China.

Manawatu Herald, 24 July 1900, Page 2

China.

FIGHTING AT TIENTSIN. The " Standard " states that during the fighting at Tientsin the Chinese had the assistance of a number of Russian artillerists, who had been in their service as instructors to the Imperial gunners. ■ These men they detained and compelled to work the guns — hence the accuracy of the Chinese artillery fire. One of the instructors has now escaped to the Russian lines and told the story of his adventures. The "Daily Mail" also states that Europeans were seen to be serving the Chinese guns on the walls of the native city. Tientsin is now stated to be threatened by a Chinese army of 150,---000 men, with 220 pieces of artillery. There are also 450,000 militia ready in the Shanting province. LI HUNG CHANG. Li Hung Chang who has left Hongkong, travelled northward on his way to Pekin. He states that he is sanguine of being able to bring about the pacification of the rebels. THE ALLIED TROOPS. The " Daily Telegraph " states that 18,000 Japanese troops have been landed at Shankaikwan, where the Great Wall emerges on the coast of the Gulf of Pe-chi-li, on their way to Tientsin. Several British transports with troops from India on board have arrived at Hongkong, and been ordered on to We-hai-wei. TURKISH SYMPATHIES. Mahommedan fanatics are prophesying and praying in the Turkish mosques for the defeat of the allied troops. A warning has been sent to the Porte by Russia against a similar tone being adopted by the Turkish newspapers. RUSSIA ENERGETIC. Russia is making energetic movements on the Russo-Chinese frontier. The Chinese force on the frontier has been reinforced with artillery. The Russian troops at Chartsin have been isolated. The correspondent of the Daily Mail at Chetoo states that the Chinese, in the assault on Tientsin, stood up to a perfect hail of bullets from the Allies. The carnage among the Chinese was great, the bodies of the dead being piled up breast high. The Chinese boldly charged up to the bayonets of the Sikhs, but were repulsed. The Mail's Yokohama correspondent states, that the Japanese accuse the Russians of callous and wholesale massacre of the . Chinese around Tientsin. The Japanese assert that the Russians also massacred women and children, and that a junk containing 300 bodies was burned. A RUSSIAN VICTORY. Russia admits that a state of war exists in East Siberia, but hopes to restrict it to that quarter. The Russian troops routed the Chinese forces which captured Blagovyeshcensht, on the Amur river, and have reoccupied the town in large torce. HARMONY AMONGST THE COMMANDERSLi Hung Chang has added 5000 men to the Boque forts at Canton. The German loss at Tientsin on the 15th inst. was small, and was due to their rapid advance and quick rushes. The native city was looted and bnrned before the Allies entered. The Germans apportion the largest share of the victory to the Japanese and credit the Russians with a share to the capture of the 12 guns. In the north-east commanders are mutually complimentary, and quote each other's testimony, now avoiding self-praise, thus fostering goodwill and harmony.