THE TROUBLE IN CHINA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 31, 2 August 1900, Page 19

THE TROUBLE IN CHINA.

No definite news with regard to the fate of the Legations at Pekin has come to hand as yet. One day we are informed that all the foreigners in the capital had been massacred, and the next the report is contradicted — the contradiction generally ooming from a Chinese source. A message from Hongkong, on July 29, 6tates the Chinese representing the Russian Bank at Pekin confirm the news of the massacre of the Legations. They assert that the Ministers killed theii families when the Legations were stormed rather than allow them fall into the hands of the Chinese. Reports of massacres of missionaries in various provinces hare been circulated. Nine members of the China Inland Mission were massacred at Chekiang. The Boxers on July 8 attacked the missions at Paotiogfu, killing a foreign physician and 2000 con* verts.

Sheng, the Director of Telegraphs, announces that all the foreign missionaries at Paotin^fu were massacred. Converts report a week's massacre of foreigners at Honan and Shangshai General Litokei, marching to Pekin, ordered the troops to kill all Christians met with on the joarney. They killed a French Father and 2.')00 converts. A Hongkong messige of Friday last stites that details of the outrages on the Christians at Mukden are to hand The Chinese troops prpterHfi to protect those who were holding service at the Cathedral. At a given signal, however, thpy surrounded the building and set fire to it, when all within, with the exception of the bishops, were burned to death. The bishops vee subsequently taken before the Viceroy's Council, and, after being tortured, were decapitated. An Italian priest has arrived at Hongkong from Huan. He escaped in a coffin, which some friendly natives carried to the ship. The latest news is that the secretary of the German L-gation reported that the members of the Legations were all safe on July 21, and that the attacks on the foreign quarter had ceased on July 16. Acting Admiral 1 Bruce telegraphs a message frnm fir Claude Mac Donald, dated Pekin, 2 1st : — 'The Chinese troops from June 20 to July 16 repeatedly attacked the legation from all sides with rifles and artillery. Since the 16th there has been an armistice. A Btrict cordon is maintained by both sides. The position of the Chinese barricade is near ours. All the women and children are in the Legation. Casualties : 62 killed, including Captain Strouts ; a number in the hospital, including Captain Halliday. The Legation all well, except David Oliphant Warren, killed.'