CABLE NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4132, 21 August 1900, Page 5

CABLE NEWS.

'aTffixao rv.-f.at, t^ouuxion.— -irr ixserari FAU IN CHINA. FIGHTING AT PEKIN. HOSTILITIES IN PROGRESS. THE EMPRESS DETAINED. (Received August 21, 0.15 a-m.) LONDON, August 20. Prince Yung has detained the EmDress Dowager in tiic Inner City at Pekin, winch flic allies aro bombarding, 'Fighting is in progress in Hie streets. Tlie Chinese are making a last stand in the Inner City-Rear-Admiral Bruce has cabled from Chectoo that according to Japanese reports, part of Pekin is in flames. American and Italian. achjices from Takti .state that telegraph communication with Pekin has been interrupted. THE ARRIVAL AT THE CAPITAL. (Received August 21, 0.20 a.ra.) LONDON, August 20. Eight Americans were wounded during tho lighting outside Pekin on the 15th lU—>t* On the same evening Brigadier-Gene-ral Chaffee eiitcred the grounds adjoining the Legations. 1 Dr A. Rosethorn, who was acting as Minister for Austria in Pekin, was found on arrival of tho relief column to have been slightly' wounded. AHNISTmjx AND vTCEROY. POSTPONEMENT OF NEGOTIATIONS.

{Received August 21, 0-30 a.m.) LONDON,* August 20. Lord Salisbury has refuse.-, to negotiate with Li Hung Chang on questions of peace until tho foreign -.-. misters roach Tientsin or the way thither is clear of Chinese troops. OPERATIONS IN MANCHURIA. ANOTHER RUSSIAN VICTORY. (Received August 20, 10 p.m.) LONDON, August 20. The latest information from Manchuria states that General Rcnnoiikamsfs troops surrounded the Chinese forces at Chinga Pass, and during the night carried the position with great bloodshed. The Russians captured four Krupp and many other excellent guns. The town of Haichong captured by the Russians was defended by four hundred Chinese troops and! 1000 Boxers. Five hundred 1 men of this force were killed, and six guns fell into the hands of the victors. ATTITUDE OF THE POWERS. FRENCH AND RUSSIAN OPINIONS. (Received August 20, 10 p.m.) LONDON, August 20. M. Dolcassc, tho French Minister for Foreign Affairs, speaking at a banquet at Foix, recommended the allied troops in China to persevere, but with clearly limited and united aims, avoiding exclusive demands. Reuter’s correspondent at St. Petersburg states that the Russian newspapers —reflecting tho 'opinion of an immense majority of the people—recommend that Russia should refrain from further common armed intervention in China, and limit herself to the protection of her frontier and Manchurian railway. The correspondent of “The Times” at Odessa states that Russia has provisionally countermanded the sailing of troops to China. The transports will be utilised for tho despatch of stores to the Far East.

RUSSIA, KOREA AND JAPAN. LANDING OF RUSSIAN TROOPS. ANXIETYAT TOKIO. LONDON, August 19. A force of 1000 Russian troops has been landed at Physonging, on the frontier of Korea. The Emperor of Korea has, sent a. message of sympathy to the allies, and presented them with three hundred sacks of flour and two thousand boxes of cigars. The Japanese newspapers are much disquieted with reference to the position of Korea. The writers hold that this year will decide whether Korea shall be Russian or Japanese. Tho fleet of Japan is fully organised ready for action.

AFFAIRS AT SHANGHAI. FRENCH TROOPS TO BE LANDED. LONDON, August 19, M. Bczaure, French Consul-General at Shanghai, has given orders for the landing of.two battalions of French marines there. The French Government has announced that when its eight hundred marines have been lauded in Shanghai they will be placed under the command of the senior officer of the international troops in the city. Later. After tho landing of tho Indian troops 150 French marines were landed at Shanghai. JAPANESE POLICY. SYDNEY,' August 20. The “Sydney Morning Herald’s” Tokio correspondent states that Japan is thoroughly opposed to tho partition of China, although several politicians believe that partition is inevitable. Tho Emperor’s reply to the Chinese Emperor’s recent despatch to the Powers states that Japan is committed to modern civilisation, and cannot entertain fa racial appeal from Conservative China, although fully sympathising with China’s difficulties.

The Japanese press thoroughly endorsed tile tone of the reply. The old idea that Japan should head a yellow race alliance arrayed against Europe is scouted. Nevertheless, the conservation of tho integrity of the Chinese Empire is considered all-important. CONGRATULATIONS FROM SOUTH AFRICA. (Received August 21, 0.20 a.m.) LONDON. August 20. Lord Roberts has cabled to China the congratulations of the army in South Africa to their Indian comrades. HORRORS AT TIENTSIN.

PORT DARWIN. August 20. Tho North China “Daily News.” to hand bv mail, contains accounts of interviews with refugees from Tientsin who have arrived at Shanghai. They declare that the scene at lienfsin after the recent- fighting at the jailwav station is beyond description. The walls and roofs of the buildings, the cars, and gear of all sorts were wrecked. Pieces of shell and shrapnel shot were lying thickly around. Referring to the effects of lyddite in a- graveyard near the station it is stated that thousands ■ of dead. Chinese ■ were found and in the native city whole fami-

lies were discovered' sitting in their houses killed by the lyddite fumes. The river was filled with corpses, and pontoon bridges had to be removed to let the ghastly obstructions pass down the stream. . THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. LONDON, August 19. General Count von Waldersee, who has been appointed by the Powers to the command of the allied forces in China, has sailed for the r>ast with his staff. The Emperor William, in bidding farewell to the party. , said' he rejoiced that the Czar had at tile outset approved the selection of Count von Waldersee, and had secured to the appointment the confirmation of the world. ‘‘May your experiences” added the Emperor, “bring a guarantee of mutual appreciation on the part of the international troops, so that what the Czar has attempted in time of peace may be realised in time of war.”