AFFAIRS IN CHINA.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4083, 22 June 1900, Page 5

AFFAIRS IN CHINA.

THE TAKU ENGAGEMENT.

RUSSIAN SHIPS DAMAGED

DEMONSTRATION AT SHANGHAI,

HONGKONG, June 20,

• The Admirals of the foreign fleets have''detained a number of Chinese cruisers that were anchored off Taku, at the mouth of the Peiho river, where the forts were attacked and captured on Sunday morning.

The battleships of the allied fleets were unable to take part, in the bombardment of the Takn forts on Sunday morning for fear of their shells hitting the gunboats, which had taken up a position closer inshore. After the engagement, the Russian gunboat. Gilyak (963 tons) was found to have been seriously damaged, while tne Koreeta (1213 tons), another gunboat of the same fleet, was leaking seriously. , The i state of affaire at Shanghaitwelve miles up the Woo-sung river, which runs into tne south side of the - -Yang-tse- estuary—necessitated a demonstration for the protection of the European residents.

The British warship Undaunted, a first-class cruiser of 5600 tous and 12 guns, accordingly trained her guns upon the Woo-sung forts, at the mouth of the river, for the purpose of overawing the disaffected Shanghai people.

DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY,

(Receiver June 21, 10.40 p.m.) .LONDON, June 21

The .'Foreign Office has received n telegram; -from Che-foo reporting that the "Boxers” have damaged the line of railway north of Tientsin arid also burned a Catholic chapel and many houses, j The Chinese troops did not interfere.

A liuhdred df the “Boxers” who'attacked various settlements were killed. A Chinese report states that a secret edict has been issued at Pekin ordering the Imperial troops to join the “Boxers.”

MORE TROOPS LANDED,

(Received June 21, 10.40 p.m.)

LONDON, June 21. Further detachments of foreign troops have been landed to protect Tientsin, the “Boxers” having paralysed Chinese authority.

TREATMENT OF WOL’NDED

(Received June 22, 0.40 a.m.) ' LONDON, June 21

The wounded ot all nationalities who were injured during the bombardment of the Taku forts have been sent to Japan for .treatment. Russians predominate. .

THE-, EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

:NO AUTHENTIC INFORMATION.' .(Received June 22, 0.30 a.m.) : ■ LONDON, June 21. ; Rear-Admiral Bruce, second in command on the China station, reports to the ‘Foreign Office under date the 18tn inst. that he had no news as to the whereabouts of Vice-Admiral Seymour’s expeditionary force. The Rear-Admiral says that he had 1 nothing autuentic to report concerning the Legation at Pekin. He says that Tientsin has been isolated. The Admirals are co-operating with the utmost, harmony.

The Telegraph Department supplies the following intimation.: The Great Northern Company informs us that it hopes shortly, with the assistance of the fleets, to be able to" reorganise the telegraph service, abandoned by the Chinese Administration between Chee-Foo, Tientsin and Taku. The Great Northern Company recommends that in the meantime Government telegrams for these places should be addressed to the respective Consuls at Chee-Foo, who will be able to send them, to their destinations bv the despatch and torpedo boats touching at Cheo-Foo.