China.

Manawatu Herald, 10 July 1900, Page 2

China.

THE PEKIN MASSACRE

The news of the massacre at the British Legation in. Pekin was circulated simultaneously at Tientsin, Cheefoo and Shanghai.

Nothing reliable has yet been received, however, though reports of butcheries come from Shanghai, based chiefly on mysterious hints dropped" by Chinese officials. Speaking in the House of Commons the Hon. W. St. John Brodrick, Parliamentary Secretary to the Foreign Office, stated that the Govern-, ment had received no confirmation of the massacre at the British Legation at Pekin.

The British Government has requested the Chinese Envoy to Great Britain (Sir Chihchen Lofongluh) to inform the authorities at Pekin that they will be held personally guilty if the members of the Legations or other foreigners at Pekin are injured. The Viceroys" of the various Chinese provinces have been similarly informed as regards foreigners in the districts. ANOTHER NEWSPAPER VERSION. The " Daily Mail " states that owing to General Jung Lv and the DowagerEmpress evincing a disposition to suppress the Boxers, Prince Tuan and General Kang Vi left a meeting of the Imperial Council, shouting -' Down with the foreigners." The Palace officials and the populace immediately attacked the Europeans. ATTITUDE OF THE POWERS. Berlin and Vienna reports states that Russia refuses to act upjn Great Britain's proposal to "give Japan a mandate to restore order. A semi-official Communique implies that Germany refused to act upon a request from Great Britain to press Russia to consent to a Japanese mandate, fearing that it would destroy the nation' 6 gopd relations with Russia. In response to Japan's inquiry, Russia has left Japan full liberty to relieve the foreigners at Pekin, especially since Japan is willing to act in agreement with the Powers. DESPATCH OF ALLIED TROOPS. It is reported from Berlin that Russia and Japan will each send ioo,---000 troops to China. . *~ i Great Britain, Germany and France i will each despatch 20,600 troop's. The admirals of ths allied fleets are. hourly "expecting* Japan's reply to Great Britain's ommunications relating to the' sending of reinforcements to China. 'The Sixteenth Bengal Lancers have been ordered to China. ' - France has despatched 4000 troops to China, and a similar number will emHark by the 20th. The force willbe Commanded by General Dodds, twho conducted the campaign in Madagascar. Italy is preparing to send 7000 men to China. America's total force numbers 6500. There are now 12,000 international troops within Tientsin. It is estimated that 50,000 will be required to march on Pekin. ■ . " REWARDS FOR RESCUE. The Emperor of Germany , has notified the Viceroys that he will pay a thousand taels (about £330) for every foreigner rescued from Pekin. DESTRUCTION OF WAR MATERIAL. . The allied troops have destroyed worth of arms and ammunition in * the Tientsin arsenals. The Chinese casualtiesi numbered 800. BUTCHERY. OF. CHRISTIANS. . According to Chinese reports received at Shanghai, the Boxers 'butchered five thousand native Christians at Pekin, chiefly Catholics. SPREAD OF THE REVOLT. ] The "Triad,", -a Chinese, .secret society,, is threatening to become troublesome-. Many Chinese noblemen are said to be recruiting Boxers in tjie provinces. THE REPORTED POISONING. It is now stated that Prince Tuan administered opium to the Emperor and Dowager Empress. The former is dying, and the Dowager Empress is said to have become insane. AMERICA'S POLICY. Colonel John Hay, the American Secretary of State, has informed the Powers that the policy of the United States in China will be to protect Americans and assist the legal Chinese Government to restore order and then withdraw. FOOD AND AMMUNITION -SHORT. The Russian Minister at Pekin sent a message from the capital on June 24th that the food and ammunition supplies were almost exhausted. REPORT OF A NATIVE RUNNER. A runner who left Pekiri on the 3rd inst. has. informed the British Consul at Shanghai that two of the Legations had not been captuted. The Chinese troops and Boxers were, greatly dis- \ : heartened, as 2000 of them had been

killed, including many of their leaders. The Boxers declared that the foreigners have broken their mystic powers, and are afraid to approach the Legations. Death-dealing and destructive Lyddit« Shell Forms part of modern soldier's art. Not as of old when noble warriors fell. Laid rudely low by apear or dart. Yet war's degrading to the human race, ' nd will noi make our liveß secure. Though oor can now all dirty whether face Pf taking Woods' Great Penppnnint Cure.