The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-21
Germany's Seizure of KiaOchau Bay
Probably the Beginning of the End
of the Celestial Empire.
RUSSIA, BRITAIN, FRANCE
ALL AFTER BIG SLICES OF THE COW
ETED FLOWERY KINGDOM.
Japan, Too, Anxious to BE ''In" at the
Death of Her RivaI-WiId story Con-
cerning Germany Denied.
tsnecial Cable letter.

LONDON, Dec. 20.-All signs point to a
crisis in the affairs of the Chinese empire
and it's possible dismemberment at no dis
tant day. According to advices from vari-
Gus sources the great powers of the world,
with the exception of the United States,
preparing to grab the celestial kingdom
and apportion it among themselves. Ger
many has already seized Kiaochau bay and
is preparing to coloniZe the province of
Shan-Tung. Russia is practically in pos
session of Port Arthur and, by extending
the Transsiberan Railway to that point,
will control Manchuria and possibly Mon
golia. France has conquered Tonquin, is
gradually encroachng on Siam, and would
not be adverse to adding the Chinese
provinces of Hai-nan, Kuang-se and Kuang-
Tung to her Oriental possessions. Great
Britain, however, is not asleep, and
Frances efforts to possess Kuang- -Tung, in
which is located the British port of Hong
Kong and the great city of Canton, would
probably be combatted with all the power
Britain can command. 1t is also reported
that in order to keep an eye on her COM
petitors in the territory grabbing business,
Lord Salisbury has determined to quietly
take possession of Wei-Hai-Wei and make
that famous Chinese naval station a rem
dezous for the war ships of the mistress
of the sea-" This rumor has not been con-
firmed, and may be untrue, for the Japanese
are still holding Wei-Hai-Wei as security
for the Chinese war indemnity. There is
nothing, however, to prevent the British
war fleet from using the harbor, as Japan
is on friendly terms with Britain The
Mikado is alarmed at the encroachments
of Russia and Germany, and is willing to
make every concession possible to keep on
good terms with the greatest maratime
power in the world.
The Paris correspondent of the Cologne
Gazette telegraphs that paper that he
learns on reliable authority that the Russian
occupation of Port Arthur was connected
with the visit of the British war ship
Daphne, a week ago. when, in spite of the
protests Of the Chinese, the Daphne entered
the iner harbor, as it was supposed, to as
certain whether there were Russian ships
there. China complained of the incident to
the representatives OF the powers at Peking.
The British far eastern squadron is said to
be at Talicmoan and, according to the cor
respondent quoted, is shortly expected at
Port Arthur The Cologne Gazette regards
the occupation as merely a continuance of
the cooperation of Germany with Russia
in Eastern Asia The Novosti, of st. Peters
burg. however. declares the occupation of
Port Arthur has nothing political behind it,
adding: 'It must be matter of indifer-
ence to the powers who are not planning
seizures of Chinese territory as to which
point the Russian squadron chooses for its
winter station"
The following was printed in London this
afternoon: "An unconfirmed report is cur
rent here that part of the British far east
ern squadron will be station at Wei-Hai-
Wei this winter. If true, this indicates that
Great Britain is working in harmony with
Japan. The latter power still occupies WEI w eio
Hai-Wei pending payment or the CnlneSe
war indemnity ,
disturbed over the situation. AND What 90
we eoet'' Is the burden of their complaint,
and they all insist on the necessity .t0I LOT III
mediate action The Globe says: Russla
and Germany now have the two most I'M
portant stragetical positions in northern
China and Great Britain, whose commercial
interests there are ten times greateTM @ I'll aiie St
be content with the crumbs from the 0''
Petersburg and Berlin tables CO.,
The Pail Mall Gazette echoes the stand,
ards inquiry as to Americas attitude ana
saws. "0f course, the partition of the coast.
which is bound to come Will not pc cohI!neu cohle
to Russia and Germany. Every naVai state
in the world is actively concerned IN tne
disturbance of the equilibrium in the Tar
East--Great Britain, France and Japan es-
pecially. But the United states cannot r1 pe
treated as a quantity to be ignored Inc
tame acauiescence with these seizures IS not
worthy Of our past and is fatal to our fu-
ture. We may remark that we snail not pe I9
without sympathizers, as the japanese VIII
most joyfully back any scheme TO redresS
the bitter humiliation they nave suHered
at the hands of Russia.
Advices received here from Paris show
that France is awaiting Great Britain ac.
ton If Great Britain follows the LEAD OF
Russia and Germany and occupies sea-
mort France will forthwith follow suit.
The officials of the Chinese embassy here
do not conceal the belief that the powers
are intending to seize Chinese ports. They
discredit a report that Great Britain had
been requested to assume a protectorate
over the Yang-Tse valley and the west
river.
A dispatch to the Daily Mail from Shang-
hal saws the report that Russia has seized
Port Arthur is entirely untrue.
The newspapers this Tuesday morning are
still busly discussing the partition of
China" The Daily Mails dispatch from
Shanghai denying that Russia has seized
Port Arthur probably only means that the
Russians have not yet actually landed. The
report concerning the Daphne and the Brit
ish fleet Wintering at Wei-Hai-Wei are Of
ficially denied, but it is alleged with some
show of authority that the government
knows of Russia's occupation of Port Ar
thur last Friday and that the Cabinet sat
three hours discussing the situation.
A dispatch from Yokohama says Russia
has notified Japan of the temporary occupa-
ton of Port Arthur, and a large Japanese
squadron has left Nagasaki.