Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-07-21
coming through Chinese sources, with a

coming through Chinese sources. with a
marked degree Of reservation.
II II Is correct that they are safe in
Prince Ching's palace that is cause for
congratulation. for the prince Is well
known to be pro foreign In his ideas. and
his influence in Chinese affairs up to a
recent period has been paramount.
Recent information from { hina has been
to the effect that he had organized a
counter revolution to that conducted by
Prince Tuan and had engaged the re-
bellious forces in Pekin. At one time he
was at the head of the foreign Office. A
short while after the counter revolution
broke out the report came that Prince
Ching had b,en killed.
The understanding Of a well-known
diplomat here Is that the secretary Of the
Belgian legation in China, whom he
knew very intimately. was at last ac-
counts in Pekin. which in his mind threw
an additional element Of doubt over the
accuracy of the report coming from
Brussels. At the same time 1t Is ad-
mitted he might have been at Shanghai
on some business Of the legation.
The statement that the legations had
plenty of provisions on July is at vari-
ance with that contained in a dispatch
received at the japanese legation here
yesterday from Toxic transmitting a re-
port from Baron Nishi, the Japane:e
minister at Pekin, and of whose accuracy
there seems to be no doubt. This said
that the foreign ministers considered 1t
impossible to procure provisions after
that date.
nj OF a.. hnr FAIL tl,ot no
is accurate, placing his reliance on the
wel-known influence. of Prince Ching in
Chinese affairs. He has visited the
princes palace in Pekin. but without the
aid of a map of the city was unable to
definitely locate Its stragetic situa ation IL
i possessed any. 1t Is large building,
and Is surrounded by wall and he does
not think it likely the rebals would have
entered the place We're the prince there.
The reassuring cablegram received by
Minister Wu and laid before the cabinet,
followed by one from Consul Fowler at
Che Foo, supporting the view that the
ministers were safe as late as July 3,
while not con manding general credit in
government circles, yet have undoubt-
edly had quieting influence, which has
been increased by the latest advices Of
the war and navy departments showing
the American losses to have been less
than at first reported. ~ member of the
cabinet said:
1.-The whole situation. 80 far AS our
government Is concerned, boils down to
this-we know almost nothing positively,
except that what started as a big riot
has swelled into wide insurrection. AT
this distance appearances indicate that
the Chinese government has been prac-
tically overthrown, but that probably
60 percent of the Chinese people are loyal
to 1t and have no part in the revolution
ary movement. Now our policy will be
to put into Chinese waters as fast as
possible all the force, naval and mill
tary, which we can spare from other
duty. 1t will tax our transport service
10 the utmost. and will take not less than
q couple of months. This will give us
time to take breath and get our bear
ings. Before we shall have completed
these preparations it is to be presumed
that we shall have definite knowledge
on all questions now uncertain. Sen
sational efforts to goad the adminiStra-
tion into rash steps will not succeed. We
shall strike when the necessity arises,
but not till we know just where blow
will be most felt and what need there Is
for dealing it,
Another cabinet officer said: "There
will be no further Withdrawals from the
Philippines for service in China. That
is the policy determined upon. and that
will be adhered to. General MacAr-
thurs dispatches on the necessity of re-
tanning there all the troops save those
already under orders are clear. 1t
would be unsafe to take any more away"