THE CRISIS IN CHINA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2429, 3 October 1900, Page 24

THE CRISIS IN CHINA.

LI HUKG CHANG IGNORED.— THE CHINESE DEFIANT. RUSSIAN ANNEXATION IN MANCHURIA. MASSACRE OF CHINESE CONTESTS. A FAMINE PROBABLE. GREAT BKLTAIJS.AKI) GERMANY NEGOTIATIONS FOR AN AGREE* BENT. RUSSIA'S DESIGNS LEAKING | OUT.— THE OCCUPATION OF MANCHURIA. COUNT WALDEBSEE AT TIENTSIN. AN IMPERIAL EDICT.— PRINCE TUAN '10 P.K PUNISHED. RUSSIA'S DESIGNS CHECKED.— THE FOiIBIDDEN CITY TO B&. OCCUPIED.. HONGKONG, September 24. There is much agitation because the British and Germans ignore Li Hung Chang's presence in Taiku. The Cossacks plundered the quarter of Peking of which they had charge. The natives deciiue to return to the city. I Six hundred Russian infantry took 150 cartloads of loot from Peking. The French and British consuls are protesting against the appointment of Cheng as the new Taotai of Shanghai. September 25. The Chinese at Kumchuk, on the West River, in Southern China, fired on a boatload of native Christians. The women in the beat were then dragged ashore and butchered. ■ Li Sung Chang telegraphs that his troops killed 1000 Boxers in the province of ChiLi. He .predicts that the Peking district will be clear of Boxers in 10 days! September 26. Prince Tuan and Kang Vi are absolutely controlling affairs in China. They are substituting their followers for pro-foreign functionaries. j "Prince Tuan has telegraphed south | ordering troops to the north. Prince Chiiig cairns that the Yamen i has the exclusive right to exterminate the j Boxers, and protests against interference by the Allies. Many Europeans attribute Prince Tuan's- 1 promotion to the Presidency of the Coun- I cil to the attitude taken up by the Wash- i ingcon Government. Japan has assented to Germany's proposal that the ambassadors at Peking shall designate the instigators of the revolt. Germany insists on punishment by Europeans, and favours the ambassadors acting as public prosecutors, leaving the verdict j and sentence to an international court. Li Hung Chang predicts prolonged negotiations, anticipating a divergence of views amongst the Allies. The American troops, with the exception of 1500 left to guard the Legation, have been ordered to return to Manila. Famine is feared in Northern China owing to the non-shipment of the rice supplies. The native Christians are flocking to Canton in great numbers, and the gravity of the situation is increasing. Twenty thousand members of the Triad Secret Society are in the vicinity. Notwithstanding the Russian decree ordering the withdrawal of her troops from the Peking Legation to Tientsin, 2500 Cossacks are to winter at Peking. This decision is due to the cva v sive and negative replies received to Russia's proposal for a general withdrawal. September 27. Li Hung Chang declined an American offer to escort Tiim to Peking. Prince Tuan's Presidency of the Council is equivalent to the Premiership. Bandits are plundering the villages around Canton. They have also destroyed the Catholic church at Tokamahang and desecrated the cemetery. .Russian and Japanese troops escorted Li Hung Chang to Peking. An Imperial edict confers posthumous honours on General Ping Hien and Chun Vi (V Run Vi), the two reactionaries who recently committed suicide. Dr Munn, the German Minister to China, with the German squadron, has gone northwards. September 28. The Chinese who fled from 76 towns across the Amur at Zega haive been forbidden to recross, Russia intending to plant Russian settlers. Prince Ching has offered to name six of the instigators of the outrages, including Prince Tuan. Mr Conger is in possession of the Boxers' subscription list. Prince Ching made three donations, but he alleges that he did so under coercion. J&ussia has occupied Keriß^ but announces /

that the annexation of Manchuria is tran* sitoiy, and purely strategic. ~* The local British residents are urging Lord Salisbury to prevent Russia jeopardising British interests.

September 29. Li Hung Chang, on being interviewed, declared that Admiral Alexieff, the* Russian, commander, went to Port Arthur in order to avoid meeting General -yon Waldersee.' '. Chinese officials at 'Shanghai report that Russia is seeking to complete the possessioa' of the Northern railway, and : offered the Chinese Government m6ney to repay the British loan on the railway. A French force captured 200 Boxers westward of Peking. The British exploded an arsenal in the hills. „ - . • , Prinea Tuan has been deprived of hia salary and ordered to Ibe tried before t'fie Imperial Court. ■ September 30. Sheng has handed Mr Gobdnow, AnisricuVcbnlul ai Shanghai, an ed'icb -dated tHej 25th blaming the Tsung Li Yamen' s encouragement of the Boxers. ' China is reorga nixing her army, whilst troops and provisions are streaming northwards to Taiyuen. October 1. - Other versions of the Imperial Edicts ic-i-ued at Taiyuen Ju on the 25th -September state that the throne is not responsible for the situation, which is dxie,to-,the favour shown to the Boxers by Prince Tuan and! his brother, Tsailan., who will be punished in a manner to deter others. Several Princes have also been degraded and dismissed. The admirals have decided" -that the several nationalities shall- co -operate with the Russian advance -on Rhan-hsi-kwan. Count, Waldersee is preparing to occupy, the Imperial Palace in the forbidden city with an imposing German lorce. He will also occupy Paoting fu. The French are reconnoitring their camping ground at YanglfU'i. Winter quaiters for the troops generally are being prepared at Peking. Mr Rockhill, the American,. Commissioner, is going to Yang-tse to report on, the situation. Every article of value in the Summer Palace was found packed and labelled for Russia. The Chinese soldiers and the people looted the town of Tongshan, alleging that

their wages were in arrear. The Russians are arming two Russian batteries to be sent from Peking to Paoting: fu. • „ . Colonel Richardson, with the I6lh Bengal Lancers, has arrived at Peking. The 3rd Bombay Cavalry is distributed along the lines of cofnmunication. SHANGHAI, September 30. ' The British cavalry have occupied several towns, extending 40 miles to the south-west of Tientsin, unopposed. The French troops at Peking have occupied Lukuchiao and Changsintien in order to secure a coal supply. The Allies' collective guard of honour received Count yon Waldersee at the. Tientsin railway station, which was decorated exclusively with Geiman, Russian, and French flags. ' Four battalions of infantry are being recruited in Rur-sia for the purpose of garrisoning the province of Kwan Tung. The Imperial Edict of the 25th ult. deprives Prince Tuan of his official servants and degrades four other Princes.. TOKIO, .September 29. The Marquis Yamagaita, Japanese Premier, has resigned. The Marquis Ito has been summoned. The latter favours a heartier co-operation with Great Britain to prevent the partition of China. LONDON. Septembsr 27. All the Russian stdff at Tientsin have gone with a considerable portion of the troops to 'Port Arthur. This move is attributed" to the gravity of the situation with regard to Manchuria. The annexation of that province led to an interchange of vie\fs of tlie , different Cabinets. ,The Russians have offered the Germans the control of the Tientsin railway. There are indications' that negotiations,tending to an' agreement upon important questions beyond the mere punishment of 'the Chinese ringleaders, are now proceeding between Great Britain and Germany. Before replying to the proposal of the German Emperor that China should surrender the instigators of the outrages before negotiations are entered into, Lord Salisbury awaits the receipt of information from Sir Claude Mac Donald. Vienna advices report that the Mikado visits the Czar and other European sovereigns in the spring September 28. . Li Hung Chang has explained that his adherence to Russian interests was due to the failure of the British to suppprt him in the past. The 'Standard correspondent suggests that the English were less ready to bribe him. LONDON, October 1. The Daily Express states that Li Hung Chang recommends the Allies to release the Emperor and Dowager Empress from their dangerous official surroundings-," bring theun to Peking, and after the * appointment of a. Regent appeal to the loyalty of the Chinese on behalf of the Emperor. It is announced .from St. Petersburg that M. de Giers and the members of the Legation, with the remainder of the Russian troops at Peking, wall be removed to Tientsin '

BERLIN. September 30. The Emperor has issued an edict thank*, ing the Czar for the withdrawal of troops

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and offers to conduct a memorial ceremony at Baron Ketteler's grave. - ' Reports received here state that rinderpest is raging amongst the cattle belonging ' to the German commissariat. ST. PETERSBURG, September 25. Prince Ching has telegraphed here that court will not return to Peking until iChina (including Shanghai) is free of foreign • troops. The Transeyah territory, in Manchuria, ds all occupied, while the left bank of the 'Amur lias been annexed. Russia has issued ia proclamation in which the annexation is described as punishment for the attack on ißlagovestchensk. The RUsians are marching on Moukden. WASHINGTON, September 24. Mr Hill, Acting-Secretary of State, in a despatch dated September 23, says that [America will take the earliest opportunity to appoint plenipotentiaries to negotiate for a settlement with China. ~ September 27. ' The United Stales' isolation and objec'ifcion to co-operate with Count W«aldersee -are due to fear of a rupture between the iA'llies and China. September 28. Reports have been received that 2; f ter the Russians occupied Lutai they rushed to the northward railway to seize Shan-hai-ls: wan. General Chaffee, the American coramander, recommended the Allies to Avithclraw to Yangtsun end Tientsin, and the retention of a mixed guard at Peking. He declares that it is generally admitted that the restoration of the Chinese Court is essential. i NEW YORK, September 29. ' The Herald declares that Washington's attitude is due to an endeavour to prevent the dismemberment of China, which is regarded as inevitable. America, however, j tas determined to exact from the Powers ' acquiring territory a guarantee that Ameri- \ eaai trading rights will be respected. MELBOURNE, September 26. A cable has" been received by the local branch of the China- Inland Mission announcing that Miss Heays, of Adelaide, and Miss Barnett, of Tasmania, together | ■with seven others, presumably English j ."workers in the mission field, had been killed at Kiang-s>u. I SYDNEY, October 1. ! . The Herald's Tokio correspondent says that as a result of the disturbances in Man-_R.ussia-is now fairly established, and holds the^ whole country. 'Korea is likely to prove a stumbling block to Russian overtures 'for a Russo-Japanese concerted' action" with^ regard to Northern ■ China. ' I