The Somerset reporter., 1900-09-13
Affairs In China.

The Dowager Empress defes the al
lied army of Europe. She will have no
peace. She is for war and war of
vengeance An edict If defiance, signed
by the Empress at Tai-Tuan Flu, Aug
20, has just appeared at Shanghai. La
it the Viceroys are exhorted to unite TO
avenge the wrongs IF China. They are
ordered to raise taxes and enroll troops
in order to prosecute war upon the
allies. The whole edict breathes de-
fiance and undying hatred of the for
eigners. 1t explains to the Viceroys
that the court fled from Pekin because
it was feared that the Christians would
kill the Emperor
Sixteen more Protestant missionaries,
chiefly belonging to American missions,
have been murdered at CURIOUS, Fem
Chow Flu and Taiku, stations in Shen ST
province. News has reached shanghai
of a second Chinese outrage at Pao-
Ting Flu The dead include all for
eigpers, the Hodges and the Simcoxes-
the latter missionaries of whose safety
conflicting reports have been circulated.
Mrs Simcox, wife OF Rev. Frank Sim
cox, was cut down while firing over her
dead husbands body. Her three babies
were spiked before her eyes. Troops to
avenge the massacre will start from
Pekin at once, it is reported. The news
of the outrage comes from Chinese
sources.
| The developments of Monday in the
Chinese situation still point to speedy
withdrawal of the United States troops
from nina. Gen. Chaffee has added
the weight of his opinion to that already
entertained by many officials there 1t
probably is significant that the general 8
statement on this point VAS given pub
licity by the administration.
The Chinese minister, Mr.. WI Ting
Fang, Monday, delivered TO the State
on Lii Hung Chang absolute and uncon-
ditional authority to negotiate with the
powers for peace and for the settlement
of questions growing out of the war
The edict is dated on the last day of the
seventh moon, Chinese calendar, which
is about August "a 1t is issued by the
Emperor and not the Empress Dowager,
indicating that the former is now ex-
ercising those imperial functions which
some of the powers, notably, Great
Britain, have insisted belonged to him,
rather than the Empress Dowager.
| uo COuultIouS CopOTl6u ny udbob
appear to warrant the conclusion that
Mr.. onger will speedily leave Pekin
for one of the ports on the coast where
he can act more effectively and that the
United States troops will not respond to
German invitation to make a further
offer in the campaign outside of Pekin.
1t is believed that the objects that re.
main to be accomplished can be secured
xrytf f,vr IN
far as the United states troops are
concerned.
The Department of State at Wash
ington reports the following mes
sage from Consul General Goodnow at
Shanghai: "Amercans killed at Fen.
chow. Flu about July 81: Rev. and Mrs.
G. W. Price and one child, Rev. and
Mrs E K. Atwater and two children.
At Taku: Rev. and Mrs D H. Clapp,
Rev. G l.. Williams, Rev. F. w. Davis,
Miss Rowena Bird and Miss NJ l.. Par
fridge. All American Board
From the formal statement given out,
Tuesday, it appears that the state de-
partment at ashington is not ready to
begin direct neg citations wi h Lii Hung
Chang. 1t does not question his Gre
dentials as a penipotentary, but simply
leaves the matter in allegiance. Proba-
bly, because all of the powers have not
yet returnedAheir responses to the Rus
sian note and it is desired TO avoid
making the United States the first
among the powers to abandon the hope
of harmonious action and strike for
itself toward the settlement directly
with China. Also it may be deemed
we'll to wait to hear from Mr.. Conger,
who, several days ago, was invited to
express his opinion about leaving Pekin.
A special dispatch to London from
Rome says the Italian cabinet has de-
cided to initiate Immediately peace ne
gotiations with China. Italy will for
mulate demands for an indemnity and
if they are accepted Italian Intervention
will be considered terminated and no
proposals tending to further warfare in
China will be considered.