The Globe-republican., 1897-12-23
DIVIDING UP CHINA.
RUSSIA TAKES POSSESSION
OF PORT ARTHUR.
All Earope Watching the Dismember-
mont Of That Empire-EnEl2nd. France
aud japan Expected to Take - Hand
Germany Already Has . Slice.

LONDON. Dec. 20 "A dispatch to the
Standard from Vienna says that 1t is
rumored that the Russians have occu-
pied with military force Port Arthur.
at the extremity of Lao Tong PENN
sula, in China 1t had practically
been in the hands of Russia for some
time After the Japanese evacuated
the port during .he war with China.
Russian engineers began surveying
for the reconstruction of the docks
and forts. which had been destroyed
by the Japanese.
LONDON. Dec 70 kilograms from
all the continental capitals show that
Russias step at Port Arthur is regard
ed As permanent occupation and a
reply to Gernany's action.
According to a dispatch from Shang-
hal, the high officials of the Chinese
court have advised the emperor. in
view of further complications, to re-
ern capitaD The dispatch says that
it is reported there that overtures
have been made to England to eXer-
else protection over the Yang Use val
lev and the West river and that nu-
merOus rumors are current regarding
the activity of the British squadron in
Chinese waters.
The Times. commenting editorially
on the situation in China, says: In
stead of the KaiSer's mailed fist we
have Russias velvet glove; but the
grasp is not less vigorous and unyield-
ing. Great Britain ought now courte-
ously to invite China to extend the
Same privileges to the British fleet at
Chausan."
A we'll in formed st. Petersburg cor
respondent says there was no agree
u,ent between Russia and Germany,
and that the latter simply warned
Russia when the. occupation of Kiao
Chau was already decided upon. The
Novoe Vremia pretends that Japan
has no cause for complaint, ''since
China is only giving the same shelter
to Russian ships as Japan had hitherto
50 kindly afforded"
This view is not held in Berlin.
where the papers are already talking
of the possibility of Prince Henry hav-
ing to shake his mailed fist at Japan,
which is supposed to be secretly
backed up by England. Some of the
Berlin papers express anxiety. but
most of them welcome the news from
Port Arthur as justifying the German
position at KiaoChau. if not as actual
evidence that Russia and Germany are
acting together.
Curiously enough, Emperor William
visited the Russian Ambassador on
Friday night on his return from kiel,
ostensibly to 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 discussed Chinese affairs
A dispatch t. the Times from Shang-
hal says the occupation Of Port Arthur
(by Russia) can not fail to provoke
popular Indignation in Japan, where
public opinion is already excited over
the KiaoChau affair.
The Paris papers, without pretend
ing to be deceived by Russia's inno-
cont explanations. are pleased with
the action of the ally of the French.
The correspondent of the Times at
Fekin says. China approves of the
Russian fleet wintering at Port Ar
thur. being persuaded that this action
is taken in the interest of China and
Decessitated by the German occupa-
ton of Kiao-Chau"