THE CRISIS IN CHINA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2428, 26 September 1900, Page 24

THE CRISIS IN CHINA.

RUSSIA'S HIGH-HANDED ACTION. AJJRANGIKG A BASIS OF SELTLEMEJST. GERMANY TAKES A FIRM. ATTITUDE. — INSTIGATORS MUST BE SURRENDERED. BOXERS. STILL ACTIVE.— MAS-, SACRB OF CONVERTS.— FiFTY THOUSAND SAID TO HAVE BEEN KiLLED. LORD SALISBURY'S POLICY. THE DEMANDS OF THE ALLIES. A SUCCESSFUL EXPEDITION. THE RUSSIAN ATROCITIES. ESCAPE OF A CHINESE GAK■RfSON.— THE BOXERS TO BE EXTERMINATED.— THE 'dowager-empress STILL DEFIANT. HONGKONG, September 17. Two^'hundred Peking officials and their families committed suicide during the antifoieign trouble in that city: General Dorward has been appointed to t'i3 command of the British troops in Peking. Lieutenant-colonel Lome Campbell, of the Indian Staff Corps, succeeds General Dorward at Tientsin. It -is apparent Prince Ching does not realise the true position, and thinks that an indemnity will settle everything. September 18. Sixteen British, Chinese, and Indian soldiers were killed and 22 injured while destroying the powder factory at Tungchait. The German Naval Brigade, assisted by the Bengal Lancers, captured Liangliangs:am, 20 miles to the South-west of Peking. Five hundred. Boxers were killed. The Bengal L.ancers -rescued a company of American infantry which was hgrd 'pressed at Matamo .by 2000 Boxers. The latter lost 200 killed; *- -Twelve thousand Germans and 200' Aus-' , u tralians have arrived at .Tientsin. • - ' Count Waldersee, who was elected as commande^in-chief , of -the force, has arrived at Hongkong. The Powers are arranging a basis of settlement of the Chinese" difficulty. Ministers, therefore, are informally listening to Prince Ching's proposals. Three hundred Americans have gone to the country north-east of Peking to rescue Christians. The Germans at Peking have made robbery a capital offence. September 19. The Boxers having destroyed the Cliu-chow-Paoting, jfu road, rendering the passage of artillery impracticable, necessitated the return to Peking of the German expedition which 'had left for Paoting fu. The Italians between Peking and Tientsin dispersed the Boxers in that district. They then retired to Tientsin, instead of Peking, owing to the scarcity of food in the latter place. September 20. Mr Goodnow estimates that the Boxers massacred 50,000 native Christians, burning many alive. - . Eight thousand troops from Hunan proVince -have -joined the -Empress Dowager. Other large contingents are "marching to her assistance. The Ambassadors, in the course of their interview with Prince Ching, insisted upon, the^ retirement of the Dowager,. . Empress and the reinstatement of the Emperor, Kwang Su, to the supreme power. Renter's correspondent at Peking states that the Dowager Empress is willing to return, provided sh© is Ei'otectedt

Sir Claude Mac Donald exchanges posts with Sir Ernest Mason Satow, Minister to Japan. The Order of the Literati are circulating leaflets containing the most absurd statements throughout Canton. Among their announcements are assertions of Chinese victories, and that the Powers are craving for peace. The Allies to-day attacked the forts of Peitang, to the north-east of Tientsin. Heavy cannonading is proceeding. September 21. The refusal of the Allies to withdraw from Peking is based on information that the Boxers are prepared to return in strength. Lieutenant Milson, with '800 American and 600 British troops and six guns has left Peking to capture Santaiten arsenal, disperse the Boxers and open the northern passes so as to ensure coal and food supplies fov the capital. Germany is invited to capture Peitochin and disperse the Boxers with the co-opera-tion of Lieutenant Milson's column prior to the latter attacking Sanhaiteri. " The South Australian gunboat Protector has been ordered to Shanghai. The American expedition, under Lieutenant Milson, for the rescue of Chinese" Christians was successful. They scouted 40 miles north-east of Peking, rescuing 14 converts. Count Waldersee and staff have arrived at Shanghai. The Dowager Empress has ordered the Governor of Shanghai to raise money for the erection of a palace at Hsian fu, which will be the future capital. Li Hung Changes now at Tientsin. Sheng, the Chinese director of telegraphs, has been added to the list of peace negotiators. The allied forces which captured Pietang included 4000 Germans and 4000 other trcops. September 22. ' Sir Claude Mac Donald's withdrawal from Peking on account of his health was arranged last April. Linkiniyi, Viceroy of Liang-kiang provinces, fearing the German fleet will ascend the Yang-tse, is blocking the channel at Kiangyenhien, near the mouth of the river, excepting a narrow passage. September 23. • Pour thousand Russians, 4000 Germans, 1000 French, and a detachment of Austrian marines .participated in the recent fighting at Pietang. The British and Italians arrived too -late. The- Chinese forts answered " the Allies' fire briskly * from early dawn till noon, ■when .the Allies 'were "chagrined to findthat the garrison of 3000 had escaped by boats, leaving only four killed.. The_ Allies' casualties were^ three killed and 50 wounded. --About one-half of these were caused by the explosion of some mines during the march into the fort. Lieutenant Milson's column surprised and defeated ' the Boxers at Poitachu, where Sir Claude Mac Donald and 200 Britishers will remain for a few days. The 'Sanhaiten arsenal has been destroyed. The Bengal Lancers will furnish the escort for Count Yon Waldersee. The latter, after -reviewing 5000 troops at Shanghai, sailed for the north. September 24. A proclamation has been issued by Li Hung Chang throughout Paoting fu and elsewhere in which __orders are given to Chinese Imperial soldiers to fight against and exterminate the Boxers. At Paoting fu there has also been circulated a magisterial notification that all houses occivpied by suspected Boxers will be confiscated if found deserted and unoccupied a-t the end of a fortnight's time. Tung Fuh Siang "has. been appointed generalissimo of the * Chinese army. He .decljires lie will "oppose "Co'iint "Walderseetooth and-~nalL .- > . _ Li Hung Chang telegraphed to Shanghai admitting,- #hat,-the,.'- 'surrender of -Prince,. ~Tuan, -Kang-'Yi, and others wa# out 6f~ the question.— Xf peaos was ..impossible China would be compelled to fight the world." - At the .battle of Peitang the Allies loit 30 killed. The Russians have seized Chinwantao. It is reported that Pietachau, which the Germans were invited to capture, was until recently the headquarters of the Boxers. The Dowager Empress has .promoted Prince Tuan to the Grand Council. Cheng, an anti-foreigner, has been appointed as the new Taotai of Shanghai. LONDON, September 17. The Russians have seized the railway property consisting of the river frontage at Tientsin, intending td form a Russian set"tleirent. General Dorward protested against this action. ' General Cliaffee has been left free to decide when to withdraw his troops, and how inpn}' he may withdraw. He has also been instructed to reject any arrangement which does not provide for the protection of converts. September 18. Reuter's Agency reports that "there are strong indications that .all .the Allies "will retire from Peking to Tientsin.. • Dr Morrison states that withdrawal will inevitably involve a massacre of the native Christians and those Chinese who are. favourably disposed towards foreigners. Some Russian troops will winter in Pe-' • king. The repairs to the Tientsin-Peking railway will be finished in November. Germany's circular to the Powers insists that as a preliminary to negotiations

China must surrender • notorious instigatoi« ~ and perpetrators of the outrages, since it ias contrary to the civilised conscience to indulge in the wholesale executions of tho instruments of the chief culprits. The Daily Express Shanghai correspondent states that he has been officially informed that Lord Salisbury had cabled t® Li Hung Chang an outline of the policy. Great Britain and the Powers intend to follow in China. The Premier states that the presence of the Emperor, Kwang Su',* is absolutely necessary in Peking for the purpose of the negotiations and in .order to avoid the dis-. solution of China. * Assurances are given that the Emperor shall receive full and 'reliable protection. The main desire of the Allies is to pre^ serve China, but nothing can or will divert! ■their irrevocable intention o£ punishing those responsible for the recent outrages; whether committed in the name of the Chinese Government or otherwise. If necessary the Allies will pursue them all over Cnma. September 20. The European papers generally approve of the German Emperor's suggestion. ""; The French newspapers .unanimously sup-* port the ' Emperor. ' '"" ~ The Daily News Berlin correspondent ■ says'.that the Emperor's plan is intended to* prevent "any Power ' playing a doubla * game. '• September 21 . The Standard's Moscow correspondent) stales tlliat the Russians disarmed 5000 Cnmese at Blagovestchensk," and led them in small batches to the River Amur, ordering them to cross to the Chinese side. There were no boats and the river was rapid, and a mile wide. At the least sign of hesitation men, women, and 'children were stabbed or shot, and the bodies flung into the stream. Similar occurrences took place elsewhere. It is believed altogether 12,000 were thus killed. September 22. Professor Wright, of Oberlin College, Ohio, writing from Manchuria, explained that the Chinese outrages created terror. The Cossacks at Blagovestchensk were frenzied,' and_ pushed 3000 Chinese on rafts, which were inadequate to carry them, out on the Amur River. A majority were drowned. The country has been scoured, and all Chinese shot. Every hamlet along 500 miles of the river was burned. A total of 4000 were killed. , The Russians declared these measures a military necessity.. LONDON, , September 23. Berlin advices states that "Germany's de- i mand is 'intended "to show the Do%ager T s '/ position.' „ Her refusal ' to jsiirreiideivthe * ''chief "instigators will 'be 'equivalent to as- * suming the responsibility for the , crimes: . Trance, Italy, and Austria have adheredto the demand. 'September 24. A Heuter despatch from. Washington states that the Americans 'are reducing the contingent at Peking to a- strong Legation.' "guard. But Admiral Remey will have at his command five armoured vessels, two protected cruisers, and a number of gunboats of various classes. , BERLIN, September 19. The German Emperor's plan, as disclosed in a circular note to the Powers, is intended to thwart Li Hung Chang's recent attempts to secure the surrender of a number of mere lay figures' for punishment, whilst the actual criminals untouched. September 21. Reports have been reoeived here that' theAllies captured Peitang and Lubai forts, though the losses were heavy. It is claimed in Berlin that - Germany's proposals in reference to China have been everywhere favourably received, excepting by Russia, America, and' Japan. ,- PETERSBURG, September. 22. .. The leader of the - expeditionary corps Hn '"Manchuria, vainly foeseeched .the Russian" Government, to. give- p'erHite.sion ' to sparra", ■ .peaceable -Chinese citizens. --. \ \ '- ~''- " ■WASHINGTON, ' September SO."' "? , Tiie authorities here fear that the",resulfrof 'Germany's proposals will be a prolongation of hostilities, ' and the American "Gb*- V -vernment' have' declined to support them"," on the ground that they seek to impose impossible conditions. - - - — - Wu Ting Fang, the Chinese Minister .here, declares that Germany's proposals as enunciated in the Emperor's note to* the Powers are Impossible". •September 24. The Government, replying to Germany's note with reference to the Chinese question, states that China should 'have an opportunity of spontaneously degrading and' punishing t4ie -"instigators 'of; the rebellion. Mr Conger lias Ue'efi authorised to confer with Prince,/ Ohing 'Li' Hung Chang representing' the Emper'or> '/with the hope of facilitating Ms" restoration to authority, pending final negotiations. SHANGHAI, September 20. ' There is immense satisfaction expressed here over the Emperor of Germany's Note to the PoAvers. ' MELBOURNE, September 19. The steamer Hyson has sailed,- for r Tak\l~ , - Avith 3250 NeAV Zealand and "12^000" "bags-* of -Victorian, oats, 15,000. bales hay, and' 7000 "bags chaff. . . - I SYDNEY, September 21. •. Details are to hand of the journey of si. party of "19 missionaries belonging to thq,~ China Inland "Mission who reached Shanghai after '5C days' journey from the proA'ince of Shansi. Five persons — viz., Mrs Cooper, Miss Rice, Miss Houston, and

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