The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1900-08-03

Provinces Evidence of an Inn
pending Struggle. tH..+
London, July 27.-Mr. Conger's let
ter, the substance Of which has been
transmitted to the United States secre-
tary of the navy through Capt. Thorn
as, of the United States cruiser Brook
Ign, has increased the belief in London
that there is no hope for the foreign lie.
cations in Picking, and that the elab-
crate fabric of the dispatches which
the Chinese are building to persuade
the civilized world that the ministers
are still alive is only intended to en-
able them to gain time to complete
preparations for warfare. The Shang.
hal correspondent of the Daily Mail
asserts that a Chinaman who was em-
ployed at the British legation as n
writer and interpreter, has escaped
from Picking to Niu Chwang, and that
he declares that at the time he left
| Peking most Of the
LeEationerx Were Dead
and the condition of the others was
| hopeless. He says that Sir Robert
| Hart, director of the Chinese imperial
maratime customs, died on July 2. The
correspondent goes on to say: mo
other dates are given in the message
from Niu Chwang. The leading Chi
Iese newspaper here published yester-
day a dispatch declaring that it was
all over with the members of the le-
cations"
The president of minor board a.
| Picking wrote to relative in Shang-
hal, under date Of July 8, saying: THE
foreign legations are still uncaptured,
but, owing to the daily fighting it is
reported that only about 800 persons
are left alive in the legations, and il
there is any delay in the arrival of the
force I fear
None Will BE Left
to receive it, This letter is regarded
in Shanghai as authentic. Strange
enough it says nothing of any assis-
lance to the legations by Prince Ching
or Gen. Yung Lu.
| While these brief side lights as to
the fate of the Europeans leave little
ground for hope Shanghai sends a
batch OF reports indicative of prepare
lions for hostilities on the part of the
Chinese. 1t is alleged that Yang-tse
viceroys have sent deputies to Shang-
hal to inquire as to the prospect of
raising a foreign loan ostensibly to
pursue military operations against the
Boxers, whose movement is extending
rapidly southwark With constantly
growing strength and had reached
point where the provinces of Shang-
tung, Heo-han and Shangsi meet, leav-
| ing behind it
Trail of Burned Missions
and murdered Christians. Simultan-
eously there is a movement northward
of Southern Chinese troops to join the
main army gathered to oppose the for
eign advance on Picking. The strength
Of this principal force is now estima-
ted at 100000 men. 1t is believed that
another two or three weeks must
elapse before the Chinese preparations
are completed. These signs of trouble
n the southern provinces are coinci-
dent with Ii Hung Chang's presence
In Shanghai. They are supposed to be
the beginning of a general declaration
against foreigners. In this connection
the Canton correspondent of the Daily
| Telegraph, wiring Tuesday, sends the
| following important news: "Viceroy
Ian sSu SSStCIuoS lLc Iva.
lowing mandate: AN important inn
day Of the sixth moon. 1t says: We
HIVE Lost Tfen-tsfn
and great precautions are taken in Pc
king. No peace can be obtained with
out going through war. In the time
of Chung an agreement was made
that no murder can be inflicted upon
ministers from abroad. 1t is a month
since the minister of Germany was
assassirated by Boxers, and strict or
ders~hav been given for the arrest Of
the murderers; we are trying our ut
most to preserve the lives of the 9TH
er ministers, and they are still in Pc
king. We fear that the viceroys and
governors may misunderstood the in
tention Of the decree, relying on the
safety of these ministers as grcand
for making peace, and taking no care
whatever to prepare for attack and
defence. The neglect to fortify the
districts under their jurisdiction will
Bring Endless Calamities.
Viceroys and governors are to pay all
attention to and urge on preparations
for coast attack and defense, and they
are to take the consequences in case
OF any territory being lost entirely
through their delay and mismanage-'
ment.'
1.-The Europeans here understand
thoroughly the last part of the edict,
which means that the viceroys and
governors are commanded by the en-
press dowager to prepare for Chi.
nese war against the allied powers.
| viceroy TAX Su is bitterly anti-for-
eign and he is increasing his army and
ornaments, military and marine. His
plans will be unmasked shortly after
the allied powers ascertain definitely
the facts concerning the massacre at
| Picking. The Cantonese are daily be.
coming more and more hostile and the
Situation IL Critical,
| Business is almost at standstill and
leprosy and plague claim fresh victims
daily" i 5 ssS
According to the Shanghai correspon-
dent OF the Daily Telegraph III Hung
i fc rociH{v,r o% -