THE WORLD-PROBLEM

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 26, 1900

THE WORLD-PROBLEM.

In response to an ultimatum to evacuate their defenses before 2 P. M., Sunday, June 17, the China crisis culminated early Sunday morning, in the firing of the Taku forts, on the war-ships of the powers, without discrimination. The reply was in kind from the Russian, British, German, and French ships. In an engagement of seven hours, two of the forts were blown up, four hundred Chinese were killed, the Chinese guns were silenced, and the forts were occupied by marines from the war-ships. On the part of the powers there were killed,—British, 1; German, 3; Russian, 1; French, 1. Wounded,—British, 4; German, 7; Russian, 45; French, 1. It seems that no United States ship was in the engagement, though United States marines were ashore, and acting in concert with those of the other powers. Now all these powers are hurrying troops and war-ships to the scene of action. The United States ordered a regiment at once from Manila. Thursday, the 21st, Tien-tsin was bombarded.

This making war upon all the powers alike has forestalled, for the time being, any division of the powers: all are acting together for the restoration of order. Accordingly, the 21st, the following proclamation was agreed to, to be issued forthwith:—

The admirals and senior naval officers of the allied powers in China desire to make known to all viceroys and authorities along the coasts and rivers and in the cities and provinces of China that they intend to use armed force only against the Boxers and people that oppose them on their march to Peking for the rescue of their fellow countrymen.

What is most likely to be done by the powers, when order shall be restored, is shown in the following statement to the French Parliament by the minister of foreign affairs, June 21:—

France, united with Russia, will be able to work in concert with the other powers to restore order, and secure the institution of a government capable of guaranteeing all foreigners that safety which the Chinese enjoy in France.

This plan carried out will put China and the powers in precisely the same position that Turkey and the powers have occupied since Aug. 11, 1840. Thus the original Eastern question and world-problem now merges in the far Eastern question and the greater world-problem.

LATEST.—There was fighting at Tien-tsin, Saturday, in which American marines and Russian troops were engaged against the Chinese, and more troops later. Twelve days ago Admiral Seymour, of the British navy, with twenty-three hundred marines of “the allied powers,” left Tien-tsin for Peking,—sixty miles,—to secure the legations there; and he has not been heard from since. It is feared that all have perished. Li Hung Chang has requested the powers to send no more forces.