St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-01-02
THE CHINESE SITUATION.



Ii Hung Chang and Prince Ching, the
| Chinese peace commissioners, have hearu
from the Emperor Kwang Su Prince
Ching called on the former for consulta-
ton, remaining over an hour. The court
objects strenuousy to reducing the forts,
and also to allowing permanent legation
guards, which, it seems to think, could
be made sufficiently large at any time de-
sired, in order to menace the court itself.
After the conference it was decided to
hold further communication with the
court before seeing the ministers. The
Chinese newspapers at Shanghai object
to he proposed peace terms. The Uni
versal Gazette" considers that the
princes and officials who are to be pun
ished should be named. 1t is questiona-
BILE whether General Tung Flu Hsiang is
included among those punishable; and so
far as Prince Tuan is concerned, it is well
known that the Chinese peace commits
sioners have been instructed not to con-
sent to any punishment of any person OF
royal blood exceeding Imprisonment.
Some of the native journals hold that
the presence OF permanent legation
guards will render the Emperor's return
impossible, because these would be
menace to the court. China" says one
OF them, would be powerless to suppress
uprisings because prohibited from in
creasing her military strength; and the
powers, therefore, would renew hosti1
ties again and the people would be
moved down like hemp" Many Chinese
war junks, laden with stone, have been
anchored off Wu-Sung, presumably to
block the channel in case of an emergency.
Military Operations.
The British have increased their garri-
son at Yang Tsun by hundred men,
with horses and three guns. A flying
column of 1900 cavalry will scour the
country between Tien Ts1n and Yang
Tsun, in obedience to Field Marshal Won
Waldersee's orders to be on the alert, in
view OF the French report of an engage
ment with twenty-five hundred Chinese
troops.
Colonel Tullock S regiment will return
to destroy the towns he recently held.
This action is owing to the fact that it
has been discovered that a number of
Boxers unquestionably made them their
headquarters. The British authorities
say they do not expect serious trouble
from the Boxers, mainly because they
lack arms. Fortunately, the Chine e
government is afraid to trust them with
arms, as it fears rebellion against the
dynasty. Otherwise the danger might
have been serious. British soldiers have
been found dead outside the Temple of
Heaven with bullets in their heads. The
murders are believed to have been com,
mitted by Chinese. The Germans and
japanese are clearing the river of pirates
from Taku to Tien-Tsin.
The Chinese W ill Sign.
The Chinese plenipoteutiaries have
been unexpectedly ordered to sign the
preliminary joint note and have notified
the ENJOYS to that effect. The Chinese
themselves were greatly astonished at
receiving the imperial instructions.
Neither Ii Hung Chang nor Prince Ching
had expected success in persuading the
court under ten days. The Emperor's in
structions are to agree fully to the note,
but to endeavor to get the best terms
possible, particularly in the matter of
limiting the number of the legation
guards and also as to the places where
these are to be located. The plenpoten-
tiaries are instructed to endeavor to
limit the number of army posts along
the line of railway to as few as possible
and finally to request the powers not to
destroy the forts but merely to disarm