WAR IN CHINA

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 192, 23 August 1900, Page 3

WAR IN CHINA

(By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (per press association.) LOCALITY FOR IMPERIAL COURT DOUBTFUL. SEVERE FIGHTING IN PEKING. RUSSIANS OCCUPY MEDOEI. FLIGHT OF DOWAGER EMPRESS. LI HUNG CHANG REQUESTS AN ARMISTIOE. Received 22, 9.25 a.m. Hong Kong, August 21. Famine and drought, combined with the hostility of the Mahommodans in the Shen3i district, render it doubtful whether the Imperial Court can ba established at Sian-fu. In response to an appaol, 400 Italians and a detachment of Germans are making a forced march from Tientsin fo Peking. i According to Italian official reports Bghting was going on within Peking] on Saturday. , The Russians under Qonerul Orloflf,! after severe fighting, occupied Medcoi, j in Manchuria, dispersing 7000 Manehurian troops, Prince Sheng, director of Telegraphs, Li Hung Chang, and the Chinese ! Minister in London, declare that the j Dowager Empress left Peking a week ago. Li Hung Chang asks for an armistice, and offers to open peace pegotiations. Before her flight from Peking the Dowager beheaded Hsutsung and a dozan other officials and imprisoned Yung Lu. MOVEMENTS OF ALLIED TROOPS. (Received 22,10.30 p.m.) Hong Kong, August 21. The beheaded include Hsutung, and Yilien Yuan, both anti-foreignere, and Lisbon, pro-foreignor. Japan and Germany ara arranging to land marines at Shanghai. The French reinforcements sent to China will land at Tonkin, and await events. OPINIONS OF FRENOH AND JAPANESE PRESS. Received 22, 10.50 p.m. Pains, 'August 21, The Figaro says the climato of Tonkin in winter is excellent, and adds tbattha reparation due ft) Germany ox-r-coda thai cf other Powers. G/rmnuy is strong enough to striko bird, ami the other Powora will help if necsssiry. Japanese ne.vspnpers distrust Gsrmany and Russia with regard to China, nud dvnrsnd tha"; the fini'.l fottlement shall disregard tho mere pleasure of western Powers,

HEAVY FIGHTING ISi PEKING. CHRISTIAN OONVERTS ASSIST ALLIES.' DOWAGER RESPONSIBLE TOR ATTACK ON LEGATIONS. PLOT TO MURDER ALL iORKICOT.RS. Received 21, 10.50 p m. , Honq Kokg, August 22. The walls of the inner city of Peking were dynamited. The pnlace was captured on the seventeenth, but thero were no signs of the Dow.igei'-Empress, Stubborn street fighting continues. 4000 armed Christian con verts assisted tho Allies. Mr. Conger declares that the Boxers' pretence of attack on the Legations was wholly a Governmental movement directed by the Dowager's confidential adviser. A desperate effort mido to annihilate the Legations on the night preceding the relief, ceased when the Allies entered the city. • Sir Claude Mac Donald states that the Chinese broke evory engagement. 1 They did not furnish the Legations with food, but onco offered vegetables, which were refused. A letter has been discovered addressed by Yung Lu to Tungfuhsiang, swearing to murder all foreigners with the aid of millions of Boxers. Tungfuhsiang agreed to participate. AMERICA AVERSE TO AN ARMISTICE. MASSING OF CHINESE FORCES. Received 22, 11 p.m. Hong Kono, August 22. Li Hung Chang in a circular note to the Powers suggests that since the avowed object of the advance of the Allies has been achieved and the Ministers found in good health, the Powers should eease hostilities and appoint plenipotentiaries to negotiate with himself. The United States Government has declined to entertain the suggestion. Large forces from the Honan province are massing in the rear of the Allies. It u believed that the PekinTientsin telegraph lino is interrupted,