Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-05-02
A GERMAN CONCESSION
ON The SOIL OF China.
ARRANGED AND POSSESSION
WILL SOON BE TAKEN .
TROOPS ARE TO REMAIN.
FOREIGN GENERALS THINK BEST
FOR TWO STRONG GARRISONS
TO BE MAINTAINED.

that the Germans HdV5 SSleCteu C'ii-
cession at Canton, that the preliminar-
les have been arranged and that posses
sion will be taken soon.
PEKING, April 39.-Field Marshal
Won Waldersee, in the letter which he
sent to the ministers to-day, as tho re-
ply of the generals to the views of the
ministers regarding the military ques-
tons discussed yesterday by the gen
erals in conference says a garrison of
5000 men should be left at Tien-Tsin
and the adjoining districts, Great Brit
ain, France, Germany and Japan to con-
tribute 1,400 men each, anil Italy to
contribute 400 men. To garrison Shang-
Hai-Kwan, France Russia, Great Brit
ain and Germany are to contribute 300
men each, and Italy enc company until
the forts are RACED. SO long as any
forces occupy Chinese territory the for
eign military commanders must exer-
else the full authority of civil admin
iatration, according to the principle es-
tablished at The Hague in 1890. The
Chinese may remain in office, as in the
case of Pao-Ting-Fu and, partly, Ten
Tsin. Beside the 5000 men in the Tier
Tsin district, warships, which must al
ways be in the Pei-Ho, will preserve
communication with the international
feet at Taku.
TO allow this administration to de-
pend in any respect on the mandarins
would be an utter impossibility. Eric
lions would arise Immediately which
would lead to difficult conflicts, which
will be better avoided. The placing of
the civil administration under the mill
itary has further great advantage 1t
would be inconvenient in the Chinese
government which would, therefore en-
deavor to get rid of it speedily by the
settlement of peace conditions.
When the troops at lien Tsin are re-
duced to two thousand by the granting
of, possibly, quarter of the conces-
slons, then the question Of an absolute
Chinese administration may be consid-
cred.
the creation of a chief command is
desirable for purely military reasons as
in cases of disorder or troubles of any
kind military measures will be required.
These measures must take place where
these troubles occur and the authority
of the commander-in-chief must also
extend to the legation guards at Picking.
Count Won Waldersee thinks the min
lster's statement that there had never
been a military administration or
permanent military organization in Pc
king, as troops with banners could not
be considered as such, to be incorrect,
as his investigation showed that
strong garrison of troops was at Pc
king, with the latest modern arms.
Concerning the question of evacua-
ton, opinions were divided. The Brit
ish, Japanese and German commanders
were of the opinion that the evacuation
could not commence until China had ac-
copied the prescribed conditions and
paid the total indemnities. The French
commander would commence by with
drawing 5000 in a fortnight and COM
pleting the withdrawal of the troops
here, on account of the climatic condi-
lions. The Italian and Austrian COM
manders had no instructions, and Gen.
Chaffee, the American commander, alb
stained from expressing an opinion.
Gen. iWogack, the Russian commander,
was not present at the recent meetings
of the generals and Russia was not
represented.
The question of evacuation is most
dificult, on account of the approaching
hot season, which is very injurious to
thehealth of the troops and which. also,
will increase the costs of the war in
demnity immensely, result in the loss
of hundreds of soldiers, and probably
mean the retention of the troops for the
winter. The generals were unanimous
ly of the opinion that the question could
be more speedily solved if the ministers
would treat separately regarding the
amount of indemnity and the method of
raising it. The second part of this
question must take many months before
solution can be found, on account of
the difficulty. of the matter.
If the question: of indemnity is con-
sidered first, and China expresses her
willingness and ability to pay, the mo-
ment will have arrived to commence
The evacuation, the execution of which
will require several months, so the re-
duction will be very gradual The
generals are convinced that 1000 men
1t Pekin, 1,500 at Shang- Hai-Kwan and
1000 men on the railroad, and alto
gether 1880 men, with the fleets at
Taku and Shanghai will be sufficient
.orce to compel China 10 accept the de-
mand for and manner of payment of the
indemnity.
Count Won Waldersee and a party of
oficers left Pekin to-day on a visit to
the great wall and the Ming tombs.
MORE FIGHTING REPORTED.