THE FAR EAST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2356, 20 April 1899, Page 17

THE FAR EAST.

SUCCESS OF FKENCII DIPLOMACY. A BRITISH PARTY ATTACKED ■ ! PEKIN, April 12. 'S A Franco-Belgian four and a-half million 5 per cent, loan, in gold, has been secured for the construction of the Pekin to Hankow railway. A Belgian syndicate also obtained a preemption for tlie construction of the railway from Hankow to Canton. Even American capitalists were unable to secure, a contract, despite the claim put forward by Sir Claude Macdonald for a pre-emp-tion on behalf of an Anglo-Eastern syndicate. Commenting on the Franco-Belgian loan for the construction of the Pekin-Hankow railway, the Times says that Britain protested too late against the construction of this line by foreign capital, and adds that the pledge obtained from China that th^ valley of the Yang-tse-kiang would not be alienated to any other Power is worth, just 60 much as Britain decides to make it. i HONGKONG, April 12. The German forces operating in the Province of Shantung destroyed with dynamite three native villages as a punishment for the recent attack upon a German patrol. April 15. British troops have been sent to Kowlong owing to the villagers arming. j Anril 17. i One thousand Chinese soldiers without provocation fired % upon a party of 150 British troops at Taipofu, in the Kowloon region. The British, assisted by shells from the destroyer Fame, charged and dispersed the Chinese, killing several. The 'English casualties were nil. The British force then hoisted the Union Jack at Taipofu. , LONDON, April 15. When the* Navy Estimates were mentioned in the House of Commons the Government intimated that it was merely intended to erect coal sheds, magazines, and invalids' hospitals at Wei-hai-wei, and the improvement of the anchorage and the fortification of these works would be proceeded with slowly.