Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-07-20

New York. July 19-In describing the
Tien Tsin fight. on Friday, the Herald
correspondent, cabling from Tien Tsin.
on Saturday. declares that when the
city was occupied by the international
troops, the latter found dead Chinese
lying about the streets in hundreds.
He adds that, Saturday night, the city
was in flames. Though the taking of
the city will have the effect of discour-
aging the Boxers, the total loss TO the
foreigners is thought to be 1900 dead
and wounded.
Senator John NJ. Thurston of Nebras-
ka. who is in the city. was asked what
effect the Chinese trouble is likely to
have on the political situation. 1t
should have nome he replied. but no
matter what the administration may
d., it is sure to be criticised in one
quarter or another. 1t is Il very prob
lematical situation to face. but l be-
lieve President Mckinley will handle
it for the best interests of the country.
What should be done it is difficult to
say at this time. because the reported
facts are so much at variance. Until
the real facts are known there cannot
be too much caution
Chinatown suffered financial fright
yesterday, and the express companies
anu bankers doing business in the dis
trict had their hands full setting
things to rights. Some one started the
story that the Hong Kong banks would
cash no more drafts from America I'M
til the present trouble was settled.
The big merchants heard of ii and
| IL.
send large sums of money back to
China. The man who started the story
| said he had received cable message
to that effect from Hong Kong. Many
| If the bankers had men out all the
morning looking for this cable mes
sage. 1t could not be found and they
did not hesitate to assure their Chi
nesa patrons that drafts on Hong Kong
We're still as good as gold.
| The war in China and the news of
| the disastrous experiences of the 9th
! Infantry have caused a number of de-
| SertionS among the enlisted men OF
| Cos. /. * and l. of the 18th Regular
| Infantry, says the Times. today. Ma
! jor Cornish. who commands the bat
| TALON. says there are exactly % absent
| without leave while the enlisted men
gave all kinds of figures. ranging from
20 in one case to 100 in another. In
speaking of the matter. every one of
them, with one exception. gave as the
cause of the assertions the present
crisis in China. especially since the
| news of the disaster to the 9th was re-
| ceived.
Reviewing the latest news of the
| operations of the allies in China. the
| London correspondent of the Tribune
| says the important move on the Chi
nese chess board. yesterday. was a new
direction given to the defence of Brit
ish interests. The Indian troops a,
Hong Kong. instead of going to Tier
Tsin have sailed for Shanghai and
Woo Sung. Sir Alfred Gaselee may
also halt there. This is sign that the
British government. having been con-
WINGED that Tien Tsn and Taku car
be held by the allied forces now on the
ground. has decided to make serious
preparations for the defence of Shang-
hal and the other countries of com
merce in middle China
The British government is not So
blind as to exhaust its resources in de.
Tending the Russian interest in Man
churia. which are menaced by the
military camarlla at Pekin. 1t ha.
sud lenly remembered the quarter
where the main sphere of British
trade lies. and has ordered reinforce
rents and vessels of war to the gate
way of the Yang Use province. Tn,
cable station at Shanghai is one of tn,