CABLE NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4103, 16 July 1900, Page 5

CABLE NEWS.

[ UNITED PflEBfS ASSOCIATION. —Bi' ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. —COPYRIGHT.] AFFAIRS InAHINA. POSITION OF AFFAIRS AT TIENTSIN. THE ALLIES HARD PRESSED. MORE GUNS WANTED. LONDON, July 13. Reuter’s correspondent telegraphs that eleven hundred, troops of tho allied forces are trying to hold lines around Tientsin fifteen miles in circumference. ; Their operations are, however, seriously handicapped through lack of organisation and want of a commander who could exercise individual control. Tho Chinese troops, adds the correspondent, have gained substantially' during tho week, while the Powers have lost sixty' men and inkMasked! guns of the, Chinese artillery are bombarding tho _ railway station at a range of lOUfi yards. Two more of the heavy guns of the British warship Terrible have been landed, anil are on their way to the city. Latov.

Tho latest reports from Tientsin show that the Chinese have pierced tho Great Imperial Canal near the city. Great masses of troops aro threatening the north and east sides of the city. All tho European women aad children have left for Taku. Admiral Seymour cables to the. Admiralty that the Chinese arc in force around Tientsin, and are frequently bombarding the positions hold hy the allies. Other reports state that the allies urgently need heavy artillery. Heavy guns, which had been sent to Capetown, for use in the present Boer war, have now been sent on to China. POSTPONEMENT OF AN ADVANCE. (Received July 16, 0.30 a.m.) LONDON, July 15. The allies have decided to confine their present operations to fortifying Tientsin and establishing communications with Taku. TROOPS FROM GERMANY. BERLIN, July 13. Ten steamers have been chartered , to convey eisht battalions of infantry, three squadrons of cavalry and four batteries of artillery to China. POSITION OF THE POWERS. * BERLIN. July 13. Count Von Bnlorv, Minister for Foreign .Affairs, states' that Germany seeks no. special advantage in China. THE MISSIONARIES. SOME SAFE, OTHERS IN DANGER. LONDON, July 13. All the Protestant missionaries in Manchuria (tho extreme north) and in Shantung (the province south-east ot Chi-li, the scat of tho disturbances) are known to lie safe. Some Danish missionaries, however, eighty miles from Niu-Clnvang, the port on the Gulf of Liao-toug, are surrounded. TELEGRAPHIC DIFFICULTIES. (Received July 16, 1 a.in.) LONDON, July 15. Owing to the land wires being cut between Shanghai and 1 Chefoo, tho Admiralty authorities aro unable to communicate with the naval officers.

THE PEKIN LEGATIONS. Received July 16, 0.00 a.m.) LONDON, July 15. In response to the declaration of Colonel John Hall (Chief Secretary in tho McKinley Cabinet), that China must end the terrible suspense in regard to tho safety of the Legations if friendly relations arc to continue, the Chinese Minister at Washington has undertaken, to forward a cypher message to Mr Conger, tho American Minister at Pekin. NEW YORK,' July 15. The “World” states that Prince Clung has informed tho Consuls at Shanghai that the Tung-fuh-siang burned the British Legation at Pekin and annihilated the -foreigners. THE AGENT-GENERAL’S MESbAGES. The Premier has received the following cablegram from the Agent-General, dated 13th, 7 p.m.: —“lncreasing anxiety about China, chiefly owing to absence of news from Sir Robert Hart. Opinion of experts is that if ho is living and at liberty he would get through message from Pekin. Chinese surrounding Tientsin showing unexpected fighting power, owing to presence of largo bodies of Li Hung Chang’s old army, aimed and drilled European fashion. Other. Chinese not so formidable to allied troops. No proper generalship. Hopes mainly rest on Japanese help.”