The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-07-26
CHINA EVIDENTLY
PREPARING FOR WAR

London, July 26, 3 a. m.-Shanghai
sends a batch of reports indicative of
preparations for hostilities on the part
of the Chinese.
1t is alleged that the Yang Use vice
roys have sent deputies to Shanghai to
inquire as to the prospect of raising the
foreign loan, ostensibly 20 pursue mil
ltary operations against the Boxers.
whose movement is extending rapidly
southwark with constantly growing
strength and has reached a point near
the provinces of Shan Tung, HO Nan
and Shan 81 meet leaving behind il a
Jrall of burned missions and murdered
Christians
simultaneously there is a movement
northward of southern Chinese troops
to join the main army gathered to
oppose the foreign advance on Pekin
The strength of this principal force is
ROW estimated at 100000 men.
= is Deteved that about three weeks
must elapse before the Chinese prepar-
atoms are completed 1t is rumOred
hat 100000 Chinese troops and more
are being sent to reinforce the garrison
OF the Khan Yin forts. commanding
the entrance to the Yang Use Kiang,
ninety miles east of Marking
Chan Chi Tung. viceroy of WI Chang.
on the Yang Use Kiang, telegraphs
that he is apprehensive that he viii not
be able to restrain his troops for more
than another ten days. He saws that
he has thrown the breechblocks of the
guns commanding SankOw into the
river.
These signs of unrest in the southern
provinces are cOincided with Lii Hung
Changes presence in Shanghai. They
are supposed to be the beginning of a
general declaration against foreigners.
Orders to Prepare For War.
In this connection the Canton cor
respondent Of the Telegraph. wiring
Tuesday, sends the following important
news:
S'Viceroy TAX Su today published the
4 lowing mandate:
An important imperial decree was
issued on the 23d day of the sixth
, month. 1t says. We have lost Tien
{Fsin and great precautions are taken
Yin Pekin.
No peace can be obtained without
going through a war.
I'm the time of Chung an agreement
was made that no murder can be in
flicted on ministers from abroad. 1t is
a month since the minister Of Germany
was assassinated by Boxers and strict
orders have been given for the arrest
of the murderers. We are trying our
utmost TO preserve the lives of the
other ministers and they are still in
Pekin.
we fear that the viceroys. and gov
errors may misunderstood the inten-
ton OF the decree. relying on the safe
~ OF these ministers as a ground for
making peace and taking no heed
whatever 10 prepare for attack and
defFAse. The neglect to fortisy the dis
trictS under their jurisdiction will
bring endless calamity.
"Niceroys and governors are to nav
ell attention to and to urge on prepara-
tons for coast attack and defense. and
they are TO take the consequences in
cases of any territory being lost en-
tiTely through their delay and misman-
agement.
Europeans here understand thor
oughly the last part of the edict, which
means that the viceroys and governors
are commanded by the empress dow
ager 20 prepare for a Chinese war
against the allied powers.
VicerOv TAX Su is bitterly anti
foreign and he is increasing his army
ard ornaments military ard naval. He
has made an objection through the pre-
feet of Kwan Chou to four small gun
boats. two French, one American and
the lives Of foreigners, and he asks that
they be moved beyond tire BOgue forts.
His plans viii be unmasked shortly
after the allied powers ascertain
definitely tbs facts concerning the
massacre at PekIn. Chinese gunboats
infest the channel at the back of the
Shameen and eighteen Chinese gun
boats lie awaiting orders below the
imperial government wharf. The Can
tOnese sre daily becoming more hostile
and the situation is critical. Business
is almost at a standstnl and leprosy
and plague claim fresh victims daily.
Native Christians assert that the
notorious black flag, Chief Ian, who
inflicted reverses on the French in the
TOnquin war, now refuses TO obey Vi.
Hung Chang's command to go north
and fight the Boxers. His soldiers are