The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-13
GOBBLED BY RUSSIA.
Disputed Territory at Che-Foo Seized In
Defiance of England.

London, May ia dispatch from
Shanghai says that the Russians.
through the medium OF an American
agent. named Smith, have taken pos
session OF the disputed territory of Che
Foo, over which the British maintain
claims The dispatch says that six Rus
sian warships and four United States
war vessels are lying at Che-Foo.
A dispatch from Shanghai 10 The
Globe confirms the news agency advices.
The dispatch adds that the seizure was
made In defiance Of England's legal
rights.
The government has not received any
information that Russia has seized Eng
lish territory at Che-Foo, and the au-
thorities say they will be greatly sur.
prised IL Russia has really taken such an
aggressive step.
The Globe, in a special article on the
subject, says that England is bound to
regard the affair as an infringing act,
and that the result will be awaited with
the greatest anxiety.
A later dispatch from Shanghai says
that the land seized by the Russians at
Che-Foo comprised part of the British
concession OF that place. The land was
secured by the Russian Steam Naviga-
tion company through the company's
agent at Che-Foo. j. Smith, an Ameri-
can. who is also agent for various Amer
lean missions at that place.
In an editorial regarding the reported
seizure at Chee-Foo OF land situated
within the British concession, the Times
says: 1t Is inconceivable that the
land which China cedes to Russia at
Chee-Foo forms part of the British con-
cession. Such an act would entail an
immediate demand for reparation. In
any case the government will see that
Englishmen are wronged with impunity.
The moral Of the incident is that other
powers dispense with preliminary ex-
hortatioa- when -they-want anything
from China and threaten force. China
knows that they are in earnest and
yields. Until we instill a similar con-
viction into the Manderins we shall al
ways come off second best where France
and Russia are our rivals.
The facts In the case are these: The
Russian Steam Navigation company Sc
cured a tract OF foreshore belonging to
the English firm OF Ferguson at Che
Zoo, and proposed TO build a pier there
On. other firms objected to the Russian
company having possession of the prop
erty, whereupon the Russian govern
ment interviewed and compelled the
Chinese authorities 10 accede to the full
transfer of the property to the Russian
company, and Russia has now seized
this disputed territory in open defiance
OF English claims. and a serious inter-
national complication seems imminent.
The port of Che-Foo is picturesGuely
situated in the outer Pechili straits, and
has enjoyed a prosperous trade. 1t is.
however, as a sanitarium that the place
is best known to foreigners. Hundreds
visit ii during the trying summer
months. There are two excellent
schools at Che-Foo, and ample house
and hotel accommodation. The foreign
settlement is excellently built, and ex-
tends back from beautiful sandy beach
UP and around the Yentai hill 1t is
considered the cleanest and healthiest
on the whole coast line. The principal
trade of the port is carried on in silks,
furs, straw braid, beans and beancake,
goats and camers hair, large quantities
of which commodities are annually ex-
ported. Che-Foo lies on the northern
side of the Shang-Tung promontory, so
miles from the head and 40 miles direct
from Wei Iaf-Wei