The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-09-18
OF AFFAIRS REGARDING SETTLEMENT
OF MATTERS IN CHINA
RUSSIA'S CHANGE OF ATTlTUTE
Lessons h kcuteness al the situation.
America May Not Follow Russia In
Evacuation of Pekin-A Chinese City
Looted and Burned by Allied Troops.
Prince Ching at Pekin-Missfonarfes
Complain q the Looting Of the
Sacred City Is Not Allowed

phase and, therefore, not calling for
military orders. The war department
officials are awaiting word from the
state department as to the next step
expected of the troops, but it is now
intimated that this will not be taken
Immediately. The situation has lost
something Of its acutenesS, owing TO
the change in the attitude of the Rus
sian government, and although no
official information has reached Wash
ington of tie p-ostponement of the
withdrawal, tie fact is not doubted
here; but, regardless of the course to
be taken by Russia, it is said now tnat
there is nothing in the American note
OF response TO Russia that demands
an immediate evacuation in the event
that the Russian troops are called
way. Instead, it is stated that the
control of The %ituatio would simply
pass from the state department into
General Chaffee's hands and it would
be for him, after comforting with the
other military commanders, to deter
mine when and how and TO what extent
the American forces should be with
uIdWh. Lie llllSul CIOOSt lS oWH lii
and, in a degree, his position would be
similar to that occupied by him in the
advance upon Pekin so far as having
a free hand is concerned.
This statement of the conditions -OV-
erning the American reply to the
withdrawal proposal may be of sig
nificance, in view Of the fact that it
is made with the express purpose of
clearing away an impression
that has been made upon the public
mind.
FOREIGN TROOPS LOOT AND
BURN TU LIU.
Copyright by Associated Press.)|
| Tien Tsin, September II, via Taku,
! September 13.-The expedition d
! General Dorward against the Boxers
| threatening the Tien Tsin region reach
| ed Tu Liu On the Grand canal without
! opposition and the city was occupied
without a shot being fired. Three col
umnS converged there yesterday after
a TWO days march and found that the
place had already to one
| officer and eight Bengal Lancers. Gen
eral Dorward ordered the town burned
after it had been thoroughly looted.
The villages en- route made peace Of
ferings and in most cases were undis-
turbed. apparently the Boxers have
! disbanded IN that region and the whole
country is Gaiet.
PRINCE CHING IN PEKIN.
Copyright by Associated Press.)
Pekin, September 5, via Shanghai,
September 14.-Prince Ching arrived
here yesterday accompanied by an es-
cort of British and Japanese cavalry.
He spent the night in his W palace.
; Sharp diplomatic play is expected for
an advantage, but any definite nego-
tiations will probably not take place
until Ii Hung Chang shall have ar
rived and the question of his authori-
ty shall have been disposed Of. The
Japanese minister to China stated to
a representative of the Associated
Press that he wished an investigation
to be made Of Ii Hung Chang's cre-
dentials as he believed that Prince
Ching was the only man with authori-
ty in the premises. The Associated
Press representative saw Prince Ching
today, thanks to the courtesy of the
Japanese guards. The prince said he
trusted that in the immediate future
everything would be settled satisfac-
torily. He had come to Pekin, he
said, with full authority from the en-
peror to obtain peace by any necessary
sacrifice, but he felt sure the generos-
ity Of the powers would not exact any
thing degrading to the dignity of China
or e~ncroaching upon Chinese territory.
Copyright by Associated Press.)
Shanghai, September Eli Hung
Chang informed a representative of the
Associated Press today Ia he will
start for Tien Tsin Friday, September
14th, that he|will go to Pekin If cir
cumstances demand it, and that Prince
Ching and he had full authority from
the empress dowager and emperor to
negotiate a settlement with the pow
ers, explaining that there were nc
other commissioners for China.
Questions put to Ii Hung Chang
concerning the settlement which the
| Chinese government wanted to make
were automatically parted. He said
China has her views as to what set
Element is desirable and the powers
have their views. We will meet AND
negotiate"
Asked whether he expected demand:
for the cession of territory as indem'
nifty, Ii Hung Chang replied: L an
in communication with some of tn
governments. 1 have found they hav'
no disposition to ask for and.
The correspondent said: There Ii
great curiosity abroad to hear an ex
PLANTATION of the contradictory edict'
issued in the name of the dowager EN-
press during the siege"
: Ii Hung Chang mediate ? momen
, I and SAID: he empress a t1e begin
!. ming was pacly advised. She was tol,
, the Boxers had supernatural powers
. that they could not be injured an
were able to make 1t very hot for tn,
; foreigners. She believed this, but af
. forwards found 1T was not true"
When the correspondent was leav
: ing the interpreter said: 1.-The vice
! roy hopes you will not give a bad i'm
preston or him TO the American pa
pers. He says he is a very old mar
the Oldest to take part in these rs 2
tiations-that he has had much exYe-i
ence in these affairs; that he is II
only man who can help the fore
governments as well as the Chinese
and that he will try to arrange a set
Element fair to all parties.
Shanghai, Thursday, September 49,
The municipal council has granted L
Hume Chang permission to sail. H
will travel with a retinue Of 125 per
sons and Will leave the foreign settle
ments tomorrow, Friday, to join tn
steamer An Ping for the north.
WHOLESALE LOOTING.
Copyright by Associated Press.)
Pekin, September 8, via Taku. Sci
TENDER Z. via Shanghai, September /
i|T aa+fn0 in Peki1 ronfsuo~ bnfh al