The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-25
GOVERNMENT TOOK A HAND.
No Doubt That Imperial Chinese Sol
diers Have sided with Boxers
Against Foreigners.


Berlin, July A.-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 signifi
cant fact that the peaceful assurances of
the Chinese statesmen did not begin un-
I'll after the success OF the allies at Tien
Tsin, suggesting that this Is something
more than a mere coincidence, as is
shown by reference to similar tactics of
the Chinese in the Anglo French war with
China in 1s57-6O.
The writer strongly argues that hither-
10 the course of events in China utterly
contrndicts the tactical position Of Chinese
officialdom, which is that the government
is blameless for the warike steps of the
Chinese against the allies.
AT Tien Tsin," says the article, at was
almost exclusively a force of regular Chi
nese troops that fought the allies. The
leadership of these troops was In the hands
Of imperial generals; and 1t is also a fact
that the troops which compelled Admiral
Seymour's retreat were imperial soldiers,
commanded by an imperial general.
According to all the Information we
have from Pekin. the regular soldery have
made common cause with the so-called
rebels. Otherwise the present anarchy
would have been impossible. Considering
the usual Chinese system toward foreign
ers. 1t is highly probable that this anarchy
is gladly tolerated by the actual authori-
ties In order to prove to the Powers the
importance Of the government. At any
rate, the government massed large bodies
of troops at Pekin and Tien Tsin, osten-
sibly 10 quell the rebellion, but these join
ed the rebels against the foreigners"
Promoted by Chinese Policy.
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.
THE stubbornness Of the battloe around
Tien Tsin," continues the writer shows
that the Chinese political and military cal
culaiions were able to achieve favorable
r suits at first II the allies had not sue
ceeded at Tien Tsin, where the situation
was for two weeks doubtful, Chinese pol
tics would have scored success whose
consequences would have been incalcula-
bic"
The article concludes as follows:
Whether the Chinese craftsmanship is
to succeed In hindering an energetic and
intelligent plan OF operation by the allies,
the future will show, but the plans OF the
allies would be at a disadvantage just SO
soon as a lack of harmony In military
aims appears"
Comments on Our Attitude.
This evenings papers devote considera-
BILE attention to President McKinley's con-
sent to mediate and the comment is all
unfavorable. Surprise is generally eek
pressed that Washington takes Chinese
news officially.
The Berlin Tagebatt complains that the
United States governme mt is 80 convinced
of the wisd m OF It's Chinese policy that
IL is preparing in advance 10 lay tho
blame for It's non-success upon govern
ments less credulous fhan President Nc
Kinley and Secretary Hay"
The paper goes on 10 say the United
States has be n taken in tow by China"
The semi-official Berliner Post says:
"SnRularly enough, Washington takes
tie dubious Chinese news for the truth"
that 1t actually appears that Washing
ton was only waiting for a pretext to dis
the United states from the Pow
ers"
The Lokal Anzeiger considers II "amaz-
Ing that the American government main
tains an optimistic attitude toward the
utterances OF Chinese mandarins
and that the American statesmen are ready
to treat with China before the rescue of
the foreigners in Pekin."
Commenting on the reported decision OF
the United States government to have
American troops advance upon Pekin the
Vossische Zeitung remarks that II the for
eigners In rekin could have been rescued
by so small a force the allies would long
ago have rescued them.
The Berliner Tageblatt, which sees
In President McKinley's
consent 10 mediate and his efforts to get
the allies to advance to Pekin, says:
win the government Of the United
States bamboozle the Chinese with diplo-
matte craftlness learned from Chinese
and only undertake media
ton In appearance?"
The same paper caps the climax By ex-
planning that washlngton's Chlnaphiie
attitude IS due TO THE impossibHity OF
leaving the Chinese population OF the
American Union out OF consideration.
A So. Petersburg dispatch says that
the Amur steamers have suspended the