CONCERNING CHINA by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 10, 1900

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 41.

CONCERNING CHINA.

By Editor

No DEFINITE plan of procedure has been determined upon by the powers in China. Russia’s proposed withdrawal from Peking has not taken place, and it now seems probable that Russian troops will remain in Peking as long as do those of the other powers. Germany still stands by her proposition to demand the surrender of the anti-foreign leaders before entering upon negotiations, and in this she seems to have the moral support of England. Both these powers are regretting the stand taken by the United States in showing a willingness to enter upon peace negotiations before punishment has been visited upon the Boxer leaders. The American administration is planning to withdraw its troops from China, with the exception of enough to guard the American legation, but the other powers are planning to strengthen their military representation there. Russian troops are still going forward, as are also those of the kaiser.

A force of about 8,000 Russians, Germans, Austrians, and French attacked and captured the Peitang and Lu Tai forts on September 20. The attacking forces lost 300 in killed and wounded. An Anglo-American force, under General Wilson, stormed and captured the Chinese arsenal at San Hai Tien. The Moscow correspondent of the London Standard says that authentic accounts have been received at Moscow of a terrible massacre of Chinese by the Russians at Blagovestichensk. The entire Chinese population of the latter town, amounting to about 5,000 persons, was escorted out of town to a spot five miles up the Amour River, and then, being led in batches of a few hundred to the river bank, was ordered to cross over to the Chinese side. No boats were provided, and, as the river is a mile wide, to carry out the order was to drown. The Chinese were flung into the river, and those who attempted to get back to shore were shot or clubbed to death. The report adds that the river bank for miles was strewn with corpses. It is also reported that the Germans at the battle of Tianghsiang stood up 150 of their prisoners and shot them.

Li Hung Chang has posted a proclamation through Chi-li Province, ordering the people and soldiers to exterminate all Boxers, and a Shanghai despatch of September 24 states that the troops were obeying his orders, and that over a thousand of the Boxers in that province had been killed. Twelve of their prominent leaders were decapitated.

Prince Tuan, who is regarded as the chief leader of the Boxers, has been appointed grand secretary to the emperor, a position enabling him to control all communications to and from the throne. This would seem to be an open defiance of Germany’s demand for the surrender of the Boxer leaders. The emperor and empress, it is reported, will in no case return to Peking, as they consider the imperial palaces desecrated by the foreigners. An imperial decree commands the governor of the province of Shian Si to raise funds for the erection of a palace at Hsian Fu, which will be the new capital. Advices from Canton report that serious disturbances have occurred near that city. Several villages have been destroyed and others are besieged.

THERE has been considerable activity among the Filipinos during the last week, and the casualties to the Americans, including killed and wounded, amount to about 100. From several of the provinces come accounts of Filipino operations and American precautionary measures. A burial corps has been ordered to proceed to Manila for the purpose of disinterring and bringing back to the United States the bodies of Americans who have been buried in the Philippines.

CATHOLIC work in the little kingdoms of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark is reported to be gaining in force quite rapidly. Catholic congregations, according to this report, are gaining considerably in numbers. For many years the Catholic workers in these countries were under the control of foreign bishops. The work is now considered of sufficient importance to warrant the appointment of bishops to reside in the countries named. In Austria, also, vigorous work is being done by the Catholic clergy in a determined attempt to withstand the inroads of Protestantism. Both sides are claiming accessions to their numbers as a result of the work that is being done. Catholic women have been formed into societies for the purpose of influencing backslidden husbands to return to the fold. In fact, Catholicism throughout all Europe is manifesting great zeal at the present time, notably in France. In America, while aggressive work is being done by such societies as the Paulist Fathers, the greatest interest seems to center in the federation of Catholic societies for the purpose of influencing legislation. This work is being pushed with much zeal by press and clergy, and is one of the most important developments of the times. The drowsy Christian should ask himself if there is anything significant in these things.

THE great strike of the anthracite coal miners in the East has entered upon the second week of its duration. So far there has been but little molestation of non-union men, or disorder of any kind. One case of shooting has occurred, but in all the vicinities affected comparative quiet reigns. Troops have been ordered to different mines in anticipation of trouble, but have found no occasion for interference. While the mine owners claim that the strike will soon be broken, the miners themselves are claiming continual accessions to their ranks. Notwithstanding the protection of the troops, but few miners are working. At Scranton, Penn., on September 22, a parade was organized of the children who work in or about the mines or breakers. The parade consisted of 2,000 children, many of whom were only nine or ten years of age.

THE British nation now regards the Transvaal War as practically ended. The British troops have traversed the country as far as the Portuguese border, and the burghers who have crossed into Portuguese territory have been disarmed by the Portuguese authorities. The railroad to Lourenzo Marquez is now completely in the hands of the British, altho it is expected that marauding parties may interfere with its operation to some extent. A considerable company of the Boers is still in the field, and it is believed that President Stein, of the Free State, and Secretary Reitz are with them. The Holland Dutch are preparing to welcome President Kruger, but his departure from Lourenzo Marquez is being delayed by legal proceedings. A war ship of the Netherlands has been placed at his service to convey him to Europe.

By a recent order of the English Post-office Department, all post-office clerks must use the word "Esq." in addresses to all male correspondents, unless the latter are laborers, personal servants, or tradesmen, or depositors in postal savings banks. The necessity for such an order is not apparent, but there is no doubt that such distinctions serve to foster the growth of anarchistic tendencies among the common people, and consequently to increase the perils of the times and hasten the time of trouble.

THREE hundred miners and day laborers are on a strike at Coal Creek, Tenn., for an increase in the wages of the latter. The miners are said to be satisfied with their scale, but are striking for the benefit of the day laborers. About 650 cigar makers are on strike at Hanover, McSherrystown, and Mt. Rock, Penn. About three-fourths of the 1,200 men employed by the American Iron and Steel Company, who struck on August 1, resumed work on September 19, at the rate which the company offered for work.

THE British Admiralty is introducing a new weapon into the navy. It is a modification of the Hotchkiss gun, the breech mechanism of which is self-feeding and automatic. This gun throws a three-pound shell at the rate of 400 rounds per minute. Thus 1,200 pounds of explosive steel are driven with fearful velocity from the muzzle of this gun every minute that it is in action. The destruction which such a weapon, accurately aimed, could accomplish can not even be imagined.

THE Kurutu and the Tabui Islands were formally annexed to France by the governor of Tahiti on August 21, at the request of the natives. On September 21 the premier of New Zealand announced the annexation of the Cook Islands, with the consent of the Basatonga chief. This step is a counter movement to meet the annexations of the French.

A DESPATCH from Calcutta reports an extraordinary rainfall throughout North India. The storm continued for four days. Half of the site of the city of Calcutta is submerged, some of the streets being flooded to a depth of three feet. It is estimated that thirty-five inches of rain fell in Calcutta during the storm.

A CABLE to the London Times from China states that four American missionaries and their families at Fen Chau Fu have been murdered by the Boxers. A cable to the New York Sun states that the entire company of missionaries at Tatungu and Seping Fu, west of Peking, were killed while attempting to reach Kalga.

NOME, Alaska, has been again ravaged by a terrible storm, which drove many vessels on shore, and crushed down the buildings nearest to the waterfront. The damage to ruined property has been placed as high as $750,000. Several persons lost their lives, but the number of victims has not been given.

An agreement has been reached between the Amalgamated Iron and Steel Workers and the steel manufacturers by whom they have been employed, settling the wage scale of the men. This agreement permits some 60,000 iron and steel workers to resume work who have been idle since August 1.

FOREST and field fires have been numerous in California during the week, owing to several days of exceptionally hot weather. The damage from fire in Sonoma County alone is estimated at over a million dollars. Thousands of acres have been burned over in various parts of the State.

THE State of Texas has been the scene of another serious calamity; this time it came in the form of a cloudburst in the Nueces River district, which, according to report, has resulted in a terrible flood and much loss of life. The cloudburst occurred on September 23.

IN the island of Tutuila, that island which was apportioned to the United States in the division of the Samoan Islands, a national guard of natives has been organized, armed with the regulation Lee rifle and carrying the regulation cartridge belt.

ON September 22 the president of France gave a grand banquet to 20,000 mayors of the cities of France. The banquet was given in honor of the exposition, and is declared to be the largest ever held.

A RUSSIAN inventor has discovered a certain kind of salt, which, when subjected to heat, throws off a powerful gas. This he utilizes in driving a new type of automobile. A few pounds of this composition are sufficient to drive the automobile a long distance.

THE British torpedo-boat destroyer Cobra is now the fastest vessel in the world, having broken the record made by her sister ship, the Viper. The Viper’s record was 43 miles an hour, and the Cobra’s record stands at 43.5 miles an hour.

OWING to the recent severe storm which visited the fishing banks of Newfoundland, forty vessels have been driven ashore, and according to latest reports fifty-five others are missing, most of which, it is expected, have gone down.

THE U. S. transport Grant arrived in San Francisco harbor on September 22, carrying 350 sick and disabled soldiers, besides the bodies of 37 who had died in the Philippines, and 13 who died on the way home.

ON September 20 the president of France conducted a grand review of the French army near Chartres, France. The whole body of troops numbered 97,000 men, with 22,000 horses.

A REPORT from Halifax, N. S., states that the ship Lily, of the North, which left Halifax last summer with supplies for the Peary polar expedition, is a wreck. The crew are reported safe.

THE Egyptian mail steamer Charkiah ran aground on the island of Andros, in the Mediterranean, on September 20, and forty of her crew and passengers were drowned.

A TORNADO struck the town of Morristown, Minnesota, on September 24, wrecking several houses, killing eight persons, and injuring six.

The United States war ship Oregon has arrived at Wu Sung, the man-of-war anchorage at Shanghai.