THE CRISIS IN CHINA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11533, 19 November 1900, Page 5

THE CRISIS IN CHINA.

AN IMPERIAL EDICT. PUNISHMENT OF PRINCES. By Telegraph.— Association.— Copyright. Hongkong, November 17. An Imperial edict, dated November 13 deprives Prince Tuan and Prince Chuang of their rank and offices. Their imprisonment is to be left until peace is restored. The edict also degrades Princes Lau, Ying Hien, Chao —Shucfiiao. The last-named, however, remains in office. Yushien, who is condemned to exile and hard labour on the post roads at the furthest boundary of the Empire, has fled. PEACE NEGOTIATORS CENSURED. Hongkong, November 16. The Dowager Empress has censured Li Hung Chang and Prince Ching for not preventing the allied punitive expedition now penetrating the interior. RUSSIA AND CHINA. Hongkong, November 18. In response to Russia's invitation China has appointed a military commander for the Szechuan province, and a civil administrator for Manchuria. THE PROVISIONING OF SINGANFU. Hongkong,, November 17. The Allies intend to against the provisioning of Singanfu. THE CHINESE INDEMNITY. Hongkong, November 16. The Allies are discussing Chinese taxation reform. They are convinced that the secret sums levied by mandarins as perquisites will be sufficient to cover the indemnity. WARSHIPS FOR NANKIN. Hongkong, November 17. The Allies are sending warships to Nankin. RUSSIA AND THE RAILWAYS. Hongkong, November 16. Russia is transferring 100 tons of railway stock to 'he Russian-Man-churia railway. Hongkong, November 17. Count Von Waldersee complains that the Russians relinquished the patrol of the Taku-Tongku railway without notifying him.

THE TAI-YUAN-FU MASSACRES. FIENDISH WORK OF A GOVERNOR. Tho following are a few particulars by en eye-witness of the Tai-yuan-fu massacres: — The missionaries were in the Governor's yamen in that city. The Boxers, when sent out by tho Governor, Yu Hsian, to attack the missionaries in the Shansi province had 110 intention at first of bringing any of their victims to the provincial capital, but to slaughter them wherever found. Tho Governor was, however, so anxious to be the first to wreak vengeance on his victims that ho sent special orders to tho Boxers to bring back the captives of Tai-yuan-fu for trial first and not harm them on the way. When the first batch were brought to Tai-yuan-fu Yu Hsien ordered them to be brought straight to his yamen and taken to the archery ground in tho rear and flogged, while standing a distance of a few feet from each other.

The sanguinary Governor. then took off his outer robe, mounted a horse, ready saddled, and, taking" a long sword from an orderly, cantered to the other end of tho ground. As he turned his horse towards his victims standing about 20ft away he started at full gallop towards them, swinging his long sword as lie swept past them, and carrying off four or five hoads. Then the horse baulked and would not go any further, so the Governor got off. The rest of the unhappy missionaries were then massacred by the Boxers and soldiers.

This was tho Governor's wav of setting an example to his myrmidons. The rest of the massacres for many days were also hold ot the Governor's yamen in order to be sure that none escaped. In a few days from 400 to 500 were ruthlessly massacred, their heads being subsequently hung up at various gates at Tai-yuan-fu, while the uncoffined bodies were cast into a largo pit outside the city and covered with earth.

When Yu Hsien's memorial bearing reference to his fiendish massacres was read before tho Grand Council one member, Chili Shin, held up his thumb to indicate appreciation, and remarked loudly, "Ho is an excellent fellow." Chili Shin is now a prisoner to the Japanese. Before Yu Hsien arrived in the Shansi province there was not a single Boxei in it.