File No. 893.00/1215.
The American Minister to the Secretary of State.
Peking, March 1, 1912.
Sir: Last evening about half-past 7 o’clock we were surprised by the sound of rifle firing in different parts of the city, and almost immediately a 3-inch percussion shell landed in the compound of the marine guard. Fortunately, the shell did not explode, otherwise it would probably have killed or wounded a number of men. * * *
The rifle firing seemed very heavy in the neighborhood of the new Wai Wu Pu building, now occupied by President Yuan and his executive staff. Our first thought was that it indicated an attack upon the president, and that his assassination, so long feared, had come at last. But he is safe and the attack appears not to have been made against him. The firing soon became quite general and evidenced a concerted movement of some kind. It was evident that no conflict of any kind between contending forces was going on, because there was no volley firing; it was a case of quite general but indiscriminate shooting.
Members of the marine guard, who were out on leave, and other Americans, began to come in, and they reported that a general looting of shops on the principal streets was going on; that it was being done entirely by soldiers, assisted in some instances by the police, who were shooting indiscriminately, yelling like fiends, smashing in doors and windows, carrying off merchandise of all kinds, and setting fire to the buildings. * * *
The special phase of the outbreak, which may be said to be one redeeming feature of it, was the absence of any antiforeign demonstration. Evidently the sole purpose of the outbreak was loot.
[Page 71]It is said the troops engaged left the city early this morning, captured two or three trains, and have gone down the railroad toward Paoting-fu. The city seems to be free from them.
It is apparent that Yuan has little or no control over his troops. He has lost much “face” over this unfortunate affair, and the effect upon the pending negotiations with the Nanking delegation will be bad.
I have [etc.]