The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-09-03

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 2.-Chester
l{olcomb who has just returned from
China after twenty-one years service in
the American legation at Picking, says the
recent massacre is traceable 10 the result
OF the recent China-Japan war.
AT the commencement of the recent
war between China and JAPAN said he,
at was generally feared that the lives of
foreigners in China would be in great
danger as long as the war lasted. As
matter of TACT, there was practically no
danger as long as the war lasted, and it
is only since the hostilities ceased that
The danger has commenced. We have had
proof of the fact in the recent massa-
ores, ana 1 think 1 can explain the rea-
son.
I'm the first place, the great mass of the
Chinese are disappointed with the result
OF the wa, and are taking revenge on all
The foreigners whom they can kill with
impunity.
Another Pcculiarity.
In the second place, the killing and
pillaging receives great encouragement by
reason of the depredations committed by
hordes OF disbanded soldiers all over the
country. The Chinese government has
a peculiar method of disposing of its
troops at the close Of a war. When the
discharged from service at the place
where they happened 10 be at the time.
The fact that 2n army may be several
hundred or a. thousand miles away from
home when it is disbanded. and the fact
that the soldiers may not possess any
means of getting home does rot interest
the government in The least. The troops
are turned loose and to use an American
expression, they have TO beat their way
back 10 the place from whence they
came. That they should pillage and COM
II r1af &c <hnr.a
ural TO such people under such circum-
stances, and tranquility will not reign in
China for some time TO come.
Missionary Assaulted.
"Just before L left Japan. learned
that an American missionary who has
been laboring near Picking since 1863 had
been assaulted and severely cut with a
knife. His name is D. q. Sheffield and
have known him quite well for years. It
IS only fair TO the other side to say
however. that the asSailaOtS were ar
rested and will be tried for their offense
If such prompt action was taken in the
cases Of other offenders the wholesale kill
ling of missionaries in China would be
speedily stopped It is almost impossible
however, to mete out justice to Offending
Chinese in the interior provinces. and the
fault is the fault of the government"
Mr.. H5lcomb says the most interesting
question in the Orient at the present
tine, outside of the missionary massa-
cres and the cholera is the approaching
conflict between t1lfSSs1 ana Japan
THAT Japan and Russia. will become
mixed up in a dispute which will result
IA war. goes without saying" he said,
land the commencement Of actual hostiIi-
ties is not far off. The Japanese have a
big grievance against Russia and Russia
Is preparing to make things warm for
the japanese. The other day was told
very frankly By japanese officials who
hold high positions in the government,
that Japan 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
A Marrow Escape.
mo one knows better than I how mar