Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-24
CHINESE CONVERTS BUTCHERED.
Discussing the Landing of American
Marines.

Discussing the Landing of American
Marines.
special dispatch received at London
from Shanghai says that many Chinese
converts were butchered when the Ameri
can mission outside Foo Chow was attack
ed and the chapel and school were wrecked
by an Infatuated mob, as exclusively cabled
to the Associated Press from Hong Kong
early during the morning of August 81.
Commander Newell of the United States
cruiser Detroit has gone to Cheng Tu to
States consul at Foo Chow. about the land
ing of marines for his protection and for
the protection Of the members of the COM
mission investigating the massacres. as the
latter are practically prisoners.
The dispatch adds that the Chinese Off
Gals are jubilant at the defeat of the Of
forts of the American and British con5uls
to obtain an open inquiry into the massa-
eres- 1t Is also said that the delay is CIV
spg the Chinese time to prepare a defense
Spr the prisoners.
Inclined to Discredit the Report.
1t ia said here that Kucheng is meant
wherever Cheng Tu is used In the London
dispatch, as Cheng Tu Is the scene of the
June riots and ia 400 miles from Foo
Chow Naval officials, though without in
formation themselves, are inclined 10 dis
credit the Information in the dispatch.
Served that dispatches Of this character
came by way of London, while another
high naval officer said that there was an
evident intention On the part of Great Bri-
tain in the whole Kucheng affair to get the
United States government to pull chestnuts
out of the fire, and pointed to the fact that
there did not seem to be any anxiety ON
the part of Great Britain to land troops or
to be In undue haste to force an eXplana-
ton. The Navy Department thought that
Il Commander Newell had gone on any
such mission the department would have
been notified 1t was also said that marines
are scarcely ever landed at the request Of
a consul. especially when there is min
lister in the country.
However. should there be trouble Of the
kind indicated. the United States has a
strong force in Asiatic waters. We have
seven ships there. some Of them good
cruisers, our fleet including the Baltimore
dlagship). the Charleston, Detroit, York.
town, Machias. Monocacy and Concord.
able. though good fighting ships. The new
cruiser Olympia will leave for the Asiatic
station in a very short time. as she is now
being ooaled at San Francisco.
Belief at the Legation.
The presumption among the officials at
the Chinese legation Is that the protection
to the commission referred to is from mob
violence. The officials. however, express
the opinion that ample protection will be
afforded by the local authorities without
the Intervention Of assistance from other
governments.
Besides. 1t is not believed at the legation
that the central government at PelSin would
permit the landing Of marines at the place
where the investigation Is to be conducted
There is. however, no news at the legation
In regard to the statements in the dispatch,
and. In fact, there has been no information
received verifying the report of the ap-
pointment Of commission of investiga-
ton.