The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-22
OVER HOSTILE ATTITUDE OF BRITISH
AND RUSSIANS.
TROOPS FACING EACH OTHER
Each Determined that the Other Shall
do no wor on the Disputed Terri
tory-The Attack or French Soldiers
on British-The Former Frequently
Abusive OF Unarmed American Sold.
iers-Russia Denies Having Backed
Down In the Manchurfa Matter.

AESu 4oiu, 11diCl 1S.-1nS SxClISfnenN
and anxiety here as to the possible de-
velopments Of the Anglo-Russian sid
ing dispute do not abate. A
OF British troops and a company OF
Russian soldiers remain encamped on
either side OF the trench. looking at
each other The Russians have orders
to fire on any one commencing work.
General Wogack says the trouble was
caused by h unwarrantable interior
ence of he British in the affairs of the
Russian concession. and he adds that
the siding will not be continued unless
he receives orders from his supariors.
Field Marshal Won Waldersee is ex-
peal to him, but they both consider b
matter to be beyond his authority and
will await orders from Europe.
Speaking of the attack made by a
number of excited French soldiers on
some members of the British Sikh regi-
ment Sunday, in the French conces-
sion, General Lorne-Campbell says Ii
was merely a childish outbreak against
the riders of their own general who
a forbidden the French soldiers to
enter the British concession. This or
der followed a request made by Cen
eral Lorne-Campbell after almost every
resident had complained of the behav-
ior Of the French in insulting women
refusing to pay for purchases. acting
r%iotously and abusing American and
British soldiers.
General Voyron, the French COM
mander, recognized that this must stop
and ordered the French soldiers to
keep in their own concession. enera
arnn- r1n6a1I va nnrfantfV satisfied
that General Voyron was in harmony
with himself and anxious to maintain
order.
Major Foote ninth United States in
fantry) says the French soldiers were
abusive to the American troop who
were unarmed while out on pass while
the rench We're armed with swords or
bayonets. On one occasion an Ameri-
can disarmed a Frenchman and turned
over his weapon to the sergeant of the
guard, explaining satisfactorily his
| reasons for the action taken.
Major Foote thought that sooner or
later the British must act in the inter-
est of the concession.
General Voyron says there is no fric-
ton between the French and British.
The incident of Sunday was regretta-
BILE, was caused by a few excitable
men, and has no connection whatever
with any feeling individual Frenchmer
MA IlClO III ldNOI vi lIe =
claims in connection with the land on
which it was proposed to build the
| railroad siding.
ST Petersburg, March 19.-Answering
a question of the correspondent of the
Associated Press, a competent official,
today said:
1T is not true thai Russia has yield
ed to the representations of any Of the
| powers and modified her demands re-
speeding Manchuria. because no repre-
sensations have been made. Every ten
tative attempt to address the Russian
government on the subject of our pour
parlers with hin has been catagori-
cally declined. Russia is a great pow
er and has the right to hold negotia-
tons with any other government, n
no other power has the right to inter
fere. Tentatives made in a friendly
spirit, however, received a friendly
| answer but, plainly stated, Russia
cannot receive inquiries regarding the
above pourparlers. The result thereon
| will doubtless be made known later"
The informant of the correspondent
of the Associated Press admitted that
the power rebuffed was Great Britain.
The informant of the correspondent
ridiculed the talk of a military conflict
at Tien Tsin. He said:
IF diplomacy is unable to settle the
| controversy Russia is willing to sub
NIT it to arbitration, perhaps TO h
Hague tribunal, or to some other arbi-
traitor. After England captures deWet
perhaps she will have the courage for
a military conflict in another quarter
| of the world. While he is promenading
around the British forces, it is hardly
probable that England will seek trou-
BILE elsewhere.