China and Japan.

Manawatu Herald, 30 April 1895, Page 2

China and Japan.

The Great Powers have; if is said, allowed the cession of Formosa to Japan, and have agreed to the payment of the indemnity and the opening of Chinese ports to foreign trade. Russia, suspecting that Great Britain has obtained secret conces* sions, has forwarded to the Japanese Government a Note as to the conditions in the treaty of peace to which she will not give her sanction. The Daily News states that Great Britain shares the Japanese commercial privileges. Many French papers complain that the Government is alienating Japan, while others allege that a secret treaty has been completed between Britain and Japan. \ The Japanese Government has replied that it is unable to accede to the demands of the Powers, on the ground that to do so would be to expose the country to the danger of revolution, as the populace is drunk with victory, and would refuse to assent to any abatement of the terms. Russia, however, adheres to her demands. Sir E. Grey, in reply to a question in the House of Commons, said that England had no engagement with Japan giving her equal rights to trade with China, but China's treat- ' ies with England gave ample security on that head. The correspondent of the Standard

' asserts that there is a conviction in Berlin that Japan prefers to fight Russia rather than renounce the annexation of certain Chinese territory. Many German newspapers disapprove of supporting Russia in |tt*^ .opposition to some of Ike. con.ditioqp(£. of peace. - -•-^i Several Parisian papers also pro* -" test against France being dragged at -the-heels oi Russia. ,_ — ...».> The Novoye Vr&myra states that the negofciationa between Russia and Japan have taken a favourable turn, aad it, ia expected the matters in dispute will soon be settled. Pekin is in an excited state, and many high Chinese officials are urging the Emperor to refuse to ratify the peace treaty. Sir Edward Grey stated, in replying to the question in the House of Commons regarding the positiongof England in .relation to. the trWay, that the treaty of 1858 provider tnat Great Britain- shall share equally in aiyr future . commerci^reonce^one China may .-grant. / , V £ The Vidomotti, in an artiole ap* pareiitly inspired by the Cgar'a personal, friends, states that if Great Britain supports Japan India will suffer. . , . : "i- . The opposition of the Chinese 'Em-i peror and leading officials tosomS of the conditions, of peace, is ohiesy to the cession of Southern Marionuria, which. is. an ancestral portion of tke empire. Russia, has requested China to delay -the ratification of treaty, as the Powers state that the Japanese occupation of the Laio-tong Peninsula would be a constant menace to Pekin, and also, hamper the independence of Corea ; hence the protest. The JRepublique Ftancais^. I ta£es that Russia must not imagine me can lead France anywhere, and com* plains of France losing the chance of an excellent /position in Japan.' The Russian Supreme Military Council meets daily to decide on the measures to be taken in the event of the Japanese Government refusing to accept Russia's demand regarding the terms of peace with China. Trouble in Chitral. Colonel Kelly reached Chitral on the 20th inst. The seige of the Chitral forts be* gan on 4tE March and ended on 19th April. The garrison had to subsist on very inferior food. The enemy's trenches were constructed up to within 40 yards of the gate of the fort. The besiegers Jset fire to a gun tciwer, and alsojpndeavoured to burn down the ' water tower, but in eaoh case .the flames were extinguished before they ob-j^ tamed a firm hold.. Several sorties were made.. In one of these the besieged re-captured a lost summer house; and exploded ~ one of the enemy's mines. The enemy lost 60 men, 35 being bay* oneted; while Br Robertson had^l killed and 28 wounded. After this reverse Sher Afzul and UinraKhan retired to Brdz, lower down the valley, and a number of their followers fled. Heavy losses occurred through wonderful shooting from the trenches around the fort. . ; ;,-- ... When the party -was besieged with the troops of Amir-ul-Mulk, Dr tack the British. • Dr Robertson skated that after Brd March' Me* garrison^ regarded the position as hopeless, as it was believed that the Moslems had united in a religious war. •■•'■.', It is considered that the heroic 'defence of Chitral is almost comparable to the defence of Lucknow. The Mflllalis a&jHHI preaching resistance; and- the military operations will therefore be continued. t~ f^ißobartson is rapidly mss^ng. The Chitral besiegers held a gar* den 4fr yards from the. ; gate o^ the fort, but a British sortie repulsed them. ■->'-■■•-•*&-■*. It was in this sortie that Captain Baird received his fatal wound. 'After he fell Surgeon Whitechurch carried him to shelter. Although repeatedly surrounded by the rebels, the doctor gallantly fought his Way Wcfc (tq the fort with his dying combrade. - * The survivors give thrilling ddfeila of the siege. ''■'■ Dr Robertson discovered, fhafe Amir-ul-Mulk, the ruler of Chitral, was plotting against him insidrthe city, and that Unu* Khan had'ar* ranged for the massacre of thegarri'* son after Amir should iaduoff'-jjhsm. to retire to Mastuj. ' ' The soldiers attached to Colßnel Kelly's column are to receive two months' extra pay; ■■.^orjmoO The Queen has sent;* tn*»tage to the Viceroy of India conveying thanks for the gallant service! of the soldiers in relieving Chitral, ancf ex« pressing sorrow With the families of , those killed, and solicitude for » the wounded. It is understood that Colonel Kelly Will be o*p»*e& a RtQ^ w #