Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-07-12
1uan's EdiCt Believed to PreCede
Horrible Tale Of Massacre
and Looting.
A MOST OMlNOUS ASPECT.

London. July 12.-3.30 \. M.-The
Chinese situation again bears a most
ominous aspect. Eighteen days ago,
Sir Robert Hart dispatched his last
message, declaring that the situation
was desperate and since then no word
has come from the Europeans in Pc
kin.
According to the Daily Mails Shang-
hal correspondent, Ii Hung Chang has
received an imperial decree ordering
his immediate departure for Pekin, pre-
sumably to break the news of the Pekin
tragedy to the European powers and in
his usual role of negotiator with Eu-
rope in difficult matters to endcaVor to
act as mediator and to avert the ven
geance of the powers.
To add to the grimness of this sug-
gestion all advices from Tien Tsn tend
to confirm the repartS of the perlous
condition of the allied forces and bellies
the optimistic Chinese rumors Unless
reinforcements speedily reach Tien
Tsin another disaster may be expected.
The Daily Mails Tien Tsin correspon-
dent telegraphing. July ;. says: The
situation is about as bad as it can well
be. | only trust that we shall not soon
want relieving ourselves. A forward
movement is impossible. From 10000
tn 5000 troops are wanted and there
are only 10000 here. The foreign troops
are working well together but it is in
convenient that there is no supreme
commander. In some quarters the feel
ing is Let us rescue Pekin and then
clear out in favor of Russia
Other Tien Tsin correspondents say
that no advance is possible until Sept.
l. and explanations are being asked by
the papers here of the tardy action of
Japan in sending troops since it is
known that she was ready and willing
to send them and that Russia raised no
objection to her doing so. 1t is limited
that a difficulty arose as to the manner
in which Japan was to be recouped for
her heavy outlay. Rumors are current
that Japan demanded the opening of a
Chinese port.
The Russian papers report that the |
Boxers are arriving at Manchuria and !
have demantled so miles of the railway. |
Telin and Kirin. while !
Port Arthur and New Chwang are said |
to be endangered Russia. therefore. has !
dispatch a large military force to Man
chura.
1t appears that the Russian censor
ship suppressed ali references to this |
matter and it transpires that so. 900 reg
ular troops have already arrived from
Port Arthur and Anu to protect the
railway and that other
troops are now on their way to Man
churia.
All kinds of stories come from Shang-
hal. which it is impossible to verify.
IT is stated that the Boxers have muir
iered the chancellor Of the Pekin Uni
and 60 Of the members Of his
family and retainers.
A confidential officer of Gen. Yung
Lu. disguised as a Boxer. is reported to
have crept into Prince Tuan's tent
while the prince was sleeping, with the
intention of stabbng him. He was
caught by the sentries. so the story
goes. and decapitated on the spot. His
head was sent with Prince Tuan's com
pliments. to Yung Lu as a warning to
him to beware.
The French consul at Shanghai has
news that the Chinese project at Mouk-
len himself murdered the Catholic
Bishop Guillon in his Yamen. Besides
Bishop Guillon. Fathers Crunoet. Cor
bel. Borguois and Veuilemot and two
listers Of the French mission and num-
arous native Christians We're massa-
ored.
From Canton comes q report Of large
assertions from a German Chinese reg
ment at Kiao Chou and of a sangui-
lary riot between German troops and
Boxers. many of the latter being killed.
Both at Shanghai and Canton appre-
1ension exists that evidences Of
Widespread native rebellion indicate the
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