Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-12-28
THE CHINESE RIOTS.
British Government Preparing to
Make Demonstration In Force.
DOWACER EMPRESS ISSUES EDICT,
Commander of imperial Army TO
Proceed to Shanghai, Investigate
Disturbances, Punish Offenders
and ImDeach OalceFs.


Pekin, Dec. 21.-The dowager en-
press Wednesday issued an edict com
manding the viceroy Of Chill provinc
Of Yuan Shi-Kai, commander Of tn
Chinese army, to proceed to Shanghai
investigate the disturbance, secure thu
punishment of those implicated, ant
impeach the civil and military oficiali
responsible for the maintenance O
order.
Washington, Dec. 21.-The State de-
partment has received cablegram
from Shanghai announcing the arrival
there Tuesday evening Of the men from
the Baltimore. The state department
advices Of Wednesday morning are
to the effect that the British were pre-
pairing for large demonstration by
both army and navy. German, Japan
ese and Austrian cruisers were on their
way to Shanghai. Quiet prevailed
| Tuesday but only because Of the armed
force controlling the city. The mixed
court was still closed. The Chinese
authorities were trying to effect a
compromise but demanded removal OF
the British assessor which demand was
refused. There was no report OF
trouble at the outposts but the mission
aries were becoming alarmed and many
were arriving In Shanghai.
As understood here, the trouble arose
from the action of the British assessor
levying a tax upon a Chinese resident
Of the foreign settlement. The court
is curious body, made up Of Chinese
magistrate who holds sittings every
week day. On two days Of each week
an American official from the consulate
general sits with him in the capacity
Of assessor; on two other days a SIM
liar German oflicial sits. and on the
remaining two week days a British rep
resentative. This court has jurisdic-
ton over all licenses and taxes payable
by the Chinese in the foreign settle
ment Of Shanghai. The Chinese mu-
nicipal authorities have always been
Jealous Of this court and there have
been many clashes in the past owing
to the ,fforts of the Chinese to col
lect these taxes themselvs. The court
also possesses the power to punish Gull
prits and frequently causes the cat-o'-
nine-tails to be laid on. while the Chin
ese whip culprits with bamboos. For
a long time past the Chinese have
been trying to reduce the authority
of the mixed court and 1t Is inferred
here that the present trouble has arisen
from the assertion Of jurisdiction by
the British over some Of the Chinese
merchants.
Chefoo, Dec. GA prominent Euro
pean official who Is visiting Chefoo
crystallzlng the opinions Of persons
thoroughly acquainted In China and
with the present disorders states that
the Shanghai troubles were the direct
result of the American boycott. He
thinks the American oflcials at Wash
ingtou should have opposed the Chin
csc demands for q revision Of the ex-
clusion laws and insisted upon the Inn
mediate suppression Of the boycott.
He characterizes the boycott movement
a. an excuse for the exhibition Of anti
foreign reeling resulting FROM an Tns
flammatory propaganda carried on IN
China through the commencement Of
the Russo-Japanese war.
London, Dec. 21.-According to on
cial advices received Wednesday from
Shanghai 1t is believed that the situa-
ton, while most unsatisfactory, can
be controlled by the warships already
there. The only danger is that disaf-
fection may spread to the interior. 1t
is thought that Il will not be necessary
to send troops as the Chinese govern
ment Is taking every precautlon to pre-
vent an uprising. The foreign ONCE
has disapproved the action Of the Brit
ish assessor in confining Chinese
women prisoners in a foreign jail. It |
has SO instructed the minister at Pc
kin, Sir e. NJ. Satow, who has ordered
the transfer Of the prisoners to q ma
tive Jail 1t is alleged that this action
OF the assessor was the cause Of the
recent rioting.