The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-07-25

IOr the AiItluS OI Won NcIteIers
BERLIN, July 24-Count Won Buelow.
the minister of foreign affairs, made re-
ply to-day to the appeal of the Emperor
of China for German mediation between
the powers and the. Chinese government.
In substance Count Won Buelow said he
would not submit the telegram from the
Peking government to the Emperor so
long as the fate of the legations and other
foreigners in Peking were not ascertained
and as long as the Chinese government had
not atoned for the murder of the German
minister to Peking, Baron Won Kettler, and
given guarantees that in future its conduct
will be in harmony with international law
and the usages of civilization.
The Berliner Post prints this evening an
important article on the Chinese situation.
understood to emanate from the German
Foreign Office. The article discusses the
close relations between Chinese politics and
Chinese military plans. and points out the
significant fact that the peaceful assur-
ances of Chinese statesmen did not begin
until after the success of the allies at
Tien-Tsin, suggesting that this is some
thing more than a mere coincidence, as is
shown by reference to the similar tactics
of the Chinese in the Anglo-French war
with China in 1s57-60 The writer strongly
argues that hitherto the course of events
in China utterly contradicts the tactical
position of Chinese officialdom, which is
that the governemnt is blameless for the
warlke steps of the Chinese against the
allies. ''At Taku and Tien-Tsin," says the
article, 'it was almost exclusively a force
of regular Chinese troops that fought the
allies The leadership of these troops was
in the hands of imperial generals; and it is
also fact that the troops which compelled
Admiral Seymours retreat were imperial
soldiers, commanded by an imperial gen.
eral.'
According to all the information we
have from Pekng the regular soldiery have
made common cause with the so-called
rebels Otherwise the present anarchy
there would have been impossible Con-
sidering the usual Chinese system towards
foreigners, it is highly probable that this
anarchy is gladly tolerated by the actual
authorities in order to prove TO the powers
the impotence of the government. At any
rate the government massed large bodies
of troops at Peking and Tien-Tsin, os-
| tensibly to quell the rebellion, but these
| Joined the rebels against the foreigners. -
The article proceeds to show that war
was indirectly promoted most effectively in
| this manner by the Chinese policy which
thus did excellent preliminary work for
the military leaders.
1.-The stubbornness of the battles around
| Tien-TsIn," continues the writer, "shows
| that the Chinese political and military CAL
culations were able to achieve favorable
results at first. If the allies had not sue
| ceeded at Tien-Tsin, where the situation
| was for two weeks doubtful, Chinese poll
| tics would have scored a success whose
| consequences would have been incalcu-
! liable" The article concludes as follows:
| Whether Chinese craftsmanship is TO sue
| ceed in hindering an energetic and intelli-
| gent plan of operation by the allies, the
future will show. but the plans of the allies
will be at disadvantage against the Chi
| nese just so soon lack of harmony
| in military aims appears"
| This evenings papers devote considerable
attention to President McKinley's consent
| to mediate and the comment is all un-
| favorable. Surprise is generally expressed
| that Washington takes China official news
| seriously