The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-28
kinchau, IA Walled City at the Head
of the Gulf of LiaO-Tung, Occu-
pied by the Czar's Marines.
OF GREAT STRATEGIC VALUE
RUSSIA NOW IN A POSITION TO DEFY
ALL OTHER POWERS.
Review OF the Various Moves on the
Chinese Chess BOard-Demand for
Removal of Sir Robert Hart.

LONDON, Dec 2S-The game of grab
now being played by Germany, Russia,
Great Britain and Japan in China reached
the fifth move yesterday. The nations en-
gagged in the game arc remaking maps, and
therefore move more slowly than the eX-
perts who sit at a table and handle au-
tomatons in a brain-racking tourney. The
territory grabbers also have more at stake
than the Steinitzs, Pillsburys and other
masters; besides, political chess is a more
difficult game. AS noted some time ago,
Germany made the first move on the Chi
nese board by taking Kiaochau bay. and
soon astonished the Emperor of the Celes-
tials by a second grab in the shape of 600
square miles of territory adjoining Kiao-
chau bay. Then Russia virtually took pos
session Of Port Arthur a winter rendez-
vous for her war ships. Saturday last
Great Britain and Japan took their turn
in the game, and checkmated the Car III
his attempt to completely Russianize Corea.
The Car had induced the King of Corea
to dismiss the British official in charge OF
the customs service and appoint Russian
in his stead. Suddenly seventeen English
war vessels appeared off Chemulpo, the sea-
port of Seoul, capital of Corea, and de-
manded the reinstatement of the customs
officer. Not far away were thirty Japanese
war ships, ready to back UP the British
ultimatum. The King of Corea did not hes
itate, for before the first wave of consterna-
ton had passed over his capital the Brit
Usher was put back in office.
Yesterday Russia made the fifth move,
and it was successful. Early in the day
the Cars war ships appeared off Kinchau
some distance north of Port Arthur, land
ed marines and took possession of the city.
Kinchau is a walled city at the head OF
the Gulf of Liao-Tung, and 1t commands the
mouth of the river Yaloo, where the great
naval battle between the Japanese and
Chinese was fought, and the other impor-
tant rivers which flow into the gulf. 1t is
about equi-dstant between the mouth OF
the Yaloo river and the terminus of the
great wall of China. 1t commands the rail-
way system recently constructed from Ilen-
Tsn to the capital of Manchuria, and is
of prominent Importance as a strategic po-
sition.
The Daily Chronicle asserts that the nego.
tiations with Germany on behalf of the
Chinese government are no longer being
conducted by Ii Hung Chang, but by Chang
Yin Huan, who represented the Chinese En-
peror at the Diamond jubilee to the Queen.
1t is reported at Odessa that two first,
class cruisers, with large number of extra
Marines have been ordered to join the Rus
sian squadron in Chinese waters.
Sir Robert Hart May BE Forced Out.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 27.--W. r. Curtis,
the well-known correspondent of the Chi
cago Record, says: THE kilograms from
China to the newspapers report that the
! Cars government has demanded the dis
missal of Sir Robert Hart, the Engishman
who has had charge of the Chinese customs
for many years, and the installation of a
Russian in his place This rumor may have
been suggested by the dismissal of the Eng
lish1nan who was in charge of the Corean
customs service, but the Car has the same
reasons for wanting to get rid of Sir Robert
Hart because his influence with the Chi
nese government is greater than that of any
other foreigner. and it is important that the
Czar should have man that he can control
in charge of the Chinese finances. Sir
Robert Hart has been employed by China
for more than thirty years. During the Tai
ping rebellion the treaty ports at which for
eigners were allowed to reside were occu-
pied alternately by the rebels and the gov
ernment forces, and whichever happened
to be in town seized the custom houses and
collected the revenues, and at the same time
each forbade importers to pay duty to the
other. In order to protect themselves the
consular officers of the United States and
the European governments instructed the
merchants not to pay duty to either, and
organized a temporary customs service of
foreigners, who collected the duties and de-
posted them in bank for the benefit of
the government when the war was over. At
that time and in that manner the present
customs service of China was organized.
When the rebellion was finally put down the
government had the good sense TO let it
alone, and hence the import duties have
since been collected by foreigners. Sir
Robert Hart has about seven hundred
foreign devils in his employ. majority
of them are Englishmen, but there are
twenty or thirty Americans, and nearly
every other civilized nation is represented y
Russia May Now Defy the World
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 27.-Eli Il. Shep-
pard. who recently returned from China
where he held an official position, comment
ing on the reported occupation of Kiaochau
bay by Russia, said to-day: 'The seizure
of the place shows that Russia has prac-
tically taken possession of Corea, Manchu-
ria and the Gulf of LiaoTung, and pos
sesses a significance which will cause con-
sternation among the diplomats in the old
world. Its situation is such that it's pos
session practically places Russia in po-