The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-07-10

department.. Chinese information is re-
ceived with extreme distrust.
1t is obvious that, though there are
many thousands OF Chinese camped be-
hind the guns nothing can be done at
present save to wait the arrival OF rein
forcements. The rainy season has set in
and this makes going into the interior
most difficult. The country between
Pekin and Tien Tsin in other seasons has
been flooded frequently. River transport
is almost impossible and the railway is
practically non-existent and must be en-
tirely rebuilt.
Military opinion is unanimous that if
the legations did not need relief, it wonld
be foolish to attempt to advance before
September. The Daily Mails Shanghai
correspondent, under date of July 8, says
"It is certain that If the powers make
any movement elsewhere north of Taku,
they must be prepared to meet opposition.
A Chinese official in high favor with Vice
roy Lu Kun Xii, in the course of an in
terview says the southern viceroys are
only bound to neutrality so long as they
are not interfered with. They have more
war materials than they can use and the
military forces all over the provinces are
increasing. The Yang Use Kiang is
mined with torpedoes. The garrison at
the Shanghai arsenal has just been rein
forced by two newly recruited regi-
ments."
Baron Hayashi, being asked by are
preventative of the Daily Chronicle,
"Do you understand that Japan has
now been allowed q free hand to settle
the trouble S'' replied: II do not under
stand-so, but know that Japan is quite
willing to do all in her power to bring
the rising to an end along with the other
powers. Japan is ready to put q, 900 men
into the field.'
If any sort of government existed in
Pelin, the settlement Of the trouble would
not present serious difficulties but if an
archy prevailed the situation would be
serious indeed
Mr.. George Wyndham, parliamentary
under-secretary of state for war, said in
the house of commons yesterday that
since 1895, English firms had sold the
Chinese government II guns of position,
1873 field guns and 297 machine guns, with
ammunition for each class. He also said
that German firm in 1899 sold China
400, ,000 mauser rifles.
Rear Admiral Lord Charles Beresford,
speaking at Malta, at the navy and mill
tary society on Monday evening, said the
trouble in China would be far reaching
and disaftrous in its consequences to Bri-
4~I. /,
not maritime war and the powers that
could place on the spot the greatest num-
Der of troops would eventually have sub
stantiaI advantages. The powers not con
ssnting to the ''Open door, particularly
Russia he declared, would eventually
lose supremacy. He said it was a pity
that EIs proposals respecting the reorga-
nization of the Chinese army had not
been accepted by the British government
with view to the possibility of gem
eral war
Lord Beresford advocated an imperial
conference to which all the colonies
should be invited to discuss a scheme of
defense.
The Times this morning says:
Some Chinese officials are evidently
desirous to have it believed in Europe
that the legations in Pelxin are still un-
der the protection of one section of the
Chinese army. But that only makes it
more remarkable that they should not
employ the only convincing argument by
allowing direct communication between
the ministers and the outside world. We
do not wish to insist too strongly upon
this aspect, but those circumstantial ru
mors lack the continuation so easily sup
piled if they are true"