The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-07-09
sir Robert Harris Dispatches Regard
the Worst Has Not Happened.
PRINCE CH1NG's COUNTER MOVE
VIEWED AS AN IMPORTANT DEvEL-
OPMENT IN THE TROUBLE.
Japan's Military Prerarations-Appea
from New York Chinese to Their
Countrymen I'm Canton.

hopeful feeling for the safety of the lega-
TONERS I'm Peking is apparent in official
circles tonight. The hope is not founded
on any official dispatches which have
reached the State Department, as nothing
has been received during the day from the
consular representatives of the United
States in China. The cumulative state
ments, however, which are daily printed
from various portions of the empire re-
porting the diplomatic corps, with the ex-
ception of the German minister, as safe
up TO within a certain specified time, to-
gether with the absence of any corrobo-
rative proof of their murder is partially
responsible for the slight hope which pre-
walls that the ministers are yet alive. The
statements purporting to come from Sir
Robert Hart, the English Chinese inspec-
tor of customs, are regarded as the best
information which has been received While
showing that conditions were desperate
the dispatches have not been entirely with
out hope.
Mr. wu. the Chinese minister. continues
| optimistic in spite of the alarming state
ments which have appeared. Such recent
| communications as he has had with the
| officials of the southern provinces leads
| him to believe that up to very recent
| date the legationers were still safe.
| Considerable Importance is attached here
| to the telegraphic announcement that
| Prince Ching is leading counter revolu-
| ton against the rebels in Peking. The
prince is the head of the Tsung Lii Yamen.
| the Chinese Foreign Office, and the COM
mander of a garrisoned force in the capital.
| His influence is said to be considerable.
| and the fact, IL the report be confirmed,
| that he has espoused the cause of the gov
| ernment of the Empress and that the loyal
troops are with him. it is said. may pre-
vent further murder and pillage by the
| rebels and in this indirect manner may be
the means of aiding the foreigners. The
| prince is member of the Reform party.
| Now that the powers are satisfied for ia
| pan to supply the major portion of the
| troops which to be sent to Peking for
| the relief Of the foreigners, the expecta-
| ton is that the onward movement of Jap
anese soldiers to China will soon begin, if,
| indeed. it already has not done Mr..
Nabeshima, the japanese charge d affaires
| here, thinks that this is probably the case.
/ as his dispatch from the imperial govern
| ment received here several days ago an
| nounced that the movement would begin
Immediately. A full corps Of men is to be
dispatched, which will bring Japan's army
footing in China up to about 1900 men.
| The part of the army to be sent is known
| as the Fifth Army Corps, and thirty-fve
| ships, each of more than $500 tons, are to
| be used in the transportation. Mr.. Nabe-
shima firmly believes that within ten days
the relief corps will be in Pekng. The
| march to Peking, he thinks, can be made
in three days without great difficulty. His
opinion is that the allied forces will remain
| at Taku and at Tien-Tsin to guard the
forts and to keep open the line of commu-
nication, and that to the japanese army
will be delegated the duty of iorcing the
relief of the foreigners in Peking. OF this
however, he has no official information. II
the allied forces were to make the attempt
they would want TO carry with them ra-
tions In large quantities, peculiarly adapted
TO their mode of living, which might en-
barrass them in their progress, while the
japanese, whose diet consists. in part, al
least, of rice would not be so hampered
and could subsist largely on the country
through which they pass. For these rea.
sons he inclines to the opinion that the
japanese will undertake the relief work
Nothing came to the Navy Department
to-day from China that was made public
Late tonight a dispatch was received from
one of the naval officers, but as il was in
cipher and did not concern the legation:
in Peking the decision was reached not Il
| make ii public until Tomorrow