A NEGRO ARMY FOR CHINA.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume VI, Issue 688, 29 August 1898, Page 4

A NEGRO ARMY FOR CHINA.

In connection with Belgian schemes in China a strange report reaches us from Pekin (says the China Gazette) which wc have been able to corroborate from another quarter. It will be remembered that some weeks ago a Belgian mission, consisting of Count Ursel, Major Five, and another gentleman, travelled to Pekin, ostensibly as railway engineers, It now appoars, however, that they have gone there with a very different object, and the doings of this remarkable trio are the sole topic of conversation at this moment at the various Legations in Pekin. They have turned out to be anything but civil engineers, and are, in fact, Belgian military officers. Having reached the Chinese capital they have donned their proper uniforms, red pantaloons and green tunics, with their breasts covered with decorations. Major Five is the Attache Militaire of the Congo Free btate, and the three gentlemen named li&vo gone to Pekin on a special mission under the direction of Count d Ursel. For some time the nature of their mission was a secret, but it has now leaked out that their object is nothing less than to dr.iw up a tresiy of commerce between China and the Congo free State, embracing the astounding

proposition that the Congo Free State should furnish China with a large aimy of her warlike negroes in return for a number of humble but valuable Chinese coolies, who are badly wanted to develop the Congo region. The Military Attache would undertake the organisation of these “ Black Guards ” for Cmna, and other officers of Belgian artillery have suddenly appeared on the scene in Pekin under tlie gui.se of “ engineers,’’ whose services, no doubt, would be requisitioned in the event of this preposterous scheme going through. The whole story is very curious; hut curious tilings are constantly happening in China, and it would not astonish iis if the childish Chile so were wheedled into listening to such a far-fetched idea. The successful completion of the negotiations with the Belgians re the Lu-hati railway w.ll undoubtedly give this Congo cum Chinn, alliance of defence and offence a fillip, but at present it is only regarded as a joke, and is not to be taken mi m-rim.r.