New-York tribune., 1900-08-08

hour Mr. Brodrict could neither confirm nor
deny the news of the battle of Pei-Tsang, ana
as matter of fact Downing Street has heard
nothing from its official representatives beyond
the brief intimation of the British Consul at
Tien-Tsin that the advance of the allied troops
pegan Saturday This. of course. is consistent
with the reports of great battle on Sunday. in
which 10000 OF the allies said To have been
engaged Little doubt is entertained that II
such force did move forward the Chinese must
have retired before IL; but military men who
know the East find Il difficult TO believe that the
allies could have lost as many as 100 killed
and wounded. unless there was some misman-
agement or blundering. That the Chinese army
is wen intrenched and armed with good modern
weapons and can make formidable resistance
IL il pleases. nobody now doubts.
BRITISH WARNING TO CHINA.
With regard TO the legations. II is known also
from the British Consul at Tien-Tsin that they
were safe as late August l. The Tsung-h-
Yamen's communication to the Foreign Office as
to the friendly relations prevailing between the
besleged Ministers and the Chinese authorities
is taken for what il is worth. Her Majestys
Government has replied indirectly to this equiv
ocal message by causing these same Chinese
authorities to be informed through Shanghai
that they will be held personally responsible IL
the members of the legations other British
subjects at Picking are injured.
There IS strong feeling in some quarters here.
and expression given TO it in the House or
Commons yesterday that beginning should be
made in the game Of taking hostages from the
Chinese by the immediate arrest of Ii Hung
Chang. On the other hand. 1T is urged that Ii
is himself object OF suspicion and dis
like 20 the fanaticaI anti-foregn party, Of which
the rufian Ii Ping Heng is the chief, and that
his seizure would therefore produce little eff
feet on the Manchu clique at Peking. 1t might
even do more harm than good, since IL might
alarm and discourage the southern and central
Viceroys who have held aloof from the extreme
faction at the capital and have shown an in
clination TO protect the foreigners IL they are
certain Of European support The Foreign or
fee while profoundly distrusting Ii Hung
Chang, is anxious to work with the Governors
Of the Yangtse provinces long as possible
INDIA MAY BEAR THE BURDEN.
Whatever may happen in North China. the
British Government is determined to act with
vigor in the central region. The two additional
Indian brigades which have been ordered to be
modified at once Will both, in all probability,
disembsrk at the mouth Of the Yangtse-kiang.
The second of these brfgades Will include con-
tingent Of what is called Imperial Service troops
by which is meant the regiments drilled and
organized by English officers, but maintained by
native Indian feudatory princes 1t is signih-
cant that the detachments now ordered from
India consist entirely Of Asiatc troops. The
British garrison has been already so seriously
depleted that 1t is not considered safe to di-
Ininish 1t further for the present. Many Anglo
Indians indeed. believe that it is already too
much attenuated. and are appalled, at the re-
sponsibility OF practically taking over a pro-
tectorate of the Yangtse Valley, area nearly
as populous as India itself
II is not certain that the British claim to ad-
Just matters within this sphere will be admitted
by the Continental Powers There are hints.
both from Berlin and St. Petersburg, that the
German and Russian governments are prepared
TO take a share in defending their subjects
and their commercial interests IN Central as well
as in Northern China I. N. F.