The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-06-17
THE HONGKONG
NEWS BUDGET
Defenses on British Legation
at Peking Already
Begun.

HONGkONG, May 25.-Mr. Conger,
United States Minister at Picking, returns
10 China in July.
Three thousand three hundred British
troops leave China Immediately. 1t is
hoped that there will be further reduc-
tens shortly.
The Japanese papers publish disquieting
news of the spread of plague in Formo-
sa especially at Tainan.
II. B. NJ. Consul at Annoy has notified
the Government that bubonic plague ex-
lists at that port, several cases occurring
daily.
On the 18th inst. H M. S. Astraea was
suddenly ordered from Shanghai to Che
mulpo. No fresh news is to hand as to
affairs in Corea.
1t is stated that the Corean Government
is very anxious to avoid payment of any
damages in event of the cancellation OF
the French loan; but that the loan will be
cancelled even if 1t be necessary to pay
the compensation claimed.
Proclamations have been spread broad
cast in Chill, according to the native pa
pers, exhortirg the people to return to
their homes and resume their ordinary
avocations. Therefore they are returning
in great numbers, and planting the spring
crops.
The Chinese Court, according to our
Shanghai correspondent, has issued an
urgent Imperial decree ordering Prince
Ching and Ii Hung Chang to conclude
terms OF peace The famine in Shensi
has rendered the stoppage of the Court
at Hs anfu impossible.
The Universal Gazette states that from
information received through a foreign
source at Feking, the German Minister.
| it seems, sent a dispatch recently to the
Chinese Flenipotentiaries demanding the
payment Of twenty million taels as part
| of the German indemnity by the end OF
| the fourth moon (the third week In
| Jrne). UIon receipt of this money the
Germans will at once withdraw from Pc
king. Failing payment Of the amount de-
nanded within the period given, the Ger
man forces will remain and the Chinese
Government will be called upon to pay
| their expenses at the rate of one million
| taels per month.
Tie Gefenoes of the British legation at
Peking are reported by a Peking CORE
| spondent to have been begun. "a strong
wall will be built running parallel, on the
| north, with Stewart road and the south
| wall OF the Imperial City, on the west
with Gaselee road. 1t will be enf1anked
ard loopholed. Without the wall will be
| a clear space to come and approach.
Within, the present buildings will be
either utilized, where serviceable, as in
! the Carriage Park, or demolished. if use
less, to make space for parade and rec
ton grounds"
| Natives from Picking who have come
| down to Shanghai (says the North China
| Daily News report that 1t is proposed to
change the name of the Chunwen gate
| of Picking into the "Ketteler' gate (K'e-
| tc-lin-men) after the late German Minis
| ter, Baron Won Ketteler, and the Drum
Tower Hitherto known as the Eastern
| Tower or "Tung Pai-lou" in the vicinity
of which the late Baron was murdered
by q petty officer of Yung LUIS personal
corps last June, into Memorial Arch or
"Hsin-piao P ai-fang." In this connec-
ton. according to the Shenpao's editor,
sit is improbable that the Plenipotenti-
aries will consent to such proposition"
CcrresL ondence from Weihaiwei says:
On Sunday afternoon the t.b.d. Otter
brought important, almost sensational,
dispatches here from Admiral Bruce. now
at Chemulpo concerning events. in the
Hermit Kingdom. 1t is a matter of COM
mon knowledge that relation have be-
eminent and their nominal servant, Mr..
McLeavy Brown. Mr.. Brown, it appears,
has received notice to quit. His prompt
appeal for English support has received
an equally prompt response from Ad-
miral Bruce and the military authorities
here. This should be specially gratifying
70 the British community in the Far
East, as being anothersindication Of the
determination Aof our Government to
maintain British prestige even in a part
of the world that Russia has long been
coveting. 1t Is rumored that the action
of the Corcan Government is due to
French and Russian intrigue, and that
Japan is giving diplomatic assistance to
England. Certain it is that our repre-
sentative at Seoul is to receive all pos
sible support. and every preparation has
been made to send a small expeditionary
force to Chemulpo. On receipt of the
dispatches preparations were immediate
~ made by the commissioner, Major
General Dorward, to send force Of 1900
troops by II. NJ. S. Terrible to Chemulpo.
The expedition is under orders to leave
at six hours notice.
Marquis Ito the japanese statesman, is
confined to his room at Oiso, and is re-
ported to have had fainting fit on the
It'll inst.