The Rock Island Argus., 1884-08-22
AGAIN ON THE EDGE.
France and China Said To Be on the
Point of War.
Ihe French Consul at Pekin Strikes
Ills COlors Preparatory to Leav-
ing-SOme Chinese Re-
sOurces-MiIitary.

PARIS, Aug. 22.-The excitement aver the
Chinese difficulty is intense, as every indica-
ton points to war between France and
Ihina. The feeling on the bourse is fever
lsh, owing to the warlike reports circulated,
The most Important of which was that the
inai interview of Prime Minister Ferry
with La Fong Pao, the Chinese minister, had
terminated in disagreement, the Chinese
munster refusing to accede TO the demand of
France for an indemnity The official an,
nouncement of the failure of the two minis
tiers to agree is expected every moment as
the Chinese legation is making preparations
TO leave Paris, and it is expected the mem
bers OF the legation viii depart before mid
night.
LONDON, Aug. 22.-The Times Pellin cor
respondent says the French consulate in that
city lowered its flag at l O'Clock Wednesday
afternoon and that the attaches were PIE
pairing to leave the city
The consul has delegated the Russian con
sui to watch oyer French interests III that
city.
CANTON Aug. 22.-The viceroy is rabia
hater of foreigners, and his head men and
officials and the common people are warlike
Inc merchants, however, are pacific. An
English corvette and some German and
American gunboats are lying here
PARIS, Aug 22.-It has just been an
nounced that the final interview between
Prime Minister Ferry and Ii Fong Poo, the
Chinese minister, was Il failure. and that the
Chinese legation win remove Immediately to
Berlin.
WASHINGTON CITY, Aug. 22.-The mem
bers of the Chinese legation here are watch
ing the developments in regard to the
troubles between their country and France
with good deal of interest They do not
credit the reports that the war is over, or
that France has in a single week or month
conquered the Chinese nation. Their army
ana navy, they say, is something more in
Importance than this would Indicate They
have great confidence in the fighting power
OF their army. Their new steel gunboats arc,
they say, very formidable. The army has,
since the Manchu conquest, been divided into
two sections the Green Flags and the Banner
men. The latter are the more formidable,
the Green Flags being a sort OF
militia system. OF the Banner men there
are about $4,000, who are stationed near
the capital of the nation These. they
ttiS 'ilil N1tJiOu bl Jne liS
strength Of the army The great mass of
troops come from the interior of the country.
Mongolia, they say, is able alone to furnish
| Ii quarter Of million of warriors. Then
there are of the Green Flags 600, 900 and a
| considerable number scattered about
| at the various forts and military
| stations throughout the country, bring
/ ing the available force up to about
| a million. This is the only force im.
mediataly available. What the empire with
its i5o, 100000 people could raise on demand
| is pretty hard to say 1t would be some
/ thing enormous as to numbers In addition
| to all these facts they lay great stress on the
| fact that an adoption of European methods
! In the army has made it very formidable
| Since Chinese Gordon set the Chinese army
| IN order, and put quick stop to the TAPPING
| rebellion, they have realized the Importance
| of European methods and put them into
| active practice. The result is that besides
| having a large number of forts along the
coast bristling with Krupp guns, they have 8
| good navy and between 100 900 and 200, 00t
| men drilled and equipped in thorough
European style, and able to do first-cla.>
| fighting at minutes notice Modern arms
! ot all sorts, both large and small, have beer
imported from abroad, and manufacture,
eStablI~hei il, their own country to make
/ Tptr4-