The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-05
Tho CHINESE sIruArIoN ALARMING

The CHINESE SITUATION ALARMING
The situation in China is such as to
cause the governments of all of the
! Christian nations intense anxiety and
alarm. Pekin is in the hands of the Box
ers and their purpose is to kill every for
eigner in that city. They have killed the
German minister, and according 10 the
| dispatches published this morning they
have killed the ministers of all of the
| other Christian governments and all the
| other foreigners there II Prince
Tuan. who is at the head of the Boxer
Society. and who is virtually dictator at
Pekin. is permitted TO have his way for
little while longer it will be difficult TO
prevent the massacre of all missionaries
and other foreigners, together with the
native Christians throughout the greater
part OF the empire. The viceroys are
trying to maintain order in the southern
provinces, but if Prince Tuan is success
full at Pekin for short time longer, his
policy Of exterminating all forelgner will
be successful
The foreign powers have about 1900
men at Tien Tsin, and the number is be-
ing increased all the time by fresh arri-
walls. The allied forces have not dared
TO march to the relief of the ministers at
Pekin because of the very large Chinese
army that blocks the way. 1t would be
folly to attempt 90 reach the Chinese
capital with an inadequate force. Adj
miral Seymour's experience was a warn
ing that will be needed. Capt. McCalla
Is of the opinion that it will take an
army of 10000 men to reach Pekin. 1t
will be a month before a force of that
size can be collected at Tien Tsin, unless
dependence is placed almost wholly on
Japan. The disposition now seems to be
to let Japan furnish the greater part of
the troops required for the movement on
Pekin.
The German Emperor is very much
wrought up over the assassination of the
German minister. He purposes TO throw
large army into China and make that
country pay dearly for the insult to the
German flag. The governments of the
other Powers will feel pretty much the
same way II their ministers have been,
or shall be, assassinated.
All of the Powers are disturbed by the
fear that if they send large forces to
China that empire may become the the
alter of a great war between them. While
they may get along together until the
safety of all of the foreigners that have
not been murdered has been secured, 1t
is about certain that they will not be
able fO q IN xxyba
pursued after the object which caused.
them to send armies to China has been
accomplished. One Power will want TO do
one thing and another will insist upon
doing another thing. Some will take the
position that the empire should be dis
membered while others will take a stand
In favor of preserving its integrity Sew
eral Of the Powers now have what they
call spheres of influence in China which
they are anxious to enlarge To them
the present disturbances will seem to
offer the very best opportunity possible
for accomplishing their object
Thus far the United States have taken
the position that a state of war with
China does not yet exist-that the Chi
nese government is still trying to keep its
obligations to foreign governments, but
has not been able to do so, because of
the strength of the rioters Assuming
that this view is the correct one, it is
evident that if the peace and commerce
of the country are to be preserved a
stronger power than the government
must take control of affairs. If
the foreign governments which are
interested in China should establish a
protectorate over the empire 1t is
probable that that settlement would
not be a lasting one. The half
dozen or more Powers that would
be interested In the protectorate would
not get along together any more than
England, Germany and the United States
were able to agree in their management
of Samoa.
That the question which China pre-
sents is a serious one there is no doubt.
The government of the United States and
OF European countries see and appre-
ciate its difficulties. They recognize the
fact that in order to effect a satisfactory
settlement of 1t the ablest kind of di-
plomacy will be required. A failure to
reach any agreement in regard to it