The Red Cloud chief., 1897-12-31
WAR MOVES IN CHINA
RUSSlA'S LATEST SEIZURE
is SIGNIFICANT.
Tho Cars Forces Occupy an Important
stratcgicsl Point-British War ships
Gather at Port Hamilton and Make a
Demonstration Against Corca.

LONDON, Dec. 30 Russia has seized
Kin Chau, the strong Chinese walled
city, north of Port Arthur, which COM
mands the mouth Of the Yalu river,
and over twenty great British war
ships have arrived ut Port Hamilton,
the Chinese naval stronghold, and will
go to Chcmu;po, Corea, TO make a
demonstration against Russian domin.
alton in that kingdom.
These movements Of the two great
European nations are being watched
with intense interest by the whole of
Europe, for the opinion is general that
it will be difficult to avoid n conflict
unless one or the other of the two
powers shall reccde from its present
position.
1t is tho general belief in England
that Japan will be, il not so now, In
close alliance with Great Britain TO
chcckmatc the movement Of Russia,
and the feeling here is that the forces
Of such an alliance will be so much
stronger than any Russia can send TO
the Orient that the czar will soon be
forced 20 rccede from his aggre ssive
position.
Kin Chau, the walled city occupied
by Russians. commands the railway
recently constructed from Ticn Tsin
to the capital of Munchuria, and is OF
pre.eminent Importance as u strategic
position. The seizure of the port
shows that Russia has practically
taken possession of Corea, Manchuria
and the half of Lau lung.
RUSSIA'S MOVEMENTS IN COREA.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 90. The report
of the determination OF England aud
japan to protest against the emperor
OF Corea practically yielding the gov
ernmknt OF that country to the Rus
sian minister excites great interest
here. A year or two ago Russia and
Japaa entered into a treaty under
which they agreed TO assume jointly
the responsibility of preserving the
peace and providing a good govern.
mcnt for Corea. In the division OF
responsibility Russia took command
Of the army and the police and the
direction of foreign affairs, Japan
having tine departments OF edu-
cation, agriculture and other COM
paratively unimportant branches OF
the government. The collection OF
revenue and the management OF the
finances were left in charge Of an
Englishman named McLeavy Brown,
who held the title Of adviser TO the
finance department and chief com.
missioner Of customs" 1t was his
duty to see TO tho honest collection OF
customs, which he performed so well
that there vas u prospect that Corea's
indie btedness would soon be paid.
Early in November, however, to the
surprise Of all concerned, there ap-
peared in Seoul, as a guest Of the Rus
sian legation, a Mr.. Alexieff, whose
calling cards bore tho title, in French,
''Councilor Of state and agent Of the
ministry Of finance Of the imperial
Russian government" and an inscrip-
ton N Chinese which read: 'Superin.
tendent of the finances of Corea"
DIRECT BLOW AT ENGLAND
1t seems that the car induced or
compelled the Corean ambassador at
st. Petersburg to enter into a con-
etaSs "Ath iSA'S w ihahuko t'io
Corean finances without consulting
any of the authorities at Seoul. The
day after the arrival OF Alexief at
Seoul he called upon the minister of
finance, exhibited his contract and
announced that he was ready to enter
upon his duties. Mr.. PAX explained
that the government was already
enjoying the services OF McLeavy
Brown, and hat the Corea ambassa.
dor at st. Petersburg had no author
ity or right to interfere with the
finance department. The Russian
minister responded that il the minis
ter Of finance questioned the validity
Of the contract II would be considered
n reflection upon his sovereign. After
a show OF resistance by Corea and re-
peated threats by the Russian. Brown
was dismissed and Alexicff installed
in his stead. Then followed Browns
appeal to London and the reported
sending Of a British feet to Corea