The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-28

in the nature of an international COM
mission is created to deal with the Chi
washington at $3.50 o'clock this after
noon for the Pacific slope, stopping at
Chicago for a day en- route
The dispatches from Consul Fowler
conveying assurances from yuan Shin
Kaf, the governor at Shan Tung, that
the foreign ministers were we'll on July
rs, and had been provisioned in connec-
ton with consistently reiterated aSsur-
ances from other Chinese sources of the
safety of the ministers have raised a
new theory at the state department,
which is being Speculated upon These
assurances have been given in answer to
the repeated and urgent demand of the
various European governments that
they be placed in communication with
their ministers and the last assurance of
Yuan was in answer to the specific de-
mand of the foreign admirals for direct
communication. Yuan's announcement
that the imperial government at Pekin,
not only asserts the safety of the
ministers, but declares that they have
been provisioned if accepted as true, in
dicates that the ministers have been
communicated with. The inquiry then
naturally arises:
'sIf the ministers have been provision
ed why does not the Chinese govern
rnent, knowing as it does that the whole
world is demanding a direct message
from the besieged legations, allow them
to communicate with their government?
evidence of the safety of the ministers
instead of this repetition of an assurance
which the world hesitates to accept?'
The failure to pursue the direct meth
cd which must be available, tends al
most irresistibly to the suspicion that
something has happened In Pekln which
the Chinese government desires to con-
ceal from the powers; that it is afraid
to allow the true story to be revealed
until some sort of terms have been made
with the powers which are waiting at
the gates of the empire. Just what that
something is furnishes fruitful theme
for speculation, but no satisfactory con-
clusion can be reached until the forces
enter Pekin or the legatiOnerS arrive at
Tien Tsin.
CROWDING SHANGHAI.
New York, July 2S.-A dispatch to the
Herald from Shanghai says:
Twenty-Five thousand armed Chinese
are concentrated some distance from
here. A competent military authority
declares that the precautions taken Tor
defending Shanghai are 1nsufflclent
While the existing operations show
the emptiness of the Russian bubble,
thev fully confirm all that has been
foreseen of japanese power 1t is ON ON
cially stated that Russia can PROVIDE
only $500 men altogether unless rein
forced from Europe.
Oficials of central China, while siren
uous in their efforts to preserve peace
are at the same time preparing for pos
sible war by collecting arms and am
munitions and strengthening the forts
at Woo Sung Kiang-Glm ana oIner
points on the Yang Use. Admiral Sey-
mour can not interfere while war has
not been declared.
News of the murder of missionaries is
continually arriving
U. S. MARINES FOR CHINA.
San Francisco, July 28.-The trans
port Hancock will sail today. she VIII
carry 500 marines, a battery of artillery
and a number of soldiers. She Will pc
followed by the Meade next Wednesday.
The Rosecrans was brought here from
Seattle in a hurry to load for China. She
will take away a siege battery composed
of 14O men and 174 horses. In week the
transport will be ready to sail and II the
battery is here she will go out next
Saturday.
The Warren will not go to China but
will sail for Manila on August 16 with
recruits and supplies.
RUSSIANS IN TROUBLE.
Chicago, July 2S.-A dispatch to the
Record from Moscow, says:
News reaching Vladivostok shows
that General Gerngross' Manchurlan
danger At bay in their position be-
tween Kelin and Harbin, the little band
is still awaiting General Tschitschagoff' s
relief force. Chinese are overf1owlng
from Mongolia into northern Manchuria,
in the neighborhood Of Hargln ana
Burdo Tsun. In Mongolia force of l5,-
600 natives surrounded the Russian rail-
Way CORPS but a CoSSack column at
tackled the tribesmen, and after a fierce
battle routed them, killing 167- Daily
slxirmishes are reported between the
restless tribesmen in Manchuria and the
Russian railway guards.
M. Dewitte Russian minister of fin
ance, has received from NJ. Pokatslloff,
director of the Russo-Chinese bank. who
is supposed to have lost his life in the
Pekin massacre, message dated Pek1n,
June Is.
"The riots" says M Pokatilloff, ''began
June 13, when the mob first burned the
American church and then the Russian
missionary station. Our situation is per-
ilous and a disastrous crisis is near at
hand We are besieged and cut off from
news from home.
m. Giers has been requested by the
Chinese authorities to cOuntermand his
appeal for Russian guards in Pekin.
United States Minister Conger also has
cabled for additional guards Mr.. Con-
ger is active and brave, doing his utmost
in protection of foreigners. Lii Chan and
Su Yuan of the Tsung Lii Yamen nave
called at the American legation and
begged Mr.. Conger to prevent inteT-na-
tional detachments from entering Pel1in,
but the minister refused to lend his in
huence to such move and the other
ministers Joined him in this refusal.
1.-The anti-ChriStian societies are COM
mitting arson, robbery and murder and
all means of atrocities. Incendiaries
among them have destroyed 5000 Euro
pean houses in the Chinese quarters, be-
side 20 financial houses. numerous shops
and warehouses. The houses Of friend
ly Chinese were pillage and burned and
many Chinese servants of Europeans
and native Christians were killed.
FRENCH ARE REASSURED.
Paris. July 2S.-The Chinese minister
at Paris, Yu Keng. has received the fol-
lowing imperial decree, dated July "a:
The foreign ministers are happily at
present safe and sound except Ketteler.
We are having the foreign legations
supplied with provisions and fruits as
a token of the interest we feel in them. -
BELIEVES ENJOYS ARE SAFE
New York, July 2S.-Among the pas
sengers who arrived last night on the
steamer Yucatan from Havana were
Gen James H. Wilson, recently gov
ernor of Mantanzas and Santa Clara
provinces in Cuba. and his two daugh-
ter.s General Wilson will be detained