The Portland daily press., 1900-07-26
HOSTAGES PRACTICALLY.
LII Hung Offers TO Escort Ministers TO
Tien Tsin Providing

Lii Hung Offers TO Escort Ministers TO
Tien Tsin Providing
London, July 26.-The Shanghai cor
respondent of the Daily Express tele-
graphing yesterday, says:
ga general rising throughout China is
now regarded as SO absolutely certain
that all the missionaries throughout the
empire have been ordered to take refuge
without delay, either at Shanghai OF
Hong Kong. Refugees are beginning to
arrive from all points in the most pitt
able condition.
.ssAs the result of constant CORE
spondence with the governor of Shan
lung, Lii Hung Chang this afternoon an
nounced that the imperial government
was prepared at any moment to give {
safe convoy to the members Of the for
eign legations from Pel1in to pien Tsin
provided a guarantee were given that ne
advance would be made upon the CAPT
tai and that all matters in dispute be-
tween China and the powers would be
made the subject of friendly negotiations
''In the same communication to tbs
consuls Earl LII stated that the imperial
government had submitted to the powers
a statement of It's position, declaring
that 1t had suffered greatly by recent
events, but desired not only to suppress
rebellion but also to remove the causes OF
the hostility Of foreign powers. There
fore he hoped that the offer to escort the
foreigners to lien Tsin would be regard
ed as an earnest Of the desire of the Chi
nese government for the renewal OF
friendly relations
''The consuIs replied that no basis
for friendly negotiations was possible
until proof was at hand that the minis
tiers were still living. Consul Warren
declined to discuss the matter at ALL
but in his reply to the French consul, Il
Hung Chang undertook to obtain salts
factory message from the French minis
ter (M. Pichon) within five days"
TRENCH MISSIONARIES.
Paris, July 25-The French consul at
Shanghai telegraphs today that live
French missionaries have been killed by
boxers in the Manchurian district
1000 AMERICANS AT HAIKU.
Shanghai, July s5.-Three thousand
American troops have arrived at Taku,
as well as eight transports filed with
British troops Both detachments are
deficient in artillery.
A cable steamer started to lay cable
from Wei-hai-wei to Haiku.
ONLY TOO WILLING.
London, July g5 THE Daily Express
has the following from st. Petersburg:
''Admiral Skydelotf commanding the
Russian squadron in Chinese waters has
received precise instructions to lombard
the Chinese coast towns Immediately on
receipt OF continuation of the report of
the massacre at Pekin.
RUSSIANS IN CRITICAL POSITION.
St. Petersburg, July 25.-In the opinion
of the Russian general staff the protec-
tive force on the railway between Charbin
and Tielin must be in critical position,
since no definite news of the situation
there has been received. All that is
known is that the wives and children OF
the workmen have fled to Charbin.
The detachment, which numbers 200
was, at the end of June, threatened by
10000 Chinese with artillery. AS late as
July ~, it had not been heard of either
at Charbin or Sungair, and it is feared
that the force has been annihilated.
Col Aratomonoff of the Russian gem
eral staff, we'll known traveller has been
ordered to proceed to Kwang Tung and
then to place himself at the disposition
of the governor of p ort Arthur.