerness to take the position of Generalissimo and Viceroy of Hupeh, but, after a month's consideration, went to Peking, presumably satisfied that all the authority and help he required to deal with the situation would be given to the operations. By Imperial Edict he was appointed Premier. Yuan asked for this appointment to be endorsed by the National Assembly, and this was done unanimously. Meanwhile the advance on Hankow had been begun, and on October 29th General Yin Chang reported that the native city of Han- kow had been taken by the Imperial army. The Imperialist Commander-in-chief deemed it necessary to the success of his plans that the entire city should be de- stroyed by fire, and consequently some 700,000 persons were rendered homeless. After desperate fighting the "Wu Han towns were re-taken by the Imperialists. There was severe fighting also at Nanking before it capitulated to the Revolutionaries, and became the seat of the Republican Government. After the Imperialist success at Hankow there were overtures for peace, and negotiations were opened at Shanghai on December 18th between Wu Ting Fang, as the representative of the Revolutionaries, and Tang Shao-yi, as the envoy of the Imperial Government; but the conference came to an end almost as soon as it opened, because on behalf of the Revolutionaries the abolition of the monarchy was insisted upon as the basis of negotia- tion. This was firmly opposed by Yuan Shih-kai, but on December 28th the Throne announced that it was prepared to leave the question of the future constitution of China to the decision of a national convention. That was the position at the end of the year. Meanwhile Prince Chun had resigned the regency, and by Imperial Decrees the monarchy had been made a limited monarchy on British lines. The Republican con- vention had elected Sun Yat Sen as President of the Republican Military Government, and upon his installation at Nanking on January 1st, 1912, he appointed a Ministry and issued an appeal to the Powers to recognise the Republican Government. Terms of abdication were offered to the Court at Peking, and Yuan Shih-kai was invited to assume the position of Provisional President of the Republic. After many Palace conferences à Decree of abdication was issued by the infant Emperor, as having been respectfully received from her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager Lung Yu.