Yuan's Men Take Key To Nanking.

New York Times 100 years ago today, August 16, 1913:
Purple Hill Forts Fall — Rebel Capital Expected to Surrender.
A NEW $50,000,000 LOAN
Belgian Syndicate Makes the Agreement, but Chinese Parliament Has Not Ratified It.
    SHANGHAI, Aug. 15.— Government troops under Gen. Chang-Hsun to-day captured Purple Hill, a position commanding Nanking, and the rebels in that city are not expected to offer serious resistance.
    Gen. Feng Kwo-chang, with 5,000 Government troops, has massed his forces three miles to the north of Pukow on the northern bank of the Yangtse-kiang.
    There has been some looting in Nanking, but foreign property has not been touched.

    CHING-KIANG, Aug. 15.— Two battalions of Northern troops, commanded by Gen. Chang-Hsun, remain in this city, but the main body of the Government forces has already started for Nanking to engage the rebels there. The forts on Silver Islands, near Ching-kiang, are still in the hands of the rebels, but negotiations are proceeding to buy off the leaders for $10,000.

    PEKING, Aug. 15.— A Belgian syndicate to-day signed with the Chinese Minister of Communications an agreement for a loan of $50,000,000 at 5 per cent. interest, in connection with the new railroad to be constructed in the Provinces of Shan-si and Sze-chuen. The Cabinet approved the transaction, which, however, has not yet been submitted to the Chinese Parliament.

    HONG KONG, Aug. 15.— Five thousand persons are reported to have been killed in the fighting that is going on in Canton and its environs between Government forces and rebels. Looting continues, and there has been a wholesale destruction of property. Among the buildings destroyed was the Canton Governor's yamen.
    The residents in the Shameen, or foreign quarter of Canton, had many narrow escapes from bursting shells. The rebels hope to embroil the foreigners in the trouble.
    Prisoners are being led through the streets of Canton by wires running through holes drilled in their noses. This and other methods of torturing prisoners are common.

    GENEVA, Aug. 15.— Prolonged secret conferences are being held at a hotel here by the Chinese Ambassadors and Ministers to France, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, Russia, and the Netherlands.
    The diplomats refuse to receive reporters, saying that the affair is a private one affecting their country alone. It is understood, however, that the principal subject discussed by them is the best means of securing recognition of the new Chinese Republic by the nations of the world when Yuan Shih-kai has been elected President, and that the question of the Chinese loan has also been debated.