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Show - NEWSPAPER UNDER FIRE The latest number of the Central China Post, Hankow, is an example of modern journalism worthy of attention. Its leading article is headed "Please Excuse," and relates that the abbreviated size of the paper is due to the ' fact that It was published under fire. The reporters who "covered" the battle Hankow, the most decisive battle of the revolution to date, covered it from the local room of the paper on which they worked. The battle raged all around the Post building, which was damaged dam-aged by shells from the Maxim guns of both sides. "Had our staff been trained in tJie wild and wooly west," explains the paper editorially, "they possibly might have been kept at work with bullets flying in at the windows, but they did not take kindly to the experience." All their coolies fled to the country and they were able to print a paper only half the normal size. Since the revolution commenced this paper has shown fortitude, enterprise and pluck which are examples to the older Journals In China. The Post says: "It does not often happen that opposing forces arrange to fight their battles in full view of the newspaper office, but this took place on Saturday. The Post building stands on the Hupeh road, at the edge of the British concession, conces-sion, where the old city wail used to be. It Is tiree stories high and has a flat roof. Parallel with the Hupeh road, and at a distance of about a thousand yards, runs the railway which is carried on the top of a high embankment. "The morning's battle was fought largely along the line of the railway. As the sun came over the hills beyond Wuchang, the revolutionaries revolution-aries advanced to the attack. One party, fifteen fif-teen hundred strong, came from the further end of the Sin Seng road, with two guns, and went by the railway. They advanced in their usual tumultuous drove without any apparent order. Another party, less in number, came from the lower end of the road and went by the diagonal street toward the station. They marched two deep, and as they proceeded, placed men in the trenches and huts to cover a retreat. The revolutionists Iplanted two new guns on the - railway and the train came down with a fresh body of troops, who were led on the run to the scene of battle around the station. It soon became evident that the revolutionists had carried the station. When the station was lost the imperialists opened fire with shrapnel from their guns stationed at the race course. "At 10:30 o'clock there was a tremendous, bang. A shell had struck a corner of the building, bringing down a lot of bricks, and right after It came two more, which fell a little way off. "At the end of the day the honors remained with the revolutionists, since they held their ground, though outclassed in every way. Tbe next day the battle was renewed and the imperialists im-perialists won. The Post was under fire again throughout the day and the building was damaged dam-aged lo a considerable extent, but the staff remained at their duties. When the press time came the editorial staff performed the work of the coolies and got the paper out." |