The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-10-09

to Pekin China's Ov~ertures for
Peace and Promise to Punish the
Princes a Ruse to Gain Tfme-Inham-
matory Imperial Edicrs Issued
Washington, October 5.-The British
government has followed in the foot
steps of n United States in the Chi
nese negotiations 1t has authorized
Sir Claude Macdonald, the British
minister at Pekin. TO enter into reIa-
tons with the Chinese officials, just
as our government did in the case OF
Mr. Conger. II has left TO its minis
ter discretionary power to pass upon
the suficiency of the credentials of
Ii Hung Chang, Prince Ching and the
other Chinese nvO Although the
formal response 20 the last German
proposition has not been returned by
Lord Salisbury, the United States gov
eminent mas beer informed n
though such answer may no De made
at all, being unnecessary in the light
Of the recent developments, yet Sir
Claud Macdonald will be instructed
10 make the same inquiries relative TO
the punishment of the Chinese ring
leaders that have been committed TO
Mr. Conger.
The first practical outcome OF special
Commissioner ROckhiI'S investigation
has been an instruction TO him by the
state department to cooperate with
Minister COnger in the inquiries with
which that official is now charged, rel
atiye 10 the character of the Chinese
ENJOYS and DuniShmentS.
The next step toward the final settle
ment OF the Chinese troubles must
come from Mr.. COnger and his brother
ministers at Pekin. They are charged
now with inquiries into the matter of
punishment which certainly will Oc-
cupy some time and it is not expected
that much Roadway will De made In
other directions until this phase of the
case has been passed.
1t is believed here that the Chinese
government VIII make an earnest eff
fort TO meet the demand of the powers
respecting puniShments. Touching the
French proposals, however, the officials
here a already received intimatiOns
that the Chinese government is prepar-
ing to offer objection to
some of them, notably to the PROPOSE
ciOns looking TO the razing of the Taku
forts and the Introduction of the i'm
p]OrtatiOn of firearms.
EARL Il GOES TO PEKIN.
Tien Tsin. October 8, via Shanghai,
October iii Hung Chang and NJ. de
Giers, the Russian minister to China,
a a lengthy conference today. after
which, il was that Lii Hung
Chang would depart for Pekin tomor-
row Ii Hung Chang will be accom-
panied by the Russian admiral, a Rus
sian general and his own bOdy-guard.
Peaceful conditions prevail
HE failure of the Russians to re-
.o1U6 the railway to Peki is causing
1aLAk mons the commanders of the res
SatiOn OF the line to English owners
for reconstruction and operation.
The sick among the American. are
being sent TO the hospital ship Maine
which Will soon sail for Nagasaki and
Yokohama.
Pekin. October l, via Tien Tsin. Oc-
tOber /. and Shanghai, October "A
small body of imperial troops appear
I'd at Psi Tai Chu yesterday. They
informed the British garrison that
their purpose was To dispense the Box
ers and they were not mOlested by the
British.
Il is announced that the Germans
Will winter 5000 men in Pekin. The
British are reducing their force in
preparation for the winter. One thou
sand coolies will start for India o
and the dia cavalry will probably
be Withdrawn.
The volume of business being done
is steadily increasing, especially in the
Japanese and American districts.
Tien Tsin. October 3.-An order has
been sent to Shanghai for the imme-
date delivery of a plant for the on
structiOn of a branch railroad from
Tang Ho, on the Guf of Lao Tung to
Ching Wan Tao, also for the erection
of a pier to which ships may be moor
ed. 1t IS expected that the work will
be completed within two months, thus
securing facilities for a winter port.
The Germans have demanded pos
session of the railroad between Tien
Tsin and Pekin and the Russians have
agreed 10 let them have 1t. The Ger
mans will shortly begin to repair the
portion of the DAD between Yang
Tsun and Pekin.
RUSSIAN CRUISER ATTACKED.
London, October 6, AIS g.. NIT is
reported in St. Petersburg, according
20 the correspondent of The Times at
the Russian capital, that the Chinese
fleet in Formosa straits attempted to
engage the Russian armOred cruiser
| Rurock, but the latter's speed frus-
, trated the plan. The correspondent
says it is probable that the allied
squadrons Will force the Chinese fleet
to capituGate or will destroy 1t.
CHINA PLAYING FOR TIME.
Shanghai kilograms express the opin-
ion that the object of the recent edicts
regarding the degradation of Chinase
personages OF high rank is merely 10
gain time and 20 enable Chfna to be
in a better position to defy the powers,
as the new capital will be virtually
inaccessible from the coast.
The Shanghai correspondent of The
Morning Post, discussing this aspect
OF the case, remarks: The German
troops have no means OF transport and
-any attempt to follow the Chinese
court would be, therefore, quite futile"
The Times representative at Shang-
hal says: 1T is believed here that
highly infiammatory edicts are being
issued secretly and that the recent
public edicts are only intended to mood
Nink the iOWerS?'