The city of Kingyuan has at last fallen into the hands of Gen. Lin Chen-ting and his commander, Han Tsai-muei, and the troops of Captain Wei are now in full re treat. After a lull of several days, during which time each side was Placing men in position, fighting was resumed at daybreak on May 8 Gen. Lin had sent an ultimaium to Captain Wei, calling upon him to hand over his rifles and retreat peacefully, or take the consequences. Captain Wei preferred to take the latter course and sent a defiant answer. This precipitate ed matters and before breakfast on Tuesday morning shot and shell began pouring into the city from three sides. The soldiers within the city defended it bravely and occasionally made a sully over to the river to the north.
However, on Wednesday, big guns began to play and did considerable havoc in the city. One shell dropped at the door of the Alliance church, where many women and children had taken refuge, killing one woman and two girls and wounding seven others. Machine-guns, too, added to the excitement, but did little damage, as the city soldiers had the protection of the wall and were able to keep the enemy back. All Wednesday the fighting continued and, as the oncoming soldiers confined to increase in numbers, it was seen that the city could not hold out much_ longer, and at midnight the order was given to retreat. Gen. Lin's men, under Commander Han, at once entered the city. Looting and robbery began immediately and at the same time fire broke out in the Cantonese section of the city among the big stores. Who began the fire it is hard to say as each side blames the other.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.