The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-20
CLASH MAY COME OVER CHINA.
GERMANY, RUSSIA, ENGLAND AND
JAPAN EYING EACH OTHER.

The Cars Movement at Port Arthur
Looked Upon as TantamOunt to
Permanent Occupation and "A Re-
ply to Germany-BeIief Current
That the AiIxadO Is Backed by Eng
Innd-The British SquadrOn's In
creased Activity Believed to Be
Due to an Understanding With
China's Emperor.
London Dec 2O.-The correspondent of
the Times, at Peking, says: "China ap-
proves of the Russian fleet wintering at
Port Arthur, being persuaded that this
action is taken in the interest of China,
and necessitated by the German occupa-
ton of Kiao-Chou."
\ dispatch to the Times from Shanghai
says the occupation of Port Arthur Cby
Russia) cannot fail to provoke popular in
dignation in Japan, where public opinion
is already excited over the Kiao-Chou
affair.
According to a dispatch 10 the Daily Mail
from Shanghai, the high officials of the
Chinese court have advised the emperor,
in view of the further complications, to re-
move the court to Marking the southern
capital'O The dispatch states it is report
ed that overtures have been made to Eng
lana 10 exercise pfOlecIlOn over the duS-
tse-Kiang valley and the West river, and
that numerous rumors are current regard
ing the activity of the British squadron
in Chinese waters.
The Times, commenting editorially this
morning on the situation in China, says:
Instead of the kaisers mailed fist we
have Russia's velvet glove, but the grasp
is not less vigorous and unyieding. Great
Britain ought now courteously to invite
China to extend the same privileges to the
British fleet at Chusan.''
kilograms from all the continental cap
itals show that Russias step at Port Ar
thur is regarded as tantamount as a per-
manent occupation and reply to Germany's
action.
A well informed st. Petersburg cores
pondent says there was no agreement be-
tween Russia and Germany and the latter
simply warned Russia when the oecupa-
ton of Kiao-Chou was already decided
upon.
The Novoe Vremya pretends that Japan
has no cause for complaint 'since China is
only giving the same shelter to Russian
ships as Japan had hitherto so kindly af-
forded." This view is not held in Berlin,
where the papers are already talking of
the possibility of Prince Henry having TO
shake his mailed fist at Japan, that is sup
posed 20 be secretly backed up by Eng
land.
iety, but most of them welcome the news
from Port Arthur as justfying the Ger
man position al Kiao Chou, if not as act
ual evidence that Russia and Germany are
acting together Curiousy enough, EN-
peror William visited the Russian ambas-
sador on Friday night on his return from
Kiel, ostensibly 10 congratulate him on the
name day of Emperor Nicholas. The visit
lasted an hour. There is no doubt now
that the emperor and the ambassador dis
cussed Chinese affairs.
The Paris papers, without pretending to
be deceived by Russa's innocent eXpla-
nations, are pleased with the action of the
ally of France.
The burden of Viennese comment is
what will England do?"
The British feet now in Chinese waters
consists of one iron clad, nine cruisers and
eighteen small men-of-war
The Standard, the Daily Telegraph and
other London papers strongly urge the
government to protect Englands interests
in China.