WAR IN CHINA.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4130, 18 August 1900, Page 5

WAR IN CHINA.

1 PROGRESS OF THE ALLIED ARMY. PEKIN ATTACKED ON MONDAY. (Received August 18, 1.10 a.m.) LONDON, August 17. There are unofficial indications that Pekin has been entered by the allies. An official Italian message states that the attack on the city was commenced by the allies on Monday. It is believed at Shanghai that the hostile Manchus have escaped from Fokin to the westward. WITHIN THE CAPITAL. MESSAGES FROM MR CONGER. (Received August- 18, 1 a.m.) LONDON, August 17. Mr Conger, the united States Minister at Pekin, in his messages to Washington, states that tne attacks made on the Legations by the Imperial troops, though they continue, cannot bo allowed to stop the advance of the allies. Mr Conger’s message was presumably despatched between the sth and the llth instajjt. The Legations had been completely besieged since Juno 23rd. Though there had only been rifle firing since July 17th, it had been of daily occurrence, with frequent attacks., One attack, concludes Mr Conger, was made last night. NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE. LI HUNG CHANG’S PROPOSALS. SUGGESTIONS OF~THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT.

(Received August 17, 11 n.m.) WASHINGTON, August 16. Advices received here state . that the Dowager-Empress offers, through Mr Conger, United States Minister at Pekin, to surrender the Ministers of the Powers at any place outside Pekin if the city is not entered or bombarded; and that she also proposes that all outstanding questions be.submitted to arbitration. , . The authorities' hero doubt whether Mr Conger has received any of his Government’s messages since the. siege began. LONDON, August 17. Li Hung Chang, in answering the reply of the United States Consul-General at Shanghai to the edict ’ appointing him Peace Plenipotentiary, has appealed to Washington. , He urges that the allies should halt at Tung-chau, on the Peiho river, twelve miles from Pekin,- lest by entering the capital they wound the feelings of the whole people and shake the Empire to its foundations.

Li adds that an envoy from Pekin would meet the allies at Tung-chau and negotiate the terms of an armistice. He would himself proceed to Pekin. In a: reply addressed to tho Empress Dowager and to Li Hung Chang, the Government at .Washington stipulates, that the allies'must communicate with the Legations and 'ascertain the prospects of a safe transfer of the Ministers and other .foreign residents-to the Inner Gate, a distance of -3QO yardsIf, satisfied .on- this point, an armistice' will afterwards Jie arranged,; and when .Mr Cmmor, the .United States Minister, has been'delivered, the Government will instruct Brigadier-General Chaffee to cease hostilities''with, a view to arranging peace. . Later.. Mr Conger has sent a cypher message through tviting-parig-■ which proves that ho haS'receivod messages from Washington, and that ho himself replied to them. With Si view to saying time, the authorities at Washington have informed 'Brigadier-General Chaffee of the nro.gress of negotiations with Li Hung Chang, and hayo authorised him, in the .eVont of America’s stipulations being agreed' ton.to . relieve- the Legations in co-operation with, tho. other military commanders. Tho Powers support the attitude taken by tho American Government. COMPLICATIONS AT SHANGHAI. ' PROTECTION OF- BRITISH INTERESTS. ■ ■ LONDON, August 16. Liu-Kun-Yi, Viceroy at Nankin, who has jurisdiction over Shanghai, states tliat he is ready to welcome the British to the town, but objects to an international occupation. ''Many native merchants returned to' tho city when British protection -was promised. . iVice-Admiral Seymour has ordered three transports that are now in tho river at Shanghai not to land the Hoops, pending reference of the question to Lord Salisbury. Jin the course of an.address to his constituents at Godaiming, in Surrey, the Right' Hon W., St. John Brodrick, Parliamentary Secretary to the Foreign Office, said that Great Britain was prepared to land more troops at Shanghai, if found to bo necessary ■ for the protection of British life and property. Tho Government was determined ~ to risk everything, and put forward all. its strength and . resolution, before , allowing British interests to go’down in any part of the world. ." i With reference to the appointment of Count : von Waldersee, formerly Chief of Staff of the German Army, to the cpmmand-iii-chief of the allied Forces in China, the right hon gentleman said it rtould give general satisfaction, and would help to strengthen the ties between Great Britain, and Germany. ! • • - Later. , i Great Britain is showing a disposition to send Indian, troops northward instead of landing them at Shanghai. I The British firms at Shanghai have urged Lord Salisbury to reconsider this decision, which is calculated to incite the populace. , : The Consuls are equally apprehensive of trouble unless Shanghai is adequately protected. They recommend their respective Governments to support the landing of British troops on an international basis. • . Since Russia has undertaken the provisional administration of Neuehang, Japan heartily supports Great Britain in landing.troops at Shanghai. RUSSIA’S POLICY. ST. PETERSBURG, August 16. ' i It is officially.announced here that the Czar has assented to Count von Walderseo co-ordhiatiilg the operations of the various contingents of the allied army against tho rebels in China. The Czar fully adheres to his policy. There was a complete understanding with France and the other Powers. Russia, strives only to secure the speedy restoration of order, and the best reintions with her neighbour, China. FORMIDABLE DEFENCES AT CANTON. DETERMINATION OF THE CHINESE. LONDON. August 16. The defence's of Canton are very Iprmi tlabie. 1 ■ Mines have been laid in the .river that leads up to the town, and' there are tor-

pedo boats at Whampoa, near the entrance, ready for action. ■ The Bogue forts, on the islands in the estuary, .threaten to. fire if another warship is sent to the port. i FIGHTING L% THE Nuxvxii. T . (Received August 18, 1 a.m.) LONDON, August 17. News has been received that a desperate battle occurred at Sangshan, in Manchuria, between Russians and Chinese. •: The Russians, though, outnumbered, succeeded in ejecting 4000 Tartar cavalry and twelve guns from a strong position. A |r RECENT FIGHTING. ■ (Received August 18, 1 a.m.) | / LONDON, August 17. ; News has been received that the allies captureu Cliang-kia-wan, on the Liang-sui-ho, a tributory of the Peiho, seventeen miles from Pekin, and about five niilos from Tung-chau. j The' losses of the allies were slight . Five hundred Chinese were killed. The remainder fled, some to Tung-chau and others to Pekin. THE .COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. (Received August 17, 11 p.m.) , • FAjctiß, August 17. It is semi-officially announced that France ■ informed Germany that General Count Von Waklersce’s exalted rank naturally entitled him to become Com-mander-in-Chicf of the allied forces in China.