The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-17
AS TO CHINA.

1t is stated to be a fact that not since
the oath Of jun has any message come
from any foreigner in Pekin. A report
from London, on the 10th, tat this:
There seems to be little doubt that
Prince Ching, who is in commend Of
the Manchu garrison, at Pekin, IS pro-
tecting the legations against the
Boxers"
This is from the New York Tribune's
excellent London correspondent. There
Is no doubt that since the Chinese de-
feat by the japanese the former have
been very active in preparing for war.
The British under secretary Of war
stated in the house of commons that
since 1895 English firms had sold the
Chinese government II guns of posi-
ton. 123 field guns and 2S7 machine
guns. with ammunition for each class.
He also said that a German firm in 1899
sold China 400, 900 Mauser rifles.
So China is not the defenseless weak
ling that the western nations were dis
posed to believe. Not only are they well
armed, III they have been instructed
in military tactics by German, Rus
sian and British officers. The Chinese
of 1900 are not the Chinese of half a
century g or of even five years ago.
They know of the talk among Euro
pean powers of Remembering the vast
and most ancient empire, and they have
been preparing for the worst.
The Philadelphia Record of two OF
three days ago said this:
The losses inflicted by the Chinese
on the foreign contingentS at Taku,
Lanfang, Yangtsun, and Tien TSin and
the inability of the foreigners hitherto
to gain a decisive advantage show that
the CeleStials have been apt pupils.
Anybody who believes that an expedi-
ton to Pekin is going to be a military
promenade will be undeceived. The
opinion of the japanese admiral, who
insisted hat al army of 100, 900 men
would be required to hew a path
through China's legions from Taku TO
Pekin, is more likely to prove correct
than the more sanguine estimates of
his European colleagues"
1t is thought now that the foreign
cast of coming troubles. But this is
not certain if we may judge by United
States Minister Conger's last dispatch
or by that of a letter written by the
French minister, M.Pichon, to a per-
sonal friend. The British minister
thought the worst was over at the
very time the storm was gathering.
This is remarkable in view of the
opinions expressed in the North China
Herald as far back as February last.
1t declared, as we gather from an ed
itorial in the New York Evening Post,
that it's information led it to fear that
the spring would witness a rising such
as foreigners had never seen in China.
The whole country from the Yellow
rive to the Great Wall and beyond
will be a blaze Of Instruction which
e. will drive every foreigner out
of Pekin and Tien Tsin under condi-
tions which it is not difficult to fore
see." Yet more OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
startling in it's exact forecase of what
o~ccurred-was a letter published in the
same newspaper from it's native CORE
spondent in Pekin. This man said in
the issue of the North China Herald
Of May 16: Il write in all seriousness
and sincerity to inform you tina there
is a great secret scheme, having for
its aim to crush all foreigners in China
and wrest back the territories leased
to them"