The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-01
Britain Thought to De Bringing Infu-
ence to Bear on the Tsung-Li-
Yamcn to Gust the Germans.
SEYMOUR EN- ROUTE TO CHINA
WILL TAKE COMMAND oU~THE BRIT
ISH FLEET ON ARRIVAL.
Inspired Utterance of German News
paper That Shows the Vanity of
the Young "yVar Lord"

LONDON, Jan. 1.-The outlook for peace
and good will among the nations on this
first day of A. d. 1898 is not more prom
Using than it was on Christmas. In fact,
the developments of the week. as they APP
peared in the more or less reliable dis
patches frorn the far East, show the stu
alton has grown more critical. The report
ed seizure of Hai-Nan island by the French,
the grab Of Kiaochau bay by the Germans,
the occupation ot Port Arthur and Kinchau
by the Russians and the rumored occupa-
ton of Port Hamilton by the British are
regarded as mere prelsminaries in the COM
ing attempt to divide the Chinese empire.
That Great Britain expects more serious
happenings is evident from the fact that
Vice Admiral Sir Edward Hobart Seymour,
K c. B., who has been appointed COM
mander-in-chief of the war fleet on the Chi
nese station, succeeding Admiral Butler.
has hurriedly started for Hong Kong,
compaEied by his staff. There has been,
however, no confirmation of the report that
the naval reserve forces Will be mobolized.
1t is believed that with the assistance of
the Japanese, who are excited over the sit
uation, Great Britain has sufficient men
and ships in Chinese waters to hold her own
in case of hostilities breaking out.
The Nord Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung of
Berlin announced in big type last night that
Emperor William had arrived Unexpectedly
from Potsdam and had conferred with Prince
Hoheniohe, the chancellor, the inference be-
ing that it was a meeting OF special impor-
lance. The paper also prints the following
evidently inspired aragraph: Whatever
talkative persons may say or write about
Germany's new naval development this
much is certain, that when the muse of his
tory turns the pages headed 1897 she will
pensively linger over the place where, in
shining characters, tbs written Of the land
ing of the Germans on the strand of the
Yellow sea-" There is more of the same
soaring character, indicating its origin. Lib
eral and Radical politicians however, are
bound to confess that enthusiasm for the
navy increases and spreads daily. especially
in Prussia and northern Germany.
According to a special dispatch from
Shanghai, a sudden stifening has taken
place in the attitude of the Tsung-Li-Yamen
toward Germany, resulting in demand for
the evacuation of Kiaochau and leading to
the belief that Great Britain is bringing
pressure to bes- upon Picking
special dispatch from Paris says that
M. Roume, head Of the Asiatic Department
of the French Colonial Office, starts on a
secret mission to China on Sunday in con-
nection with the crisis in the far East. The
dispatch adds that a special military mis-
sion will also start for China shortly
Advices from Picking say: Although de-
sirous of obtaining a British loan, the Chi
nese government refuses to agree to a for
eign control of the internal revenue. either
immediate or in case of default. Ii Hung
t. AZ To Gov
troll of the internal revenues in case
of default In the event of a loan not be-
ing procurabIe China will not pay her
indemnity until 1902, in accordance with one
of the provisions of the treaty of Simon
osold The final decision is postponed until
after the holidays, awaiting a reply from
London. Further German missionary
trouble is reported from the Shan-Tung
province 1t will possibly delay and COM
plicate the negotiations
Another dispatch from Picking says: "Ad-
vices just received from Seoul, the capital
of Corea, says that a compromise has been
effected BY an agreement according to
which Mr.. ]. McLeavy Brown, the British
customs agent, and NJ. Alexieff. the Rus
sian agent to make room for whom Mr..
Brown was removed will work the Co
rean customs together The British war
ships which were present at Chemulpo, the
port of Seoul, are there in order to give
moral support to Mr.. Brown.
The German first-class cruiser Kaiserin
Augusta arrived yesterday at Kiaochau
bay.
A dispatch from ST Petersburg says that
on Thursday Emperor Nicholas granted an
audience to the Chinese minister plenipo
tertiary, Yang Yu, who handed the Gear a
personal letter from the Emperor of China
1t is reported there that the conversation
turned on the proposed Chinese loan.
The ST Petersburg Herald announces that
some Russian vessels have left Po. Ar
thur and gone into harbor at Talien-Wan
with China's consent the harbor at Port
Arthur being too small for the free move
ment of the Russian vessels.
The official newspapers Of Paris still in
sist that the reports of French occupation
of Hai-Nan island by Admiral De la Bedol-
liere are absolutely unfounded.
FEELING IN JAPAN.