THE CRISIS IN CHINA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIII, Issue 12242, 30 June 1900, Page 7

THE CRISIS IN CHINA.

SEYMOUR’S FORCE RELIEVED. DESPERATE FIGHTING, MISSION BUILDINGS BURNED. LORD BRASSEY’S OPINION. AUSTRALIA WILL HELP. ' THE RELIEF OP TIENTSIN. CANADIAN VOLUNTEERS, United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, June 28. Rear-Admiral Bruce telegraphs that Admiral Seymour, ■who is hampered ■with, sick and wounded; is engaged ten miles ireni, Tientsin. It is unofficially announced that Admiral Seymour heliographed on Sunday that his position was desperate, and he could only resist for two days. The aHied force from Tientsin started to Admiral Seymour’s relief at dawn on Monday. The Boxers hare burned the Protestant Mission buildings at Weihsien, in the province of Shantung. Loixi Brassey states that the is certain that Australia will co-operate with Great Britain in .China. : . The Shanghai correspondent of .the “Daily Express;” in his late messages, ■ states- that Admiral ,Seymour has been relieved, and has reached Tientsin. It is also reported that 200 of Admiral Seymour’s wounded have been brought to Tientsin. Admiral Seymour reports that a force of 50,000 Chinese prevented him reaching Pekin. The Chinese desperately resisted the relief of Tientsin: until the warship Terrible, with her 4.7 in guns, silenced their Krupps, mounted' on a wall. They then retreated, suffering heavily, but rallied, when they effected a junction with the force holding the arsenal. Eventually the machine guns expelled them with severe loss. VOLUNTEERS FROM CANADALONDON, June 28. Canadian infantry a,re volunteering' for service in China, AN OUTBREAK IN MANCHURIA. HONGKONG, June 28. The Boxers destroyed the military school at Mukden, the capital of Manchuria. Three thousand Russian troops are adr vancing to suppress the rising. HONGKONG, June 29. Placards, denouncing foreigners, have been posted along the Grand Canal. THE INTENTIONS OF JAPAN. TOKIO ? June 28. The Japanese Government has obtained' authority to expend fifty million yen in sending 20,000 troops to China. ADMIRAL SEYMOUR’S FORCE. NEWS OF THE RELIEF CONFIRMED. (Received June 2.9, 10.40 p.m.). LONDON, June 29. In the House of Commons, Mr Brodrick stated that a native servant of one of %e legations ‘hod brought Tientsin news, dated Sunday, to the effect that Admiral Seymour seized a small arsenal which the Chinese were bombarding, and a'large number of guns. Admiral Seymour’s losses then were forty killed and seventy wounded. It has beeix made clear, by later information, that Admiral Seymour has been extricated and returned to Tientsin.. THE ATTACK ON TIENTSIN. THE BRITISH CASUALTIES. (Received June 29, 10.40 p.m.). HONGKONG, June 39. The foreign settlements at Tientsin were shelled from June 18 to June '23. Slight damage was dene, except in the French and British concessions. The British casualties were four killed and fifty wounded, including six'officers. ADMIRAL SEYMOUR’S FORCE. THE TSUNG-LJ-YAMEN ALARMEH(Received June 30, |2.4fi a. m.) HONGKONG, Jane 29. Admiral Seymour finding I it impossible to cope with the hordes of Chinese tried to retreat, but was surrounded. He then .entrenched his force and kept up continuous fighting till he was relieved. His force had only quarter rations, and many of his men were seriously ill from impure water. A total of 16,000 troops has been landed at Talcu. There are indications that the Tsung-li-Yamerc is alarmed at the preparations cf the Powers, and has ordered the suppression of the Boxers. ADMIRAL SEYMOUR’S RELIEF. THE FOREIGN AMBASSADORS. (Received June 30, 1.15 a.m.) HONGKONG, June 29. Admiral Alexieff, the Russian Commander, was in, command of the force which relieved Admiral Seymour on Monday night. LONDON, June 29. In the House of Lords the Marquis of Salisbury stated' that nothing was known of the position of the Legations, though there were grounds for hoping that no violence had been committed. Li Hung Chang cabled on Thursday to the Chinese Minister at Washington that

the Ambassadors were with Admiral Ssy* | mour. ’ /-rrs. A MESSAGE FROM MR CHAMBERLAIN. AUSTRALASIAN WARSHIPS ■ WANTED. , (Received June .30,. 12,20 mm.) SYDNEY, Juno 29. • The following message, received by .the Governor of South Australia from Mr Chamberlain, has been distributed at Mr Chamberlain’s request to the various Governments: —The Admiralty states that addi- - tional ships of light draught capable of navigating the Yangtee-Kiang and other rivers," axe urgently required in China- No vessels • 'of this class axe ready here. It would take’ them six or seven weeks to get to Chin®: when ready, whilst vessels from Australia > could reach Hongkong in three weeks. Her Majesty’s Government will be glad, therefore, if your responsible advisers would consent to the -immediate despatch to China of three vessels from the Australian Auxiliary Squadron, one of the Katoomba class, one ■ of the Mohawk class and one gunboat. Three ships of the squadron now in reserve would be commissioned with crews to be sent-dlit , to replace those vessels on the ■ Australian station. The matter is of great'urgency, as applications for gunboats for protection of life and property axe pouring in from Con-, suls, and assent from the Australian Colonies would be gratefully appreciated by her Majesty’s Government. ■ _ - MELBOURNE, June 29. ...., A special meeting ox tie Cabinet considered the proposal by Mr C^am'berlain-. , to , aeia^' ! ;-': three Australian warships io-YCMna-" 1 -’: A< ■ cable was despatched. to Mr Ohamberiais ■ assenting to the despatch erf vessels, ahte offering to send, either by the warships, or by a special transport, within a week,' :200 trained naval men. and officers, with' 14-pounder quick-firing guns on field carriages. SYDNEY, June -29. • The Cabinet considered sending warships, and troops to, China. , The result has not been disclosed. -i BRBEBANE, June 29. The Premier pays that Queensland vffil do nothing in' the way of sending,help ta China. He considers that sufficient troops are available from India. '