The age-herald., 1900-07-26
THE PEkIN MYSTERY
 HAS BEEN DEEPENED
Arrival of Conger's Message at Tien Tsin Has Done
 Nothing to DispeI Doubt.

is apprehensive that he will not be able to restrain his troops for more than another ten days. He says that he has thrown the breech blocks of the guns commanding Kan Row into the river These signs of unrest in the southern provinces are coin cldent with Lii Hung Chang's presence in Shanghai. They are supposed to be the be- ginning Of general declaration against foreigners. In this connection the Canton correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, wir- news:
 Viceroy Talk Su today published the fol- lowing mandates:
 An important imperial decree was is- sued on the twenty-third day of the sixth moon. It says:
 I've have lost Tien Tsin and greater precautions are taken in Pekin. No peace can be obtained without going through a war.
 In the time of Chung an agreement was made that no murder can be inflicted upon ministers from abroad. It Is 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 governors may misunderstood the inten- ton of the decree, relying on the safety of these ministers a ground for making peace and taking no heed whatever to pre-" pare for attack and defence The neglect to fortify the districts under their juric- diction will bring endless calamity. Vice. roys and governors are to pay all attention to and to urge on preparations for coast attack and defense, and they are to take the consequences in case of any territory being lost entirely through their delay and mismanagement.'
 Europ ans Understood
 Europeans here understood thoroughly the last part of the edict, which means that the viceroys and governors are com manded by the Empress Dowager to pre- pare for a Chinese war against the allied powers. Viceroy Tax Su is bitter anti-for- eign, and he in increasing his army and armaments, military and marine. He has lodged an objection through the prefect of Kwang Chou to four small gunboats, two French, one American and one British, that are here to safeguard the lives of for eigners, and he asks that they be removed beyond the bogue forts.
 His plans will be unmasked shortly after the allied powers ascertain definitely the facts concerning the massacre at Pekin. Chinese gunboats infest the channel at the back of the Shameen, and eighteen Chin csc gunboats lie awaiting orders below the Imperial Government wharf The Canton csc are daily becoming more hostile and the situation Is critical. Business is almost at a standstill, and leprosy and plague claim fresh victims daily.
 fSeei~c -tsifis<iufs asseft that the notori- ous Black Flag chief, lao. who inflicted reverses on the French in the Tonquin war, now refuses to obey u Hung Changs command to go north and fight the Boxers. His soldiers are here and compose the crews of the gunboats in the Shamen.
 According to the Shanghai correspondent of the Times, Ii Hung Chang is residing at the residence of Liu, who was the en- voy of the Empress Dowager in the secret mission to Japan. He has received secret instructions to remain at Shanghai and to endeavor to open negotiations with view of preventing the European advance.
 Disagreement of the Powers
 With this accumulation of evidence of an impending big struggle comes also the news of disagreements between the Powers and the foreign commanders, which threaten to hamper united action and to encourage Chinese resistance. A conference of the Admirals at Taku, called to settle the question regarding the management of the restored railway, decided in favor of Russian control, only the British and the American Admirals dissenting.
 The Tien Tsin correspondent of the Daily Mail insists upon the necessity of a single leader and of a general headquarters with an intelligence office. He says:
 Much valuable time is wasted by the preSeHl SySteE1. Lltlle scouting IS uOne and very few guides are employed. The allies have no intelligence regarding the positions or numbers of the enemy. The supplies of food and medical stores, as we'll as the number of surgeons, are insuffi- cient"
 There appears to be difficulty owing to the Russian censorship to get an accurate idea of the situation in Manchuria. The government dispatches block the available wires and little private news comes through. Nevertheless there are rumors that the situation Is more serious than 1t is officially reported to be and that the Rus sians have been driven back while trying to save the southern porton of the Eastern railway. The Chinese have burned Lavoang to prevent Russian concentration there and are now trying to smash communication between Port Arthur and Nj Chiu Chang The critical situation has forced the Rus sians to withdraw a number of troops from Tien Tsin, while 5000 troops have been sent from Port Arthur
 It is reported that an entire army corps is being mobilzed at Odessa for transport to Taku by the volunteer feet
 It is reported from Niu Chang that the Russians are concentrating forces at a point fifteen miles east of that fort and are awaiting endorsements before advancing on Mukden, Manchuria. The Boxers have wrecked the bridges of the Shan Hai Kwan and Kin Chau section of the railroad
 Admiral Seymour and General Sir Alfred Gazelle are consulting at Wei Hai Wei.
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