On this clay of restoring China to her own people, we urge everyone to step forward and to do the Inst he tan. As the descendants of Huang-ti, we shall regard one another .is brothers and sisters and assist each Othci regardless • >f the difficulty of the circumstances. Whatever our station in society is, rich or poor, we are all equal in our determination to safeguard the security of China as a nation and to preserve the Chinese people as a race. We shall do so with one heart and one mind. When our soldiers arc willing to sacrifice their lives Mid when everyone else is sparing no effort for the attainment ot our noble goals, the revolution will succeed and the Republic of China will be established. Let each and every one ot the 400 million people do his very best.
l 1 .5   Press C < > v 1.1< \ ge <> f t h e Wuchang Uprising, 1 (> l 1
The 1911 Revolution Started with an uprising m Wuchang, the provincial capital of Hubei, on October 10, l'JI I. On the night of October 'hh. bombs accidentally exploded in one of the revolutionaries" secret branches in the Russian Concession in Hankou (now part of Wuhan). Police arrested dozens of revolutionaries, searched their secret meeting places, and discovered weapons, explosives, and lists of names of revolutionary converts in the New Army, which were handed over to the Oing authorities. Upon hearing the news of impending government crackdown and arrests, the revolutionaries hastily took up arms and launched their uprising. There was no coordinated plan nor structured leadership, but their efforts succeeded and the local Oing civilian and military officials were scared into flight. While battles raged on in the Wuchang-Hankou region, provincial governments all over the country, especially in south China where revolutionary and reform climates prevailed, proclaimed their independence from the Qing central government anil finally forced the regents of the Xuantong emperor to agree to an announcement of abdication.
The documents selected here are reprinted from the contemporary accounts in The Hankpw Daily News, a local English newspaper. The dating used in the first proclamation follows a calendar never officially used in China's imperial historv but which was th.it of the Yellow emperor, the legendary progenitor of the Han Chinese. The use of this date emphasizes the beginning, after Manchu domination, ot a new Chinese historical era.
P ROC I. A M A T I O N
:ie eighth moon ol the four thousand six hundred and ninth year ot the uchang Dynasty.
"I, the Hubei General of the People's Army, am to overthrow the Manchu Government, and am here to revive the rights of the Han people. Let all remain orderly and not disobey military law.
Those who conceal any Government officials will be beheaded.
Those who inflict injuries on foreigners will be beheaded.
Those who interfere with commerce with be beheaded.
Those who indulge in wanton slaughter, burning, or adultery will be beheaded.
Those who tight against the volunteers will be beheaded. Those who attempt to close the shops will be beheaded.
R K W A R 1) S
Those who supply the troops with foodstuffs with be rewarded.
Those who afford protection to the foreign concessions will be highly rewardetl.
Those who guard the churches will be highly rewarded. Those who lead the people to submission arc- to be highly rewarded. Those who encourage the country people to join the revolution will be rewarded.
Those who give information as to the movements of the enemy will be rewarded.
Those who maintain the prosperity of commerce will lie rewardetl."
THE VICEROY'S ESCAPE
The above proclamation showed that the worthy General ot the People's Army |the identity of the general in question is unclear| had great hopes of success and these were apparently justified by the arrival, in the morning off the Russian Bund, of the Viceroy's launch accompanied by a cruiser. It was stxin learned that the Viceroy had made his escape during cover of tlarkness and had reached his launch without mishap, teaming over to the side of the river later on to be out of the way of an attack. At 2 p.m. the cruiser and the launch again weighed anchor, the former proceeding close to the Wuchang shore while the latter steamed up slowly in mid-stream. The cruiser was shortly joined by two torpedo boats antl tiring on the city was commenced, but as far as could be judged only black ammunition was used.
LIGHTING   IN WUCHANG
Meanwhile heavy righting was going on in the city, especially to the southward where the sound of field guns could be heard antl an occasional prolonged rattle of small arms, while shots were also being exchanged between the soldiers inside
anil outside the city, and it was stated that the revolutionary troops were rapidly gaining the upper hand. These petty shop-keepers, even coolies were clamoring in their thousand for tickets to cnahlc them to proceed anywhere away from Hankow. Two extra trains were put on and pulled out from the station crowded to their uttermost capacity, baggage heing piled high on the platforms and buffers even, while a seat on the roof of a car was considered quite a luxury.
At 11 a.m. the express left, quite an empty express be it noted, there being but few passengers either native or foreign. A guard of twenty khaki-clad soldiers, revolutionaries though no white badges were visible, were stationed on the platform and these were contentedly consuming an ample morning meal of rice and beans.
OUTSIDE  THE  TARTAR  YAMEN
The Xiao Kao Pavillion and the Tartar |Manchu) General's Yamen in the native city were found to be standing and intact, but outside the latter two heads were displayed on poles, evidently newly severed from their bodies. One of the victims was said to be the leader of a gang of looters and the other the unfortunate secretary of the Tartar General.
More decapitations for incendiarism and looting were made during the day and in all it is said some twenty lost their lives.
P R 0 C LAMATION ISSUED
Outside the Tartar General's Yamen was a proclamation of which we give the following free translation.
"I have the honor of the Military Government to let you, my dear country rien, know that our is a righteous cause. Don't be suspicious of our army as .vherever the inarch there will be a true reason. I raise the National Army igainst the Manchus not for the good or merit of myself, but for us as a whole. To rescue you out from the hot fires and deep waters. To deliver you from the ufferings of Manchus just as to heal your ulcers and sores. Why have the v-lanchus put you under such sufferings3 Because they are a different tribe, and laturally cast you away just like a bit of straw.
So far as to-day, you must have known that the Manchus are not the sons of 4an. Although you have been so loyal and righteous to them, yet they pay Othing for your service.
Now I can bear it no longer so that we suddenly gather ourselves together nder the righteous Hag and the foremost thing we want to do is to demolish /hat is harmful or injurious to you, and we are perfectly willing to exert as luch effort as we can only for the welfare of you. We will not allow those who re treacherous to the sons of Han and those who arc the thieves of our coun-ymen to breathe any longer.
Formerly they ate our tfesh and now we are going to eat them.
Those who are in favor of this righteous movement arc requested to enroll their names. Gome and consult with us about the object, how to recover our Kingdom, "Xhonghua |China|." Now is the time for us to reestablish our country and faithfully work out our due duty as the country men of Zhonghua should do.
We wish you, my dear brothers not to misunderstand each other.
You—scholars, farmers, workers and merchants should try with one accord to drive out the savages. Lastly I wish all of you to treat each other as justly as possible.
I wish you all my dear brethren to listen to my words.
By order.
Huang Dynasty 4609, Hth moon, 19th day."
T H E  () A T H  () F  E N LI ST M E N T The following is a copy ol the official document tor enlisting in the Revolutionary Army.
I. a native of-Xian, of Prefecture of-in the Province of Hubei,
through the introduction of-, enabled to understand that the aim of the
People's Armv Government is to drive out the Manchus, to recover the loss of the Sons of Han, to establish a government tor the people and tostcr liberty and equality, am now self-willing to be listed as a member of the Central Association ot I lubei. 1 lcrcattcr I will forever obey all its constitutions and by-laws. In case of any violation, I am prepared to receive the due punishment. ... I hope, this will be made known to the President of the People's Army Government Sun
Zhongshan (sometimes known as Sung Wen.)
The name of the Introducer (signed.)
The name of the Admitted member (signed.)
Hung Dynasty 4609, 8th moon.
.6
The Man cut  Abdication Edict
Immediately after the Wuchang Uprising, the republican forces swept through central and southern China at a pace that shocked the Manchu rulers in Peking. Incapable ot handling the crisis, the imperial government showered new appointments on Yuan Slukai, who had only shortly before been forced into retirement and deprived ot his authority as the most powerful leader ot the Uing New Army. The Qing court hoped that the appointment of Yuan Shikai, a Han Chinese, as the chief executive ot a constitutional government would halt the revolutionary trend. Through