The Fengtien command at Hsuchow fu, realizing that the Southern arms's advarco vas not as rapid 8 Was first expected, and knowing the smallness of the Anhui force, decided to send a small advance party in an armoured train down the line as far as Kuchen. This occurred about October 28. This. force met a smal contingent of Anhui on the north side of Kuchen and a small skirmish took place, in defeated all over the which the Anhui men were utterly
countryside Tt was this insignificant Fengtian "victory that led to the reports about that date that the Chekiang troops were retiring.
The retreating Anhui troops mustered themselves into some semblance of war and returned to Pengpu. Here a fairly large force was stationed and a defence. was prepared on the south bank of the River Huai, Field artillery and machine-gun emplacements were ted dri the banks and the citizens of Penzpu began to prepare for a hasty departure. The whole town was in a state of panic, By this time, however Marshal Sun! had began to send troops from Mingkuang.
T will now take up the story as learnt it in Kuchor from an eye witness, The Sack of Kuchen On October 31 at 11 o'clock in the there arrived at Kuchen three armoured trains manned with Russians and Fengtien soldiers. Immediately upon arrival, my inferment told me, they jumped off the train and started firing into the town. The citizens wore thrown into a state of immediate panic, and either sought refuge in their homes or fled for the country never stopping to save their belongings.
This firing continued for more than one hour, ing the whole village. The troops. then proceeded to the market place and commenced to loot, and this pillage continued throughout the ight, and unt 10 lok, the nent morning. Every shop, 2 small was: visited and stripped. Goods and money rifled. These soldiers acted just Jike brigands, and would have probably set fire to the town if they had not been surprised by the arrival of a force of Chekiang soldiers from Pengpu.
Both sides immediately went into action and sharp fighting ensued throughout the whole of that day and through the night.
The Trapped Train The Fergtien. forces were gradually being overpowered and Were preparing to retire. Two of [the armoured trains were successful in getting away, but m party of Cékiang troops broke through the Fengtien lank and cut the railway line. leaving the third train at their meres, Fire was opened at it with field guns, and struck 0 quantity of Kerosine,—which -immediately ignited and the whole Was soon a blazing mass of flames. Te was not tong before the ammunition of the train was affected, machine-gun bullets, through the terrific heat, were bursting in all directions. The occupants were all forced to leave the train, and as far as T cum gather none of them escaped massacre.
How many Russian troops were killed in this action Ido not know and it is difficult to find out owing to the Chinese natural aptitude to exaggeration. Bue I should put a rough estimate down at about 400. Many of these were only. wounded, but wore afterwards killed by the Chakiang troops.
Tt was this massacre' of Russians that is perhaps one of the most regrettable of all incidents since the war commenced. I believe the attitude of these Russian troops towards the Chinese peasants was title shore of Wrigandage, and the opposing army had sworn revenge. T'eould All good deal of space telling of the stories that T heard concerning this bloody affair, but would make disgusting "and sordid reading.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.