Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-09-15

London, Sept. 13.-The foreign office
has Information confirming the private
dispatches received yesterday, regarding
an attack by the international force.
upon the Chinese fortiiications at Pc
Tang. north of Taku, but that the attack
was unsuccessful.
All the correspondents in China are
sending terrible stories Of the wholesale
mass ere Of missionaries and native
Gh-i.t:.--. -. .~a ti..t io~ip O
July between $1,000 and 10000 converts
sere mlssacred in the northern prov
inces. Large numbers of missionaries
are still unaccounted for and small hope
is entertained of their escape.
Native reports are subjected to the
most careful scrutiny, with the result
that. although there may be some ex-
aggerat.on, it is impossible to doubt that
in the main they ara correct.
The horror is intensified by confirma-
tiOn of the reports that the women were
subjected to unspeakable barbarities
and tortures, being stripped and slowly
dubbed to death. This was one OF the
mildest methods. The Boxers wreaked
tendish vengeance. The newspapers
are calling loudly for swift punishment
Fears are expressed lest the Russian
government, which does not encourage
missionary propaga anda, should prove
lukewarm in the matter.
Statements were current in the Euro
pean capitals last evening that all the
powers had replied to the Russian pl opo-
sition: that Great Britain and Germany
had declined to evacuate Pekin: that
Austria and Italy had decided to lie
guided by Germanys dc ciscn, and that
the other powers had agr,el t. more
Or less modified withd avail. The Paris
correspondent of The Morning Fost
claims to know that the allies will only
withdraw outside the walls OF the capi-
tai, where they will continue to DONNA te
Pekin in a military sense.
According to a news agency dispatch
from Pekin, dated Aug. 81, Mr. Congsr
regards the situation as deplol at le and
Is advising all the Americans to leave
the capital II possible.
Nothing Is known here as to any con-
ference between Ii Hung Chang and Dr.
Won Schwartzenstein, German minister
to China. Nor is it known whe ther any Of
the powers has recognized Ii Hurg
Chang. The report Cf Prince Ching
arrival at Pekin Is officially conflrme d, ,
but there is no official confirmation Of
the statement that he has been appointed
peace negotiator.
A dispatch from Blagovtrhensk, cap
ital of Amur province, describes the
ceremony Of re-christening the recently
captured village Of Sakhalin, on the right
bank of the Amur, as being most i'm
pressive. The military and civil au-
thorities were present. The officiating
pope christened the village Ilinski The
pope, during the course Of his address.
said: THE cross has now been erected
on the bank of the Amur, which. yester-
day, was in possession of the Chinese.
Muravieff and Amurski, the former gov
arnor general OF eastern Siberia, forsaw
that this bank would be ours sooner or
later"
Washington, Sept. 13-As ore more
effort for prompt settlement, the
Washington authorities have granted
Ii Hung Chang's request for safe con-
duct to Pekin, and the hope Is enter
tanned that China's willingness to come
to terms may help solve problem that
is fast becoming more complicated.
New York, Sept. 13.-The Evening Post
says: Definite negotiations toward
placing German loan in this city were
conducted Wednesday by a large bank
ig house. with important foreign con-
nections. Pending further investiga-
ton, the firm having the matter in
charge declined to go into particulars
The issue will probably reach $25, ,00O, ,0Op,
or the amount quoted as representing
the proba BILE cost of fitting out the Ger
man expedition and carrying on the in
vasion of China.
London, Sept. 13.-President Kruger
and several Transvaal officials are stay
ing at the house of Mr.. Pott, the consul
of The Netherlands, at Lorenzo Marquee,
where they arrived Tuesday night. It
is reported that they will sail for Europe
Sept. "a. on the German steamer Her.
zog.
On Saturday President Kruger was at
Nelspruit together with President Steyn
and Commandants Viljoen, Christian
Botha, Fourie and Delarey. President
Kruger was said to be in feeble health
and apparently was taking little In
terest In military operations. 1t then
was assumed that he was preparing to
take flight toward Komatipoort. His
departure probably was hastened by
General Frenchs movement in Barber
ton, which is the terminus of branch
road which joins the Pretoria -Lourenzo
Marquee road about 80 miles west Of
Komatipoort, Lord Roberts immediate
objective. With the British in COM
mand of this branch line Krugers re-
treat to Portuguese territory would be
cut off.
The departure Of President Kruger
from Transvaal territory indicates the
beginning Of the enc OF organized war;
fare in South Africa. When the head
and front Of the Boer nation sserts the
ship of state 1t seems entirely unlikely
that the struggle Will be carried on much
longer by organized bodies Of men.
1rreconcilables may continue guerilla
warfare for n short time, but there is
nothing left for which to fight. The
Transvaal +, pubic like he Orange Free
State. has been annexed by proclama-
ton to the British empire. and after an
heroic struggle against overwhelming
numbers the Beers find themselves with
out country.
General Roberts in this campaign has
driven the Beers from all heir strong
holds. from their capital, and. from
point OF view, has been VIC
torious everywhere. There has at no