(1) Ho Chien-nei is appointed Brigadier-General of Hochou, Kansu, vice Wang Te-sheng, resigned.
Note: The new Brigadier-General of Hochou was the hero of the recent advance made by General Tung Fu-hsiang's army to raise the siege of Hochou which had been closely besieged by the Mahommedan rebels since May, 1895 (or about seven months). General Ho Chien-wei's appointment to the city which owed so much his courage—for he is one of the few military officers of the Chinese army who are really brave and have the confidence of their men—is therefore most fitting, as he deserved the promotion.—Travslator. (2) With reference to the report of the Board of Revenue concerning the surplus money received iby Ch'ung Kuang Left or Senior Vice Superintendent of Octroi at the Chtungwén gate of Peking, let the said surplus of Tls. 2,229 be handed to the care of the Keeper of the Privy Purse.
(8) The same is als" ordered with reference to the surplus collected by Kang Yi, Right or Junior Vice-Superintendent of Octroi, which amounts to Tis.
(4) The Board of Civil Appointments commanded to report on the suggestion of the Censor T's'i Lan to change the present system of appointing Mongol Censors, the number of whom is now more than is requisite for all practical purposes.
24th January.
IMPERIAL DECREES, (1) 'The following is the report of 'Tung Fu-hsiang, Generalissimo commauding our forces' engaged in suppressing the Mahommedan rebellion in Kansu, with reference to certain military officers of the Kansu provincial governraent who had been denounced for misconduct since the rebellion in question:—The said Generalissimo states that the charge against pass Wang Chen-kun, Colonel Commandant of the Liangchou disciplined regiments, is true that while holding the fortified town of Shihlan he and his troops retreated pellmell when attacked by the rebels who captured large quantities of arms and ammunition stored in the magazines of that town, The said Colonel having recovered from the effects of his defeat then made for the fortified monastery of Peitahshih (White Pagoda Monastery). Not far off from that place is the Buddhist walled village of Hsinanch'uan; here K'ang Ta, the had of the local militia, happened to be besieged by the rebels, "Although repeatedly asked to proceed to the relief of Bsinanch'uan, the accused Colonel through cowardice flatly refused to leave his fortified post to raise the siege of that village. The consequence was that Hsinanch'uan succumbed to the attacks of the rebels who massacred innumerable men, women, and children of the Buddhist faith. With reference to the charges made against General Li Hung-mub, acting Brigadier General of Hochou, This officer with a strong force was also cantonned in the White Pagoda Monastery buildings and adjacent villages. When the Generalissimo was preparing to march to the relief of Hochou, he and the Viceroy Yang Ch'ang-chun, sent several despatches in succession to Li Liang-muh ordering him to lead his army and make a diversion in favour ofthe Generalissimo's army so. that the attention of the rebels might be diverted from the former's advance. Li Hung-muh on various pretexts delayed making a move from his secure quarters and did. not do so until Hochou had been relieved and the rebels had been driven away from that sub-prefecture. The said officer then coolly went to Huchou and took up his duties of acting Brigadier-General without more ado. Both this officer and the Colonel Commandant of the Liangchou battalions are hereby to be punished by being instantly cashiered and dismissed the service. Niu Shih-han, Brigadier. General of Ninghsia, has been accused of keeping no discipline over his army so that wherever they went they committed acts of lawlessness upon the inhabitants en route; and Yang' Pao-lin, General of cavalry, has been accused of having been defeated at Shenk'ou by the rebels. The charges are true and these two officers wre therefore ordered to be handed to the Board of War for the determination of adequate penalties, The said General Niu Shih-han is now cantonned at Pingyung with his army. We hereby command Tung Fu-hsiang to keep a close watch upon the former general and if ho be still found incapable of performing the duties of his post Tung Fu-hsiang is com-maned to denounce Niu Shih-han in the severest terms and he shall be punished. The said generalissimo also declares that the charges against the Colonel Chu Hsiang-hsing of disobedience of orders, ete., are groundless. The said Colonel's case is therefore shelved.—Let the Board of War take note of the above.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.