Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-12-23
DIVIDING UP CHINA.
RUSSIA TAKES POSSESSION
OF PORT ARTHUR.
All Europe watching the DIsmember-
ment OF That Empire-England, France
and Japan Expected to Take Hand
-Germany Already Has - Slice.

and Japan Expected to Take a Hand
-Germany Already Has Slice.
LONDON. Dec. 20 "A dispatch to the
Standard from Vienna says that it Is
rumored that the Russians have occu-
pied with military force Port Arthur,
at the extremity of Lao Tong penin-
sula, in China. 1t had practically
bedn in the hands of Russia for some
time After the Japanese evacuated
the port during the war with China,
Russian engineers began surveying
for, the reconstruction of the docks
and forts, which had been destroyed
by the Japanese.
LONDON, Dec. 20 kilograms from
all the continental capitals show that
Russias step at Port Arthur is regard
ed as a permanent occupation and
reply to Germany's action,
According to dispatch from Shaug-
hal, the high officials of the Chinese
court have advised the emperor, in
view of further complications, to re-
move the court TO Ranking (the south
ern capitaI. The dispatch says that
it is reported there that oyertures
have been made to England to eXer-
else protection over the Yang Use val
ley 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 Russia's velvet glove; but the
grasp is not less vigorous and unyield-
ing. Great Britain ought now courte-
ously to invite China to extend tue
same privileges to the British fleet at
Chsusan."
A we'll informed St Petersburg cor.
respondent says there was no agree
ment 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
so 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 Kiao. Chau, 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,
ostcnsibly 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 to 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 Kiao-Chau affair
The Paris papers, without pretend.
ing to be deceived by Russia's inno-
cent 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 feet wlntering at Port Ar
thur, being persuaded that this action
is taken in the interest of China and
necessitated by the German ocoupa-
ton of Kiao-C hau.