The age-herald., 1900-07-23
BERLIN DISCUSSES
 CHINESE TROUBLES Knew Nothing Hitherto of Irou-
 bIeS in ManChUria.
THE CENSORSHIP IS SEVERE
Official Russian News Shows That Chi- nese Regular Troops Accompanied by Irregulars Are in Open
 War Against Russia

Berlin. July 22.-The Chinese situation takes on a radically different shape from news which has reached here from Russia. What Europe hitherto knew about the troubles in Manchuria was what the Rus sian government chose to let pass. Now a number of reports some of them official, but majority private have reached here from St Petersburg which tally in the main and paint the situation in Chinese Manchura and along the 1,5OO kilometres of borderland on the Siberian side, of which the Amur river forms a frontier, as much more dangerous for Russia than has hith- erto been supposed. The Associated Press correspondent has obtained at the Russian Embassy here a partial, though cautious confirmation of the above statement.
 A military contributor to the Tageblatt says official Russian news showed that Chinese regular troops, accompanied by irregulars, in all numbering about 12O000, are In open war against Russia They not only demanded the withdrawal of the Rus sians from Chinese territory, but after the Russians refused to withdraw they assum- ed the offensive and drove off the Rus lIOul IdllTOdu COuSlTucllOH anu dIt undertaking hostile operations against Har- bin.- Bagovetschensk and other towns, shelling the last named place.
 What makes the Chinese hostilities ex- tremely dangerous, however. is the fact that the Chinese, by a series of recently constructed forts and redoubts, absolutely command the navigation of the Amur river for distance of twenty versts thus keep ing Russian troop transports from the ly route open, at least until those fortif- cations shall have been taken by the Rus sians.
 Censorship Is Severe
 Though the Russian censorship is again most severe regarding telegrams, news reached here today from St. Petersburg that Blagovetschensk had been taken by the Chinese, who seized large amounts of money in the Russo-Chinese Bank there.
 All reports agree that the Russian gov ernment now considers that Russia Is now actually at war with China; that the dilly- daily policy hitherto maintained will be dropped; that Russia is now hurriedly pre- pairing for a serious campaign in North China, separate from the other powers, and that Russia will not be able nor will ing, under these altered circumstances, to bear an adequate share in the Tien Tsin- Pekin campaign.
 The Russian forces available along the border and throughout North China are stated to comprise 26 battalions of the line, 27 battalions of reserves, r Cossack regi- ments and r field batteries altogether about 7S,0O0 men.
 The Lloyd Line steamer Sachsen, which has arrived at Genoa from China, reports being fired on by Chinese coast forts and slightly damaged while going from Yoko- hama homeward.
 Dr. Mumm von Schwarzenstein has gone to China nominally the German repre- sentative for East Asia, because Germany has not yet been officially informed of the death of Baron von Ketteler nor who at present represents the German govern ment, if there is any representativ tive. Dr. SchwarZenstein goes, not accredited to the Chinese government, but empowered to ne- gotiate with single or joint viceroys or governors
 The visiting American engineers have been greeted pleasantly by the German press. The speeches at the banquet yes- terday evening are commented upon ap- provingly today. Semi officially it is stated today that the praise by the American system here is accepted with thanks, but that this must not lead Germany to stand still.