The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1900-09-05
China is AnxiousIy Working TO
Secure Evacuation.
POWERS ARE STILL UNDECIDED
Japan Papers Unreservedly Condemn
Idea of Evacuating Pekin, and Hint
at an Understanding Between
Germany and Russia

London, Sept. s, 4:15 a. m.-Todays dis
patches from Shanghai and Tien Tsin refer
to hopeless confusion and mismanagement
of the Chinese telegraph system, which may
probably account in part for the delay In
getting news from Pekin. Another reason
for the delay doubtless is the anxiety of
the Chinese authorities to procure the evac-
uation of the capitol. No effort is being
spared by them to bring this about. Their
idea Is that should the foreign ministers In
Pekin be allowed free communication with
their government, the full extent of the
completely of the Chinese government In
the anti-foreign outrages would be revealed
and would lead the allies to decide to re-
main until retribution had been exacted. All
kilograms have to be conveyed by courier
from Tsi Nan Flu to Pelin, and probably
all cipher dispatches have been stopped.
According to Shanghai advices Ii Hung
Chang wired the Chinese minister in Lon
don, Sir Shi shen Lo Feng Luh. as fol-
lows:
Our st. Petersburg minister has per-
suaded Russia to leave Pekin. You are USE
less If you cannot persuade England"
It is asserted that Earl Ii has promised
Russia three Manchuran provinces II she
w
of Pekin and favorable peace terms from
the powers. Both the Empress Dowager
and Lii Hung Chang are said to be lavish
Ing money to attain these objects.
No Sign of "a Decision
There is no sign as yet of a decision on
the part of the powers regarding the pro-
posals. The Japanese papers unreseryed-
ly condemn the idea of evacuating Pekin
and hint that there is a secret compact
between Germany and Russia to the detri-
ment of Great Britain and Japan.
The Moscow correspondent of the Stand
ard referring to the horrible accounts of
Russian brutality at Blagovetschensk after
the bombardmentl says:
1T Is reported that the Cossacks merci-
lessly butchered men, women and children
In the villages the Amur river and
flung their corpses into the stream. These
stories are confirmed by an official order
just issued, couched in mild tone, ad-
mitting the massacres, which are de-
scribed as caused by evaporation against
the Chinese for beginning hostilities and
threatening the utmost severity of mar
tial law for any future violence to un-
armed, peaceful Cinnamon, at the same
time ordering the police throughout the
Amur district to compel the town and
country populations to drag Chinese
corpses out of the rivers and bury them
or burn them in order to prevent an out
break of infection"
The correspondent adds:
This order reads like a free warrant
for the massacre of any Cinnamon whom
Cossacks may provoke into a quarrel or
prove to be in possession of arms"
Under the Empress Thumb
Proof that Emperor Kwang Su Is still
under the thumb of the Empress Dowager
is supplied by the Shanghai correspondent
of the Times, who wires:
An imperial edict dated August 10,
while en- route for Tai Yuen Fu addressed
to Ii Hung Chang, in the Emperor's name,
explains that, in view of the dangers of
foreign assault upon Pekin, the Emperor
felt 1t his duty to comply with the views
of the Empress and accompany her west
ward.
Now, fearing that the powers are in
censed and unwilling to propose a peaceful
settlement, the Emperor orders Ii Hung
Chang to use every endeavor to open ne
gotiations. He praises Earl Lis faithful
service to the dynasty and assures him of
imperial gratitude.
Another imperial edict issued from
Shan 81 August 20, and more conciliatory,
urges provincial viceroys to safeguard their
territory and bids the Yang Use viceroys
to continue the policy of securing protec-
ton for missionaries and merchants and
of maintaining the general sense of secur-
ity."
Hong Kong dispatches report persistent
rumors of an approaching anti-foreign ris-
ing, and there is much uneasiness there.
Ii Hung Chang's protege, Ma Kien, died
at Shanghai Monday.
The Russian forces in Manchuria are
now moving on Kiran, an important stra-
tegical port, where there is a large arsenal.
When Kiran has been captured they will
occupy Muchden, capital of Leio Tong.
six msnths rations for the British
force" says the Tien Tsin correspondent
of the Standard wiring August N, ARE
neing forwarded to Pekin." Newspaper
correspondents are seriously handicapped
hy the bad arrangement of the Chinese
telearaphs Messages have been obtained
and tampered with and nothing has been
safe unless mailed to Shanghai.
Fate of the Mail Bag
good deal of curiosity Is felt here
regarding the fate of the mail bag con-
taining official and press dispatches de-
scribinR the entry into Pekin, which was
sent by an admiral to Che Foo in Russian
eunboat and Ia reported not to have been
received there.
1.-The proceedings of the Russians around
Pekin are watched with some anxiety.