The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-07-20

over the open plain toward the en-
trance Of the city the Chinese sheIIed
steadily from the walls. The Russians
lost 200 killed and wounded.
The city was occupied BY the inter-
national troops who found dead Chinese
lying about the streets in hundreds
Tonight the city il in flames.
Though the taking Of the city viii
have the effect Of discouraging the
Boxers, the total loss Of the foreigners
Is thought to be 1900 dead and wounded
NEW YORK, July 19.-A dispatch 10
the Journal and Advertiser from Lon
don says.
The Chinese invasion OF the AmuT
province is equivalent TO a declaration
OF war against Russia which, constru-
ing II as such. has handed the Chinese
ervoy at st. Petersburg his passports
today. and requested him to leave the
country. along with the members Of his
mission.
The importance Of this Chinese dec
iaration Of war against Russia and Of
this bold invasion OF Russian territory.
lies in the fact. as the matter now
stands. It virtually releases the czar
from his obligations TO the foreign pow
ers to act In concert with them in
China. He is placed thereby In a posi-
tion to act independently. and not only
with reference to the defence Of his do
minions against the Chinese invasion,
but also as regards the carrying Of war
into the enemy's country, and an
eventual march upon Pekin.
Should a Russian army. proceeding
from Siberia. reach PekIn and capture
It before the allies could get to 1t from
the Pacific Coast. the car would be
able to dictate terms 10 China lnde-
pendently Of the other powers. and
without any regard to their wishes.
virtually establishing himself as mas
ter Of the country. The British and
German governments. alarmed at the
idea OF this eventuality. have today
decided to abandon the policy which
they have pursued until now. and to
declare war upon the Chinese govern
ment, thus placing themselves in line
with Russia. and France and the Unit
ed States are expected to follow suit
Immediately.
France has. indeed. already issued
today decree forbidding the sale OF
arms or. war material OF any kind 10
the Chinese. while Germany. which has
already prohibited the Chinese envoy
at Berlin from communicating with
his government except through the
German foreign Office. is preparing to
give him his passports.
Here in London. the Chinese minister
has already packed all his belongings.
removed his boys from the schools and
cancelled all his engagements so as to
be ready for immediate departure.
In addition to the corps OF the I'm
perial Chinese army. which has invaded
Siberia with orders to drive all foreign
ers out of the rich gold bearing Amur
province OF the czar, there are FIVE
other corps. one of which is engaged in
destroying the Russian railroad in
Manchuria and in driving all the for
eigners. especially the Russians. from
the northern portion Of the empire; an
other is to occupy the roads between
Pekin and Shan Hal Kwan; yet an
ether is to concentrate at Nanking.
while columns are being directed in hot
haste to Tisn Tsin. to the borders Of
Ccrea and 10 the nelghborhood Of
Shanghai
Altogether the Pekin government is
estimated to have under arms at pres
ent no less than 100000 men. splen-
didly equipped with Mauser rifles,
smokeless powder and Quickiring ord
nance, and carefully trained under the
direction Of Danish and German off,
GERS. This huge army is under orders
of Prince Tuan.
In addition to this. there is the Chin
ese fleet, reconstructed and reorganized
since the war with Japan. and COM
prising fifteen first class cruisers Of
the very latest type. These are cruis-
ing about the Yellow Sea with their
decks cleared for action.
Inasmuch as five vessels of the al
lied fleet. including the British battle
ship Terrible. are cruising about in the
same waters, reconnoitering various
towns and forts and inviting the latter
to open fire upon them. news may be
expected at any moment Of a naval
battle.
Nine other foreign men-of-war are at
anchor off Shanghai with the object of
assisting in the defense Of that great
city in the event Of its being attacked
by the big Chinese army which is now
within one days march Of the place.
SAN FRANCISCO, July ia
Chronicle special. from Victoria. B. c.,
says:
Advlces received from North China
contain particulars of the awful torture
inflicted on the Rev. H. v. Norman,
who with Rev. C. Robinson, was among
the first Of the American missionaries
to become a victim of the Boxers. A
correspondent writing from Tien Tsin
on July says some refugees who had
arrived there gathered from Chinese
CHASTITY details of the torture inflicted
on Norman.
1t seems that he fell into the hands
of Ii the head man Of a little town
hard by the Anglican mission. where
he and Robinson had their headquar-