The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-15

TO cut of supplies for the court, almost
all Of which now 20 up the Han from
Hankow- But the foreigners have prom
ised not 20 do this II the Ficeroys pre-
serve order. So il is not likely 10 hap
pen.
This Is probably the most tangled state
Of political affairs that the world has ever
seen. The Chinese arm IS have been de
fsated in the North: PeIin and TI61tsiu
destroyed, several officials who Obeyed the
Empress Dowager's commands and muir
deEed foreigners have been beheaded- OPP
eraJiCns are sun going On The court has
fed &c 9 distant place, to reach which il
endured great hardships, and TO which
large nun bers Of tie coUrJeTs succumbed-
i IS now in The midst Of a pauiC-stricken
province. and all IFS supplies must come
up the YangtZe. Most g its funds must
be collected from this valley end forward
ed By the very NieerCgs WHO disObeyed or
ders, spared the foreigners and are now
bound by 2 promise 10 the latter 10 pre-
serve order Rice for the court IS brought
10 HaEkow b. foreign stran gers, but il is
said 70 be 50 poor and dirty that II viii be
Of little use b. the time It reaches Sinan-
Flu.
The commissioners appointed By the
court are trying 70 get the foreigners 10
discuss peace; meanwhile the Empress Is
gradually Issuing edIcJs GenOuncIng her
creatures who obeyed her orders. and as
signing their punishments- At the same
time she IS making preparations 10 contIn-
ue the fight.
The allies seem to Be still pushing for
ward IN the North and trying TO circUIn-
vent he willy old Empress. while the for
eign steamers here are carrying food 10
enable her 10 hold out. she has assigned
some pretty severe penalties 10 some Of
the guilty officials, but no one believes she
viii nave them carried out unless she is
absolutely powcrless to prevent Il.
I forgot to add that the Governor Of
SLantung Province IS vigorously suppress
ing the remains Of the Boxer movement in
his province and the allies have agreed
not 10 send troops there. In return for
their courtesy he sent them presents Of
food So that IN some parts Of the coun-
try the allies are az war with the court
and its minions while II others they have
entered into agreement with officials who,
while disoteying the Empress order to
extermiaatc foreigners and still protect
ing those II their borders, are yet send
ing troops. money and food to enable her
10 keep uD the fight. They are still sit
ting en- the fence. and apparently have not
yet made W h 1T minds or which side to
dismount.
Everybody l. disappointed at the way
the United States Government has acted.
As soon as the first temporary success
was gained an& the legations we're res
cucd the United States Withdrew from the
whole thing. Matters ~ere in 10 condI-
tio8 for settlement thCn, as the Dowager
showed not the least sign Of repentance
Tor her uurderCIs work Nor are they any
nearer settlement 2oys. Yet apparently
the Unitei States Government pins It's
faith 70 The statements Of the Chinese
Minister IN Washington and Il Hung
CHAINS. has decided ina. its work In China
is done. aH- III wait until England and
Germany have Quieied things and then
viii step in and share the benefits.
one Of the strange features Of the sit
uf-ion $ that everyone seems 10 wish the
Emperor back on she throne Even the
peEormers ard The anti Nauchu secret So
cfeties ere If the same mind They do
not regard him IS a Ianchu, and there
are strange stories that either he CT his
father was q pure Chinese. who was
changed in the cradle Tor the true Man
chu. But while he - recognized as the
trGe Emperor, Chinese notions Of rever-
cnce for seniors and mothers, even foster
mothers. make The officials unwilling to
oppose he DoWager, even though she has
usdrped the place of the tIue ruler.
Truly this IS a strange land The En-
percr seems anxious % return TO Pekin
and arrange peace, but the old woman VIII
not lei him"