The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1900-07-19
HARD TASK FOR CHRISTEND0M.
Admiral BeIknap Says the Situation is
Most Gloomy.

Most Gloomy.
Boston. Mass. July 12-The allied
powers will require 100000 soldiers
in order To force their way into
Pekin, according To statement
made today by Rear Admiral Geo.
f. Belknap. L. : " (retired.)
1T is evident. said Admiral Bel
knap, that the Chinese have been pre-
pairing for this struggle. Hatred Of
foreigners without, doubt, is at the
bottom of it. What could be expect
ed. when for years European papers
have been filled with columns of mat
ter ON the one subject Qf cutting up
the Chinese empire? Wasn't it enough
10 arouse a people that possessed any
spirit at all? Surprising that the
Europeans had been discussing a di-
vision of the United States in that
WY. What would be the result?
The Chinese were IA weak people up
to the time of the war with Japan.
They learned their weakness then
They saw that what they needed was
discipline. drill and arms When that
war ended they set to work to rene
dy their weakness. They purchased
large quantities. of arms in Europe
and in the United States. Then they
cot instructors from Germany. /
think likely that some of these in
structors came from France, too.
CHINA LEARNS ITS STRENGTH.
Now. the result of all this is simply
that he nations of Europe are reap
ing the reward of teaching the Chinese
their own strength. The Chinese are
not IA cowardly people when they are
properly organized and disciplined.
They are absolutely without fear OF
death. Why, when | was in China. it
was commonly known that a China
man would submit To having his head
cut off for Il consideration of 300
taels paid to his family. You can
readily see that II people 400, 900, 900
strong, with this fearlessness Of
death, can make ii mighty interest
inc for big army.
If the movement now going on III
China is eeneral-and the reports are
so conflicting that ii is impossible to
discern the true situation there-it
would require all Europe to subdue
the country. The Chinese could lose
1000, 900 men and not feel it at all:
and that number of organized, arm
ed and brave troops could do an
enormous amount OF damage before
being destroyed. The nations have
a big job on their hands in China.
That goes without saying.
Ii it is true that the boxers and the
imperial troops have combined and
are working in unison. it will require,
i'll my opinion. 100000 soldiers to
force the way to Pekin. and it would
require desperate fighting, too.
JAPAN's PREPAREDNESS.
The Japanese are the best fitted
nation to do the work They under
stand the Chinese best They have
fought with them and know their
ways. Besides, they are so close to
the Chinese territory that little time
would be wasted in the transporta
ton of troops and supplies. Then
the Japanese are a very brave peO-
Pile. They are the most martial peo-
pie in the world. They are better
fitted for the work of bringing order
out OF the present chaotic state in
China than any troops III the world.
There is no doubt that the Chinese
are thoroughly aroused. 1t is scarce
" to be wondered at Surprising
that China should send several thous-
and Buddhist missionaries TO this
country and endeavor to maintain
them here by force of arms for thu
conversion OF our people. Would we
submit To it? Well. il that not the
present situation in China? They do
not appear to be ready to accept the
Christ of our religion.
Il think the dispatches from China
to-day give grounds for fearing the
worst at Pekin. II the dispatches are
true in stating that Sir Robert Hart
sent message last month. declaring
that the end of the legations was
near, the worst must be- expected He |
has been at the head of the Chinesa
finances for some years. and under |
stands the Chinese better. perhans