The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1895-09-04
THE TRUE CAUSE or IT.
Meaning the Outrageous Massacre of
Missionaries by Chinese.
NO DANGER DURING WAR.
PiIIage by Discharged INDECENT Soldiers
Played Important Part-Jap-
anese-Russian War a Fore
gone Conclusion.

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 2.-Chester Hol-
comb, who has returned from China
after 81 years in the American legation at
Picking, says the recent massacre is
traceable to the result of the Chinese
Japanese war. AT the commencement
of the recent war between China and
Japan said he, lit was generally
feared that the lives of foreigners in
China would be in great danger as long
as the war lasted.
LAS matter of TACT there was practi-
cally no danger as long as the war lasted.
1t is only since the hostilities ceased
that the danger has commenced. We
have had proof of the fact in the recent
massacre, and think can explain the
reason.
I'm the first place, the great mass of
Chinese are disappointed with the re-
suit of the war and are taking revenge
on all foreigners whom they can kill
with impunity.
"In the second place, the killing and
pillage gives great encouragement by
reason of the depredations committed
by hordes of disbanded soldiers all over
the country. The Chinese government
has taken a peculiar method of dispos-
ing of its troops at the close of war.
When the soldiers are no longer needed
they are discharged from service at the
place where they happen to be at the
time.
Though the army may be several
hundred or thousand miles away from
home it is disbanded, and the fact that
the soldiers may not possess any means
of getting home does not interest the
government in the least. The troops
are turned loose, and, to use an Ameri-
can expression, they have to beat their
way back to the place from whence
they came, That they should pillage
and commit depredations is, therefore,
natural to such people under such condi-
tons, and tranquility will not reign in
China for some time to come.
Just before L left Japan L learned
that an American missionary who had
been laborirg near Peking since 1890
hal been assaulted and severely cut
with knife. His name is d. S. Shelf
field, and have known him quite well
for years. 1t is only fair to say, how
ever, that the aSSailants were arrested
and will be tried for their otfense. If
such prompt action were taken in the
cases of the other offenders, the whole
sale killing of missionaries in China
could be speedily stopped. 1t is almost
to offending Chinese III the interior
provinces, and the fault is the fault of
the government"
Mr.. Holcomb says the most interest
ing question in the Orient at present,
outside of the missionary massacres and
the cholera, is the approaching conflict
between Russia and Japan.
THAT Japan and Russia will become
mixed up in dispute which will result
in
land the commencement of the actual
hostiiities is not far off. Then the jap
anese have big grievance against Rus
STA, and Russia is preparing to make
things warm for the Japanese. The
other day l was told very frankly by
Japanese officials who hold very high
positions in the government that the
Japanese would live to rue the day when
she permitted herself to become mixed
up in a war with China. 1t has given
Russia an opportunity she has long
waited for.
mo one knows better than [ how
narrowly Japan escaped Il war with
Russia when she got through with her
war with China. The Japanese were
so incensed at Russia's attitude in the
matter of the cession of Liao Tuug
peninsula that the Japanese officials
talked seriously of engaging i'll a squab-
pie Will RUSSIA. L was IN Japan at the
time and heard it all A certain mem
Der of the japanese cabinet, whose ac-
qua1ntance 1 made when he was sent to
Picking as the japanese minister to
China, said to me at the time: Russia
has six ironclad battleships We have
but one, and that we captured from the
Chinese. If we had but four ironclads,
or even three, we would defy Russia
THAT is just what Russia wanted
them to do. Russia will yet so aggra-
vate the japanese that they will declare
war. Then Russia will attempt to drive
the japanese out of Corea, where they
are now masters of the situation. The
japanese are debating affairs in Corea,
for while the king still remains ON the
throne he does nothing that counts in
authority The fight between Russia
and Japan will be over Corea and will
occur just as soon as Russia finds that
she wants an open port on the Pacific"