Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-07-27
IDENTICAL CHINESE APPEALS
Received BY All The Powers-No Attention Till
Ministers fale Is Settled.

London. July 27-430 A. Mali the
powers appear to have received an
identical Chinese appeal for mediation;
but in the absence of definite news re-
garding the fate of the ministers and
of any reliable Indications of the real
origin of the appeal, it seems that
Lord Salisbury. the premier. consider
ed it was not necessary to publish the
fact that the appeal had been received
or to do anything beyond formally
acknowledging it. with perhaps an in
timation that nothing eould be done
until news from Pekin had arrived.
If il could be ascertained beyond
doubt that the reports of massacre at
Pekin were northumberland there is a
disposition here to believe that the
ministers may, after ALL, he held as
hostages-Lord Salisbury's policy
would probably incline more toward
the Cancellation attributed to Wash
ington than to revenge attributed to
Berlin. But while there is no cessa-
ton of the deluge of rumors it is be
ginning to be believed a Shanghai,
Canton and other points that the vice
roys are as completely in the dark as
to affairs in Pekin as the Europeans
themselves hcdIN ME lIlc uofHSS VI
Lii Hung Chang are regarded with ever
increasing suspicion. while the situa-
ton in the southern provinces daily
grows worse.
With the report that the allies will
begin the advance upon Pekin in a
fortnight and in view of Admiral Sey-
mour's visit of inspection to the Yang
Use Kiang. the feeling is that no great
-
a more definite shape. The viceroy of
Nankn still processes to be able. with
the aid of the other Yang Use viceroys.
to keep orders: but ne declares that if
Europe sends warships it will assured
ly lead to an anti-f1reign outbreak.
If it be true that the japanese have
started a campaign from Shan Hal
Whan. that also will precipitatc mat
tiers. but the report to the effect lacks
confirmation.
1t is reported from Ten Tsin that
the Chinese forces are concentrating at
the village of Getsang 10 miles north
of Tien Tsin, where. it is said. large
quantities of rice are stored.
The Russian and japanese cavalry
are keeping in close touch with the
enemy. The river is still low, and
water transport would be difficult.
With reference to the control of the
railway it is understood that Mr. Kind
er. the British engineer. has arranged
with the Chinese general for the pro-
lection of the line beyond Pei Tang.
Therefore, Russian control could only
apply to the Tien -Taku ana Pei
rang sections. If this arrangement is
disturbed it is understood that the de-
Struction of the line is inevitable.
There Is an uncontirmed Chinese re-
port that 60 Protestant and Catholic
missionaries have been massacred in
HI Yuan Flu and the vicinity
The Shanghai correspondent of the
Daily Mail describing the massacre at
Mukden. says: The bishop had armed
200 converts to defend the cathedral
and body of Chinese troops had been
sent to defend the converts, but the
soldiers were leagued with the Boxers.
While the Christians We're holding a
service. believing themselves safe un-
der the protection of the troops, the
signal was given and soldiers and Box
ers surrounded and set fire to the
church, putting the escaping Worship
Ders to the sword. The bishop was cap
AoiNt anu ldhti " tlt NlttlOk = va
men. where he was diabolcally tortured
and decapitated His head now hangs
in front of the yamen."
There is little fresh news regarding
the situation in Manchuria. The Rus
slams inflicted another defeat upon the
Chinese at Fort Echo. on July %. From
Kobe comes report that eight bat
talions of Russians have been compeli-
ed to leave Vladivostock and Tien Tsin.
on account of the Manchuria trouble
kilograms have arrived at St Peters
burg, by circuitous route dated Pekin
June IL and June Is, describing the or
igin of the trouble. They come from
the director of the Russo Chinese bank
in Pekin. He says in part: The Ger
man legation. June 49, arrested an anti
Christian brigand. This was the sig
nal for an anti-Christian uprising and
at in the evening, the anti-Christians
set fire to the American church and
burned it to the ground. The Euro
peans then barricaded the legations
and the rioters sacked and burned the
houses in the European quarter
1t further appears from the advices
that. June IS. the legations were be
sieged and the Chinese government had
attempted to involve the aid of NJ. De
Giers. the Russian minister. and Mr.
Conger to prevent the advance of Rus.
sian troops to Pekin.
The Canton correspondent of the
Daily Telegraph in a dispatch datet
Wednesday. says: There are daily
arrests of Boxers and smugglers caugh
loaded with arms and ammunition
Executions quickly follow. but tn,
rowdy element remains practically un
dismayed In the country districts. tn,
people are more threatening and boldel
than in the city. Their inflammation,
placards are freely posted