Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-07-12
CHINA NEWS AT WASHINGTON.
Still Clinging to the Ray of Hop
that Some Are Alive.

still CliRging to the Ray of Hope
that Some Are Alive.
Washington, July S.-An important
dispatch to the state department fIom
Consul General Goodnow has revived
hope in a measure that the legation
ers, or at least some of them, are still
alive in Pekin. Having survived at
least two weeks longer than was sup
posed to be possible, and certainly be-
ing alive five days ago, the unfortunate
ministers and their stats and guards
may be still holding out. In fact, if
the only active enemy they have now
to face is starvation, as Consul Gen
eral Goodnow indicates, the officials
believe there is substantial ground for
the hope that they may hold out, and
that the horrible stories of the last few
days from Shanghai ofnameless crimes
and m~assacres committed upon the le-
gationers are at least premature. One
certain effect of Consul General Good
now's dispatch will be to cause the Of
ficials here, and without doubt. the
European governments, to redouble
their eXertions to push forward a
force to Pekin.
The Hope is i'm japan.
The main hope for speedy action is
still in Japan. According to the Japa-
nese legation here, which has late adj
vices from Toxic, $4,000 japanese sol
diers are now on Chinese soil. If this
report is true, then the japanese gov
eminent has accomplished more. than
was expected, and the officials here see
no reason why the advance on Pekin
should not begin Immediately. II is
said Japan is not expected to make
this campaign single handed, The in
ternational forces at Taku and TEN
Tsin will cooperate to the utmost
with the japanese army corps In the
movement on Pekin. What form hat
cooperation shall take is not known
now, such details are left to the com.
manders in the field.
Japan VIII be Compensated.
It is said that Japan is to be COM
pensated for the work she is about to
undertake in the common cause. Her
military preparations + very extern
sive and the campaign is certain to in
Volve heavy cost. 1t would be unjust
to expect Japan to meet this herself.
She has no missionaries in Cnina, and
consequently is perhaps less interested
selfishly than any of the powers iu the
terrible happenings in Shan Tung and
Pekin. It is conjectured that this ques-
ton of compensation is after all what
has caused the apparent delay in the
resumption of the campaign against
Pekin, but it is believed that this hav-
ing now been adjusted, military opera
lions will progress rapidly.
If the powers have agreed upon the
form japanese indemnity is to assume,
the facts can not be elected here. The
impression, however, is there will be
a money indemnity, the relief being
based on the fac that such is the only
form Of indemnity so far suggested
that would be the least likely to arouse
international jealousies. Either China
itself or the powers collectively
would have to provide for the payment
of this indemnity, though even in the
first case it is probable that the pow
ers' contribution would be il the ma
ture of a loan, and in the end China
would be obliged to make good the
advance through some form of taxa
xinn