The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-10-11
CHANGE OF CAPITAL.
Sheusi to Be the Headquarters Of
the Chinese Imperial Court.

Washington. Oct. 9.-The effort to
return to Picking has failed, after a
weeks persistent effort on the part
of the powers. News to hat effect
was brought to the state department
Monday by the Chinese minister, who
received it via st. Petersburg from
Viceroys Liu Kun-Yih and Chang
C%hih-Tung, under date of October 4.
Minister WI received the message
Sunday night. 1t was as follows:
''The departure Of their imperial males
ties for Shensi (~proyince) was due to dis
tressing conditions at Tai Yuen Flu. There
is a scarcity Of food supplies In the province
of Shansi on account of long-continued
drought; and the provincial capital CTai
Yuen). Is almost deserted. the trades peo-
pie having left On account of the disturb
ances caused and continued for months by
the Boxer rebels, who had invaded that
province with the encouragement of Gov
Yu. Their majesties, therefore. were
obliged to proceed to Shensi. where tele.
graphic communication with Shanghai
and other parts of the empire is opened,
and rapid communication with their males
ties may, therefore,, be carried on; thus
court and official business may be trans
acted more eXpeditiously by their pres
ence in Shensi rather than in Shansi. The
reasons for the temporary -postponemeni
of their majesties' return to Picking are
the presence of the allied forces there, on
account of which solicitous fear is doubt
less entertained, besides a dread of the out
break of epidemic diseases, which usually
follow after great disturbances, destruc-
ton of property, and military operations.
1t is hoped that the powers Will be consid-
crate in their judgment In this matter
Fear. Forces of Allies.
The important feature of the mes
sage is the confession that the court
is restrained by fear of the allied
forces from returning to Picking.
The movement takes the emperor and
empress dowager about 300 miles
further away from Picking, though,
according to the statements con-
tanned in the message, by reason of
direct Geographic communication
with Shanghai the court practically
will be nearer for purposes of ne
gotiation with the outside world
than it was at Tai Yuen. Minister
WI has been informed also that
Viceroy Yu. of the province just va
Gated by the court, has been inn
peached because of his a~nti-foreign
tendencies, which is the first step to-
ward his degradation.
No Boxers in District.
It is said there are no Boxers in
the newly-chosen locality, so that the
court will have thrown off the hos
tile influences recently surrounding
it. As the dispatch is dated four days
ago, it is taken that the trip OF the
imperial party began prior to that
time. 1t will be slow and tedious,
overland most of the way, with a
short stretch of river navigation.
Singan was formerly the place of i'm
perial residence and the ancient pal
aces are still there.
A DisquIeting Feature.
The only disquieting feature of the
move comes from Japanese advices,
stating that the new point of loca-
ton is strongly fortified, which is
some indication that the imperial
family is still in fight and Is seek
ing stronger defenses; but the friend
ly ~viceroys and Minister WI do not
share in this view.
A Farce.
Berlin, Oct. 9.-The somewhat OPP
timistic view of the Chinese situation
which prevailed in Germany last week
has been ~unfavorably affected by the
reports that the Chinese court has re-
solved to settle permanently at 81 Ngan
Flu, capital of the province of Shensi.
This the Ber.iner Tageblatt regards as
"fndisputable evidence that the Chi
nese court is as anti-foreign as ever"
"The failure of the court TO return to
Picking" it says, "makes a farce of the
proposed peace negotiations, inasmuch
as the Chinese government could annul
the whole procedure at any moment by
revoking the credentials of Prince
Ching and Ii Hung Chang" Without
claiming any official authority for Its
attitude, the Tageblatt comments ia
vorably upon a proposal TO declare Em.
peror Kwang Su deposed.
Disposition of Allied Troops.
Picking, Oct. 9.-Gen. Yamaguchi
will retain 10000 japanese troops
1000 of them at Peking and Others
at Taku and along the line of com
munications. Eight thousand Ger
mans will pass the winter in Peking
and 1,5OO Russians. The number oil
British troops who will be retained
has not yet been decided. Sir Alfred
Gaselee will probably keep a brigade
The allies are storing supplies fol
six months. Count Won Waldersee's
headquarters will be in the buildings
in the imperial pleasure grounds out
side the Purple city.
situation Gloomy.
London, Oct. 9.-The Shanghai cor
respondent of the Times, wiring 0cto'
Der Z, says:
at is reported that French troops hold
Lu Ko Chiao, on the Lu Han railway. TIT
Russians and Germans hold the Pei Tam
forts and have also taken Tong Shan an(
the Kai Ping mines, thus monopolizlng tht
coal supply In North China. 1T was ex
pected that Count Won Waldersee would
maintain an even balance between th'
: powers, whereas the actual result of tn
d. operations places all the strategic positions
in the hands of other nations. A stronl
feeling prevails that the situation is dali!
becoming more gloomy"
President at the White House.
r Washington, Oct. 10.--The p~residen
| and Mrs. Mckinley, accompanied b,
n