The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-08-09
GLOOMY VIEWS IN CHINA.
Pessism Prevails In Official Circles
Despite MncDonnld's MESSAGE.

New York August s.--A dispatch to the
Tribune from London SAYS: In spite OF
the message received frofa Sir Claude
Macdonald announcing the safety or tae
comparative safety OF the Pekin legations
up to August 8. official circles here are
tull OF pessimism. Gloomy views still
prevail, and 1t is felt even now TO DE
more than doubtful whether the allies can
strike hard and quickly enough 10 save
the ministers.
The publication here OF the latest Con-
ger message confirms this Respondent
opinion. on the other hand 1t is worth
WAio to remember that the British for
eign dice has from the BEGINNING dis
played tendency to look at the worst
SIDE Of the Pekin situation. Ii ulnesi-
tatlngly accepted authentic he reports
from Shanghai and Chee Foo which gave
lurld accounts of the wholesale massacre
OF the foreigners and it seems to have
made W lis mind that its representatives.
had been slaughtered weeks ago.
"A curious example of this despairing
frame Of mind is found in the queens
speech read at the close of the parlia-
mentary session. Her majesty is made
to say that 1t Is a matter of uncerta MY
whether the British minister and his fam
lily have been among the victims OF Chr
nese violence, yet shortly before this doc
ument was submitted Mr. Broderlck read
t. the house of commons cipher dis
patch from Sir Claude which showed that
at any rate the British minister was alive
on Friday last
Outside Of the foreign office there Is
strong hope that the emphatic message
communicated BY Mr. Goodnow from the
United States government may have some
eneGt, Men who know the Chinese and
their methods believe that the mandarins
will deliver up the ministers unframed,
but not until the last moment and when
they see the game of prevarication and
resistance is up.
This would be in accordance with the
attitude Of Ii Hung Chang after the Tien
Tsin massacres OF 1870 and with Celestial
precedent generally. but the experts ad-
nit that the position of the Msnchu and
Tartar fanatics like Ii Ping Heng and
Tung Fuh Slang, at the head of large
bodies OF well armed troops introduces
new factor whose value they are unable
TO estimate.
Nothing is known here officially as TO
the alleged suggestion OF the German
emperor that Count Won Waidersee should
be appointed to the supreme command OF
the allied troops in China. II the pr1po.
sition should be made. II would probab1y
be Welcomed In this country. The British
government Is well aware that no English
general Is a possible candidate for the OF
fee OF generallssimo. and II would as soon
see German officer appointed to the post
as one from any other country. Apart
from this. her maiesty's government Il
extremely anxious just now 70 keep oh
good terms with Germany in the far East
There is considerable seriousness al
Downing street as to the attitude OF
France In regard to the Yang Use valley.
English statesmen will have to move
with great caution OF they intend to as
sert the paramount interests of Great
Britain in Central China without provok.
ing dangerous opposition on the continent
of Europe.
The accounts of the battle OF Pei Tsang
are too fragmentary for military ,hea here
to form an opinion on Il OF any value.
| One distinguished soldier said that he
thought that the stand made by the CNi-
nese would. at any rate give to tie Cor
eign offices a more just appreciation OF
the difficulties encountered by England
| IN South Africa.
The Chinese seem to be adopting Boer
tactics. but fortunately their men are
not Of the fighting quality Of the Trans
vaal burghers.