The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-06-13
THE CRISIS
IN CHINA
Situation is Black and
Alarming.
A BATTLE IN PEk|NG
Foreign Troops Landing = Russia
May Call Out an Army--Iapan
! May Fight.

WASHINGTON, June 5.-The situa-
ton in China has now reached a critical |
point. as shown by the dispatches re-
ceived today from Minister Conger at |
PeKng apd Rear Admiral Kempff at |
Taku. Ktmpff cabled the Secretary of |
the Navy this afternoon that Engage |
ment has begun. Have landed so more |
seamen. More battalion of marines"
He also called for a gunboat and bat
talon of marines. This morning Secre-
tad-y Hay received a dispatch from Con-
ger. saying the situation had grown
more serious, and that the Boxers were
trying to attack the city. Rear Ad-
miral Kempff's dispatch was in cipher
and was not quite clear. He gave no de-
tails to indicate what forces were en-
gagged.
State Department officials incline to
the belief that the engagement refers to
an attack on Peking, which was fore
shadowed by Conger's dispatch Secre-
tary, Long has cabled Rear Admiral
keWpf for more specific information.
II the gunboat Helena is available at
Manila it viii doubtless be sent, as 1t,
was built especially for Chinese waters.
Drawing but nine feet Of water, 1t can
go up the J'ei-ho to Tien-Tsin, the head
of navigation, from which point Picking
lis reachet. In diplomatic circles the
situation Is Viewed as extremely grave,
inasmuch as the indications are now
: strong that the Chinese Empire is about
to be cut up
The break in the Admirars cablegram
is caused by an illegible group of fig
ures. Reading in one light 1t would
, seem that the Newark has landed fifty
sailors to re-enforce the marines al
, ready ashore, and in another aspect the
gap might be read to state that fifty
I sailors had been landed with another
e battalion OF marines. The Admirars
1 news is regarded as of the utmost grav-
= ity. Secretary Long has cabled him tc
: send his messages hereafter in plair
n English.
Russia Sends Troops.
n LONDON, June 6-The Daily Elk.
$ press has n dispatch from Shanghai
y troops have been ordered from Port Ar
# thur to the neighborhood of Peking tC
e punish the Boxers for killing two Cos
sacks and wounding two"
BERLIN, June 5.-The latest new.
regarding the Boxers has reached here
by private and official kilograms, al
r of which say the situation is black anc
alarming. The German Foreign Office
O considers encounter between the Box
: ers and Russians an event probably
fraught with the greatest danger. New.
o has also reached here that several Ger
g man and Catholic missions in the prov
. 1nces of Shantung have been pillaged BY
= mobs, supposed to have been melted BY
j. the Boxers agitation.
f NEW YORK, June 5.-A cable to tht
O sun from Paris says: China is absorb
ing diplomatic attention at present
{ Nine kilograms from Peking We're re
# ceived at the Foreign Office today
q Fears are now entertained that tn,
Boxers will besiege that city. 1t is re
ported that the Boxers a month agl
: numbered 100000. 1t is considered likely
: that Russian troops from Port Arthur
d VIII proceed by way of Tien-Tsin anC
occupy Peking. Russian initiative Il
20 viewed with mixed feelings by French
It dfplomatists. Russia represents con
l. servative Chinese ideas, as opposed t,
the open-door policy, and consequently
:, though France is Russia's close ally
u difhculty is experienced in backing he
d up thoroughly in the leading role she i
assuming.
France will, therefore, probabl,
strengthen her garrisons in China con
Il siderably while awaiting developments
,r French agents in China have given tn
% impression, which is surely erroneous
that the United States is engrossed II
PhlilDDinaS init faH
n events in China.
a A French diplomatist today informe
So the correspondent of the Sun that tn
- original outbreak of Boxers occurred /
W province within the German sphere @
Is influence. The trouble was probabl
pa owing to the brutal treatment of tn
coolies employed in railway construc
'h ton. Serious fears are entertained fo
er the lives of the missionaries and con
verts and two vicarists in Shantun
province.
The Foreign Office has notified til
so press that though apparent calm ma
t. been restored in China through tn
es landing OF foreign troops at Tien-Tsi
and the sending of them to Peking tn
u situation has really changed seriousl
r. for the worse in the last three days.
ed LONDON, June 6.-The Berlin corr,
es spondent of the Daily Chronicle say,
In official circles here it is believed tn;
eu the situation in China has grown wors
.e, Inc powers are now exchanging di
eu patches regarding the appointment of
D. single commander of the united Eur
~ pean and American squadron
ial Tlen-Tsin's Critical Position.
~ LONDON, June ga dispatch to Il
d. Daily Mail from Tien-Tsin, dated Jul
4th, says: The situation is very seriou