The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-03-19
a Conflict Among Foreigners
in China is Imminent.
French Troops Are Taking
Part in the Trouble.
OFFICERS POWERLESS
To Induce Them to Maintain a
Neutral Attitude.
Pull a British officer Out of
His Carriage.

New York. March ia dispatch to
the Herald from Tien Tsin says: The
Russian General Wogack has declined a
compromise suggested by Count Won
Waldersee.
The tension here is increasing. and
conflict may be expected at any mo-
ment. The troops of all nations are un-
der arms.
The situation at the railway station
remains the same. although the temper
Of the hostile troops is. il possible, more
disgusting than before.
French troops are taking part in the
trouble. despite the efforts Of their Off
GERS to maintain a neutral attitude.
Many groups Of French ran through the
British settlement yesterday afternoon
shouting Down with the Englishl" and
a number of fights took place. several
ending in blo0dshed. as the French al
ways carry side arms
Finally three French soldiers attacked
Captain Bogler. of the British army and
pulled him out OF his jinricSshaw-
The captain defended himself with his
fists and had knocked down one of his
assailants when a number of Si1hs came
to his rescue
General Campbell then turned out all
his troops. drove the French out. and
set pickets around the settlement. with
orders to admit no French soldiers into
the concession.
A special to the Times from wash
ingt0n says. "A PelSin report that Rus
sia has. consented to modify the string
encv OF her control on Msnchuria. which
seems to give much satisfaction in Lon
don, is regarded in diplomatic circles
here as of no great importance, even If
true. An experienced diplomat said to-
day:
Russia may actually abandon the
convention and tear It up without in
the least affecting her position except
for the better II Russia should go so
far as TO abandon the convention she
would have everything of importance
which she can gain by it, and would be
in a better position before the world
She IS actually in Manchuria and exer-
cisins control of it. which she can
strengthen or relax. as she secs fit
"A convention with China does not
give Russia's position the additional
strength which seems to be attributed
to ii. On the contrary. Russia can be
charged with having forced China TO
make a convention which other powers
would not feel bound to respect If she
abandons the convention. this charge
can not be made against her, and she
would therefore be in stronger posi-
tiCn morally At the same time she
would not lose a particle Of her actual
control Of MalchEEia-' -
London. March 1s.-Some of the after
ficulty has been arranged
The misunderstanding was due to the
Chinese authorities granting the same |
concession to two nations
The arrangement enables Great Brit !
ain to proceed with the construction of !
the railroad siding. but If Russia's con-
cessiCn proves to be earlier than that of
Great Britain the latter is to acknowl- |
edge the claims of Russia
Paris. March I9.-A dispatch from Pc I
kin 10 the Havas agency says the state |
of the Chinese negotiations will soon /
permit the reduction Of the French |
forces by about 10000 men, who Will be |
repatriated-
ARMIES GLARE. AT EACH OTHER. |
Tien Tsin. March 7g-(Afternoon)-Tae |
excitement and anxiety here as to lie
possible developments of the Anglo-Rus- /
sian siding dispute do not aabate- COM /
pany OF British troops and company Of /
Itussian soldiers remain encamped on 4
either side Of the trench, looking at each Il
other. The Russians have orders to fire Il
on any one commencing work
Gen. Wogack says the trouble was /
caused by the unwarrantable interior
ence OF the British in the affairs of The /
Russian concession and he adds that she 1
siding VIII not be continued, unless lie II
receives orders from his own superiors
Field Marshal Won Waldersee is ex-
pected here today.
Both sides will appeal to him. but they
both consider the matter to be beyOnI /
his authority, and viii await orders from
WANTS HELP TO LET GO.
London, March 19.-The afternoon
newspapers welcome the latest news
concerning the awkward situation Of
affairs at Tien Tsin. as Indicating the
probability of the faces of both Russia
and Great Britain being saved by the
intervention of a non-interested power.
Prof Douglass. of the British museums II
expresses the opinion that there is only 7
one way to stop Russian aggression in
China and that is for the three most
interested states. America. England and
Japan. to combine in firm resistance"
RUSSIA WILL NOT RECEDE.
Paris March 19-" Russia will not re
cede from the position she has taken in
the matter of the railroad siding at Tien |
Tsin, Of that you can be assured" y" This
statement was made to a representative
ciaI Of the foreign office Continuing |
this official said.
Russia VIII rot advance and viii act
slowly. but having taken up the posi-
ton she now occupies she viii be moved
therefrOrn only by force. England
has been unsuccessful in her effort to
secure the aid of other powers to at
tack RDssia's position regarding Man
churia- and is not likely to begin hos
tilities unsupported In the present in
stance Tt is hardly possible that Eng
land viii 90 TO war over a railroad siding
with the IransVaaI question still pend
Ing. I expect to see England WELD
-As TO the statement that French SOL
5iers attacked an English officer. we do
not believe it to be true. for though the
alleged attack occurred yesterday we
have not Yet had any advices on the
subject
MERELY A CHILDISH OUTBREAK.
Tien Tsin, March 19 tafternoon).-
Speaking OF the attack made by a num-
Der OF French soldiers on some members