Guerillas of Inner Mongolia after the Death of Their Leader Babujab in 1916

Abstract

Introduction. Although the national liberation movement of the Mongols in the early 20th century was studied generally well, the so called Kharachin movement and the Kharachin issue have been understudied yet. The article concerns, first of all, the period following the death of its leader Babujab. Data on Babujab’s detachments after his death are fragmentary.
Goals and materials. The paper aims to reconstruct the situation faced by these detachments at that time as evidenced from archival data, first of all, reconnaissance and diplomatic reports contained in the Archive of Foreign Policy of the Russian Empire (Rus. AVPRI) and Russian State Archive of Military History (Rus. RGVIA), as compared to previously published data.
Results. After Babujab’s death in October 1916, the movement in Inner Mongolia did not stop. Some of his followers surrendered to the Chinese, dispersed for robberies, while others (ca. 1 200 men) relocated to Zuun Uzumchin Banner of Inner Mongolia. In early December, a detachment of 1 800 men was in Solun Shan area. Since mid-December, Mongolian guerrillas started to move from Uzumchin to Linzhixian and Chifeng counties. In late December 1916, one of Kharachin leaders, Fushengge, visited Hailar in Barga (Hulunbuir) claiming provision for the Mongolian guerrillas and removal of all Daurs from the government of Barga. The latter declined the claims and started mobilization of troops. According to Fushengge, the detachment of guerrillas consisted of 6 000 Mongols, 400 Chinese, 4 Japanese officers and 218 Japanese soldiers. The guerrillas had Japanese guns. On December 1, 1916, leaders of guerrillas elected the gung Chadarbal to replace the deceased Babujab (Sebjingge, a more skillful military leader, had refused). On the advice of the Japanese, Mongolian guerrillas moved to the southern bank of the Khalkhyn Gol River where they encamped till the spring of 1917. The total number of guerrillas in that camp was estimated sometimes up to 10 000 men, still most probably being 3 000–5 000. The guerrillas planned to participate in restoring the Manchu Qing Dynasty to power.
Conclusions. The paper provides detailed descriptions of that camp and life of the guerrillas, as well as some data on their raids to Outer Mongolia. Hailar became the first target of the guerrillas.