-A. Counter-plot to Prevent Subjugation of Wang Chi-chang Bnoo. Our OWN CossssPoxDENT
Hongkong, Nov. 20.
The recent coup d'etat in Canton, which was accomplished very sosn after General Li Tsai-hsin and] Wang Ching-wei had left -here for} 'Shanghai, has driven: many political refugees to the Colony. A rumour has been eircalited that. General 'Huang Shao-hung, against ~whom' the coup was planned, bad made his way to this island, but this cannot be confirmed. It is learned: that /Li Tsai-hsin ordered those: troops in the outlying districts. commanded by him and Huang Shao-hung to come into and disarm the troops of Gen-feral Wang Chi-chang, supporter} of-General Chang Fa-kuei, and, when Li Tsai-hsin left he placed the -whole matter in the hands of Huang Shao-hang, his trusted.adherent, Wang Chi-chang got wind of this plot, and, by a bold: stroke, proceeded to-disarm first the soldfers of Li Tsti-hsin and then Huang shar hangs: They had about 4,000, while Wang has 17,000.
The coup was. effected on the early norning. of the 17th-inst., to the great surprise of Hung Shaohhung's forces. Shots were beand from 4 am. to 11 am, Even the residence of Li Tsai hsin was raided and there: several thousand mauser pistols ard machine-guns of the! Istest design were found. His! armoured motor ear, a-present from. General Pel Chung-hai, also was] taken. As far as Canton city is concerned, General Wang Chi-Chang is now in the ascendancy, but there were over 3,000 loyal troops of Huang Shao-hung and Li Tsai-hain in the outatkirts of the city, and in these outlying districts fighting is going on between the rival forces.
This afternoon, the river steamers brought a large number of passengers to Hongkong. They fear that the battles in the North River and West River districts will spread towards the city, as Huang's forces want to come into the city to drive out those of Wang. Chi-chang. The most unfortunate thing, from Wang's point of view, was, the fail ure to capture Huang Shao-hung for, as.long.as he. is at large, his subordinates will make every of to gain the city.
rom radical circles in Hongkong, it wined that the plot of Li 'Taai-shin was known as soon as it was hatched. Consequently, the radicals-who support Wang' Chi-chang held a secret meeting Hovgkong, at which it was decided that Li Tsai-hsin must be assasinat-_ ed before he reached Shanghai. Sixteen sharp-shooters were engaged to carry out this assassination, and they are believed to have board. ed the steamer in which General. Li travelled to Shanghai.
Huang Shao-hung Defies the World Nov, 23.
The escape of General Huang! Shao-hung to Hongkong is confirmed. Just prior to the coup d'état on the 17th inst, which w planned by General Wang Cbichang in order to eliminate all the Kuangsi militarists, Huang Shao-hung was warned immediately to Jeave Canton. The last. train and steamer to Hongkong already had left, but General Huang knew it was not safe to remain in his house, 0 he made a hurried departure to Shameen, the Foreign Settlement. There he lay low for a-day, and the next afternoon be boarded a British river steamer to Hongkong, On board the: boat, the. fessing general was seen in European clothes.
Cariously enough, instead of rev maining in his-state-room, General Huang is said to have promenaded the deck. "His beard and -goatee longer shielded the lower part of his face, og he hurriedly shaved them off just before his quick dash to Shameen. The stewards who served him are said to have stated that the general is a daring and, self-composed individual, because] he had the nerve to take his dinner in the dining saloon among other firet class passengers. Ile was not afraid of being known or identified by others on board. In the course of the meal, he had the courage: chat with the -stewards about the Canton coup and the whereabouts of General Huang Sbac-hung, the!
Iocal_ hotel for two day, and evening he left for Wuchow, in Kuangsi, his native place,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.