The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-28
BOxEf POWER
IS BREAKING.
Kang vi, a Notorious Leader,
Commits Suicide.
Prince Tuan'sPlace Filled by the
Empress D0wager.
TO BLOCKADE PORTS.
Russia Proposes to Take Strong
Measures at Once.
Foreign Forces Landed at Taku
Number IS, 1858.
TO BLOCKADE PORTS.

New York. Sept. 2s.-From reliable
Chinese sources of information comes
the statement that Kang vi, the motor
ious boxer leader, has committed sui
eide in Pekin, says the Herald's Shang-
hal correspondent. 1t is also said that
the empress dowager has replaced Prince
Tuan by Wan Wen Chao, who is an in
telligent and strong man.
If these facts be true, they show that
the boxer power is breaking with the
Chinese government
General Kang vi, the Manchu presi-
dent of the war department and a MEM
ber of the grand secretariat, is said to
have participated in the destruction of
the legations in Pekin. 1t was recently
announced that he was to supersede
Sheng as taotai of Shanghai; that the
foreign consuls there protested against
the selection; and that Liu Kun Vi, vice
roy of Nankin, took their objection un-
der consideration. Kang vi is said to
have attained his exalted position by
presenting arms and money to the Chi
nese government while taotai of Swato
during the war with Japan.
Wan Wen Chao is a Chinaman, not
Manchu, and is a member of the depart
ment of finance and of the council of
state.
TO BLOCKADE PORTS
st. Petersburg, Sept. 2S.-The Russian
naval staff announces that it is proposed
to blockade all Chinese naval ports in
consequence of the hostile attitude of the
Chinese fleet at Shanghai, and to send
fast cruisers from the allied squadrons
to protect their transports.
The general staff announces that Rus
sian troops are massing around Kirin in
Manchuria, where there are 5000 Chi
nese
FOREIGN FORCE IN CHINA.
Vienna, Sept. 2S.-The admiralty has
received a dispatch from Taku giving
10 Cfr M Ia forces landed there
by the allied powers, as follows:
Austrian, 494; German, S,17S; British,
1888; American, 560S; French, 6,516;
Italian, 2,541; Russian, 20,924; japanese,
Il, $50. Total. 6S,253-
TRIED BY COURT MARTIAL.
Pelxin, Sept. 22.-The Manchu assassin
of Baron Won Ketteler was tried by court
martial yesterday. No new evidence was
presented and the court decided that it
would be unjustihed in pronouncing
sentence upon the prisoner who, how
ever, will be held in the hope that fur
ther information will be obtained.
The Russian and German legations are
ceipt of further instructions. Lii Hung
Chang is expected to arrive within a
week.
Business is improving and the people
are gaining confidence but no progress
is being made toward the return of the
fugitive government, the event so great
ly desired by every one.
General Fukushima has returned here
after spending twelve days at Taku.
A PACIFIC BLOCKADE"
Washington, Sept.2S.-The report from
st. Petersburg, said to have been made
on the authority of the Russian naval
staff that, owing to the hostile attitude
of the Chinese fleet at Shanghai, Russia
proposes to blockade the Chinese naval
ports, created much interest at the navy
department and in government circles
generally today As there is no state
ment to the effect that it is to be pre-
ceded by a declaration of war, it is as
sumed the blockade proposed comes un-
der designation in international law of
pacific blockade" A pacific blockade
is considered something of an anomaly
and though it's justification is not recog-
nized by some writers on international
law, it has been resorted to on several
occasions during the past century and
the majority of writers now recognize it
as a measure of constraint, short of war.
1t has been instituted some times by
the joint action OF several powers some
times by a single power, in some cases
against all vessels and in other cases
only against the vessels of the nation
concerned. The penalties generally have
been the seizure and the confScation of
the property and commerce of the Of
Tending nation, or seizure and detention.
The legal position or a pacific block |
ade however, is so unsettled as to the
attitude of the blockaders toward the
vessels of states not concerned that
their course has varied in almost every
instance. The first pacific blockade ever
instituted was in 1927, when the coasts
of Greece, then nominally subject to
Turkey, were blockaded by the English, |
French and Russian squadrons New
Granada was blockaded by England in
1866 Mexico by France in 1888; La
Plata by France in 183S-1840; the Greek
ports by England in 1850; the coasts of
Formosa by France in 1884; Greece by
Great Britain, Germany, Austria, Italy
and Russia in 1866, and Crete in 1887
by the six powers of Europe. When
FOrmoSa was blockaded by France in
1884, the blockade was intended to in
clude neutral vessels as liable to capture
and condemnation, notwithstand the
fact that France had not assumed the
attitude of a belligerent
This position was assumed because |
France decided to continue to coal at
Hong Kong. England refused on this
occasion to admit that under the cir
cumstances, France had the right to |
capture and condemn neutrals. In 1897, |
when the European powers blockaded |
Crete the ships of neutralS were allowed |
to enter and discharge cargoes provided |
they We're not intended for the use of /
Greek troops in the interior. Previous /
to that, in 1887, the Institute de De Droft |
International adopted a declaration to |
the effect that pacific blockade was /
only permissible on condition that ves- |
sells under foreign flags could freely en-
ter b1ockaded ports and that vessels of /
the offending nation which might be !
sequestered when the blockade closed /
should be restored to their owners with |
out compensation
The United States itself resorted to |
the expedient of the pacific blockade /
three days prior to the declaration of /
war with Spain, when by executive order /
certain of the Cuban ports were block 1