The sun., 1900-07-19
TEE GROWING TROUBLE IN CHINA

The latest Developments Of the Chinese dues-
ton include definite act Of war against Rus
ala The attack made on Blagovestohensk on
the north bank Of the Amur from the Chinese
side al Aigun or Saahan Ula, was obviously
for the purpose OF interruptins the transport OF
troops and war material which has been going
on for soms time from the end Of the Siberian
Railway at Nertchnsk on the Shilka River TO
Khabarovka on the Amur. from where they are
carried by rail to yladivostook. Blagovest-
chensk lies about nve hundred miles above
Khabarovka and between eight and nine hun
dred below Nertchinsk. and from the opposite
bank Of the river q road runs TO the
southwest across tho Liohuri Ain Noun
tains to Mergen Khoton on the Norma
River. q tributary Of the Sungari River
From there II continues south to Tsitslkar where
the Manchurian Railway. In continuation Of the
Siberian Railway from Onon above Nertchinsk.
strikes the Norma River. Russian steamers
from tho Amur have been running up the Sunsan
and Norma rivers during the open season for
several years back, Petuna. at the junction
Of the Nonna and Sungari. is the point OF con-
nsctlon Of the new Russian railways coming
from the north, east and south, and 1t is from
and 70 there that track laying has been actively
pushed during the past twelve months on ac-
count OF the suspicious conduct and strange
attitude of the Chinese authorities In Man
churta. and strong guards have been stationed
along the line. Up TO last month about nine
hundred miles Of track had been laid In Man
chura- and whom the two gaps, that between
Nikolskoi. above yladivostok. and Petuna
and the other between Port Arthur and Petuna
have been filed In. troops from Khabarovks
or Vladivostock can be sent round BY rail to
Port Arthur In q few days.
The sudden rising Of tho Chinese. however,
which Is reported to have taken place through
out MAnchuria may upset all these calcula-
tions for the time being, until the troops which
Russia Is bound to pour into the country have
put II down and restored the damaged com
munioations Meantime work on the railway
from Onon to Tsitsikar Is being pushed on as
rapidly a. the engineering difficulties in the
way. which are considerable permit. in order
that direct communication between the Sibe-
rian main line and Port Arthur may be es-
tablished ~ soon ~ possible
The report that the Russian Consul at Kuldja
near the Central Asian frontier. has called for
assistance. shows how widespread and premed-
itated the present movement Is. The Russians
should, however. be able to send considerable
number Of troops into that part OF China, as the
railway from Tashkent to viernoe. which Is about
$50 miles from Kuldja,is nearly completed. and
the garrisons In Central Asia toward the Afghan
and Chinese frontiers have recently been heav-
ly tesnforoed,
While there Ii naturally q good deal Of con-
fusion in the details coming in from all parts Of
China, the broad fact remains that a universal
rising against the foreigners is taking place.
Whether the Chinese Government has lost all
control OF affairs or is in secret collusion with
the revolution is not yet clear but must soon
be determined: before. however. the point
can be settled It will be necessary for Pekin
70 BE- occupied and direct relations with the
Government reopened. The experience Of
the first efforts made TO accomplish this have
shown that some other route than that from
Tien- -Tsin must be taken and the probability Ia
that the relieving force will And Its way there
by the more northerly and longer but more
practicable road from Shanhakwan,