New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-15
TENSE SITUATION AT TIEN-TsIN.
MUCH SKILL REQUIRED TO AVERT con-
FLICTs OF NATTONALITIEs

T1en-Tsin Sept r.-With the general belief
that this city is to be the military centre and
base for the winter all the Powers are
engaged in general scramble for buildings. Any
thing that has a roof is valuable and every
building IN the foreign concession which the bonn
bardment left capable of repairs is being put in
shape for either barracks storerooms This
condition of affairs has made the situation here
rather delicate, and in several Instances there
have been some sharp interchanges over the pos
session OF premises. The Americans have not
got the best of the deal The foreign city Of
Tien-Tsin IS composed of the various concessions
of the Powers and what is known locally as the
extra concession" lying to the southeast between
the Victoria Gardens and the mud wall The Amer
lean concession surrendered several years
ago, and in the present situation the Americans
keenly feeling its loss The English and Ger
man concessions are probably greater in area the
British. however having and larger build
ings than any other There is to-day not an UNI
occupied building in Tien-Tsin and the Powers are
drawing the concession lines very closely.
AS cabled to The Associated Press early in
September, the Americans were compelled to give
up to the Germans large tract Of land and sew
eral very commodious warehouses filled with COM
missary supplies. The property in the extra
German concession, and il was understood when
the German commander consented to it's occupancy
that 1t would be given up demand, but the de-
mand caused the American Army officials no little
embarrassment and inconvenience As a result the
American forces now scattered. The 18th In
fantry, Colonel Moale commanding and at present
senior American officer in Tien-Tsn is located in
the buildings and compound Of the American Meth
odist mission quarter OF mile further down
the Taku road is the camp of the Sd Artillery in
the compound Of the property of Mr.. Brew, an
American. The marine battalion is quartered in
the buildings in the British concession, the ofi-
GERS occupying several houses Victoria Ter
race. The commlssary and quartermaster's depots
are the Bund. in the old Tien-Tsin Hotel.
The presence Of such large number OF troops in
close contiguity, the conflicting customs and ma
tonal prejudices make Ten-Tsin a very delicate
and interesting place just at present. The whole
atmosphere Is charged with the tenseness of local
conditions and the incest diplomacy is constantly
being called into play TO smooth over little erup-
tons and the friction natural 10 such crcum-
stances. Two events of this week, which were
pregnant with possibilities, have been pleasantly
adjusted and have left apparent trace of feel
ing. One was the killing Of Corporal Hughes, Of
Battery -. 80 Artillery, and the wounding OF a
private of the same battery by a French sentry.
The whole affair was unfortunate, but investi-
cation disclosed that the sentry not blame.
II that the Americans after dark
and had been drinking. They halted by q
sentry on the French pontoon bridge and disre-
Of the fired his revolver dscharging four
chambers, when the sentry fired, killing Hughes
He was attacked by the second American, whom
he bayonetted. INJECTING slight wound.
i. The other instance was slight tilt between the
guard over pile of wood and hoisted British
flag; Russian guard, according. 10 the report.
made an attempt TO secure some or the wood also
hosting a nag and threatening to cut down the
British coors. General Campbell happened TO be
on the scene at the time unaccompanled. Seeing
the gravity or the situation he asked an American
officer to assist him. explaining that he feared the
two guards, who were lie ians Of the Bengal Ian
GERS might preeipitate tTzuble. The American con-
Russian commander. Admiral Alexief Immediately
recalled the Russians when the matter ex-