The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1900-08-03

CHINA SEEKS PEACE.
Imperial Edict Commands Viceroys
to Negotiate Terms - Ministers
Are Held a. Ho~tage~.
London, July 30.-The Shanghai cor
respondent Of the Daily ExpreIs, tel
egraphing Sunday, says: 49,
A new imperial edict promulgated this
evening urgently orders all viceroys and
PROVINCIAL governors to endeavor to nego-
tate peace with the powers, whose minis
ters are held as hostages pending the re-
suit OF the overtures for the abandonment
OF hositilities against China. The viceroys
are also commanded to guard their
territories vigorously against attack
their power, the advance Of the
foreign, troops. especially along the
1angtse- ktang. The decree says that the
omcials will answer with their lives for any
1aliure to execute these orders Commands
are also given that not single FOREIGNER
shall be allowed to escape from the inte-
rior. where there are still fully 1900 Eu-
ropeans connected with missionary work.
In isolated situations.
When the governor of Shan Tung COM
municated to the consuls the imperial de-
cree OF July "A. he omitted important PASS
ages addressed to Ii Hung Chang:
lit 10 admittedly inadvisable to kill all
the ministers, but it is equally unwise to
WISER TO keep the survivors at Pehing as
hostages. You are commanded to hasten
10 Peking. You are mourning imperial dis
pleasure by delay. You have been an
pointed viceroy of Chilli because. with
your military experience, you will sue
cess1uliy lead the imperial armies against
the foreigners in Chilli. which Yu Lu. the
present viceroy, is unable to do, owing to
mis- Ignorance in military AFFAIRS
III Hung Chang replied to this edict.
asking to be allowed to retire on account
Of his age.
"sheng now admits that he has had tele-
grams since July 10 announcing that every
foreigner In Pao Ting Flu was murdered,
including 40 British, French and American
missionaries, and announcing also that two
wrench 'jesutts" and a thousand converts
have been massacred at Kwang Ping F'u
on the borders Of Shan Tung and Chilli.
A majority Of the consuls favor strong
measures against sheng's dupicity."
Berlin, July 3O.-The Chinese lega-
ton in Berlin has received a message
from Sheng, director general of rail-
ways and telegraphs, saying that he
has received a dispatch from Picking
announcing that Gen. Tung Fuh Slang
threatens to kill all the members of the
legations if the International forces
advance upon Picking. !, Evidently the
legation is embarrassed by the receipt
of this dispatch, az the Chinese minis.
ter has not communicated it to- the
German government. The legation has
cabled the viceroy of Nankin request
ing him to try to get information as to
whether the widow of Baron Won Ket-
teller, the murdered German minister. is
still alive.
London, July 3O.-The Shanghai
correspondent of the Daily Tele-
graph says he is still firmly convinced
that the ministers are safe, but, with
the exception of an alleged message
from the Japanese legation in Picking,
dated July 10, brought by runner,
saying that the legation was still de-
Tending itself, nothing has yet been
published giving anything in the
nature of proof. On the other hand,
the daily incoming reports of the
massacre of missionaries and foreign
ers leaves only the most slender
thread upon which to hang a hope.
The general situation, is steadily be.
coming darker, and crisis is said
to be fast approaching. 1t is rumored
in Shanghai that 10000 Chinese
troops have been secretly moved into
that vicinity, and that the commander
of the .Kiang Yu forts has been or.
dered to fire if any further addition
is made to the number of foreign
ships ascending the river. Rioting
has already occurred at Kin Kiang,
the mobs threatening death to for.
eigners.
With the arrival of the second Jap.
anese division the allied forces at
Taku and Tientsin will number 7O, 1000
The river floods near Tientsin are
diminishing.
1t is reported that Russians from
Hardin have arrived at point 15(
miles north of Picking, after severe
fighting.
Toxic. Saturday, July 30.-It is re.
ported that the Boxers attacked the
missionaries and native Christians at
Pao Ting Flu on July 8. A foreign ply.
sician and 1900 converts were massa.
cred.
The Chinese general, Ii Ho Keh, is
now marching on Peking. He has or
dered his troops to exterminate all
Christians. Already one French priest
and from 1900 to 5000 natives have
been slaughtered.
London, July 30.-The Daily Mails
Shanghai correspondent te!egraphs
that Russian banker. who left Picking
July and arrived at Shanghai Wednes'
day, July Is, says that when he left
Peking all the legations had been de-
stroyed and all the foreigners muir.
dered. The ministers, seeing death
was inevitable, shot tn cir families.
Washington, July 30.-The secretary
of state has received dispatch from
Mr.. Fowler, the American consul at
Chefoo, dated at midnight Oh the 26th
1LlS "OTn1Il8, ny TeQueSl VI Tic dlAeU
admirals, I wired the governor (supposed
| to be the governor of Shantung) their wish
| to get news from ministers themselves
The governor now replies:
Have received to-day edict from en-
peror saying that the ministers are we'll
| They are sending provisions to the4lega'
lions. Am confident ministers out of dis
tress and reuQest you (Fowler) transmit
this preliminary announcement to admir-
| ais
(Signed) "'YUAN, Governor
Secretary Hay also has received &