Yuan Shih-Kai
President of the Republic of China; born in Honan province. He entered the army after failing in his examinations on the Chinese clasin 1883 had him appointed Director Genrapidly in the Chinese service, becoming a protégé of Li Hung Chang, who in 1883 had him appointed Director General of Trade and International Rela- tions. Commanding the Chinese troops, he secured for the Chinese Government the domination of Korea and its emperor.
Following the Chino-Japanese war of 1894-1895, which substituted Japanese for Chinese control in Korea, Yuan became Judicial Commissioner of Pechili province. He exposed the plot of 1898 which was aimed at the Em- Pechili province. He exposed d the plot of 1898 which was aimed at the Empress Dowager Tze Hsi, but which resulted in the deposition of Emperor Kwang-sii, and of her return to power.
As Governor of the Shantung province he pacified in 1899 the Boxer rebellion and became Acting Viceroy of the Pechili province in 1901. In 1903 he undertook the work of reorganizing the army and in 1907 became president of the Wai Wu Pu, the Chinese foreign succeeded in 1908, Prince Chun, his father and regent retired Yuan, but in 1911, on the fall of the Manchu dynasty, he became Commander-in-Chief and Premier. Following the revolution of 1911-1912 he was proclaimed "Fully of China," being elected President, Oct. 6, 1913, for a five-year term. He expelled the southern senators and deputies from parliament, and on Jan. 10, 1914, dismissed the parliament, created an Advisory Council, with members appointed by himself, and restored the ties from parliament, and on Jan. 10, 1914, dismissed the parliament, created an Advisory Council, with members ap- Japanese demands resulted in a general sentiment for a return of a central- Japanese demands resulted in a genprepared for inauguration as emperor, but a revolt in the south postponed the ceremony.
Before the plans could be further carried out he died, June 6, 1916, and the Republic of China continued.
YUCATAN (yö-kä-tän'), a peninsula forming the S. E. extremity of Mexico.
Before its conquest by the Spaniards it was the seat of a flourishing civilization. tinued. forming the S. E. extremity of Mexico.
YUGA ber, cabinet woods, and dye cultivated region, whose forests yield excellent timber , woods, and which has recently been productive of great quantities of sisal or the speech of their ancestors, whom the so-called Yucatan hemp. Five-sixths of the inhabitants are Indians, preserving peninsula, which since 1824 had formed one State in the Mexican Confederation, Spaniards dispossessed. In 1861 the was divided into two: Yucatan and Campeche. Yucatan has an area of 35,203 square miles, and a pop. of about 350,- 000. Capital, Merida; pop. about 65,000.
Campeche has an area of 18,087 square miles and a pop. about 90,000. Capital, Campeche; pop. estimated at 20,000.