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CANTON.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Canton, 11th August. INSPECTING THE DEFENCES.
REINFORCEMENTS FOR PEKING.
Admiral Fung Sui Ting, of Yunnan, who distinguished himself by bravery at Leangshan during the Franco-Chinese war, has been ordered to take 10,000 troops to Peking. On his way through Yamchow he is said to have collected more men.
THE BLACK FLAGS AND THEIR MARCH NORTH. The Black Flag general, Lin Yung-fu. is going North on the 12th inst., taking with him 8,000 troops to protect the Imperial Palace, while Ma Kai Tong, the late military Comman der of Koochow, and General Mok Chick Sin are to take the command of the native army in Canton. Chang hih-tung, Viceroy of Hunan and Hupeh, having ascertained that the Black Flag chief and 8,000 troops are going to the North by the route of Pak Kong (North River), sent a telegram to the Acting Viferoy here. asking him to order Liu Yung-fu to take the West River route, as he does not like to see his territory infested with Black Flags, who might cause trouble with the foreigners.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS. AND
Canton, 12th August. CHINESE VIEWS REGarding thE PRESENT
CRISIS.
The following are the views of certain pro- minent Chinese on the situation.
In the disturbances up north, they say, soldiers and outlaws have been so mixed up as to render Yesterday Generals Ma Kai Tong, (heang the task of suppression and protection very dif- Yung Chai, and Mok Chiok Sin, the two com- fioult. The murder of the German Minister and manders Mo and Li of the Kwong Hip and the Japanese Chancellor was of necessity follow Chung Hip regiments, and Prefect Chan wented by an outbreak of war between the Foreign by the gunboat Kwangyun to inspect the forts Powers and China, the taking of Taku forts, at the Boca Tigre Islands and see to prepara- the blockade of the river, and the destruction tions for defence.
of Tientsin shows that Peking is not only in imminent danger, but it is like an egg about to be crushed to pieces by a huge stone. Although the Foreign Powers professed that they would not take China nor injure her people, their march- ing the troops on Peking does not show any good intention. Perhaps they like to march their troops to Peking to show their bravery. No doubt the burning of the churches, the massacre of Christians, the attack upon the foreign con- cessions and the murder of a Minister are injuries that go right into the core of their hearts and pierce their bones, so that they cannot rest satisfied until the Boxers are completely des- troyed. Still it is the fault of China for which she feels deeply sorry and repentant. China has nursed a boil which has now turned into a carbuncle. The Boxers are only a lawless crowd prone to do evil, and there ought not to have been any difficulty destroying them; but as their influence has taken a deep root. and is spreading, China cannot destroy it so quickly, it is like a small spark that ignites and spreads itself out into a big fire that injures China as well as foreign countries, for which, the officials whoever they be, cannot plead any excuses. Imperial edicts have repeatedly ap- peared, one after another, in the newspapers, showing the friendly intention and respect of China for the foreign Powers, and urging the speedy suppression of Boxers; but as the law- lessness of the insurgents has assumed such magnitude, the military forces are insuffi- cient to cope with them: hence we see the motives that compel the Powers to send their troops to the North. Imperial mandates have been sent to the Viceroys and Governors of nearly all the provinces, urging them to des- patch troops north, and when the large bodies of troops arrive they will certainly sweep out all these fiendish and heretical monsters, so as to avenge the wrongs done to foreign Powers.
CHANG CHIH-TUNG'S NEW TAX. hang Chih-tung has invented a new methed of taxation: instead of the rent drawn from landlords and tenants, as in Canton, he taxes 20 cents upon every dollar's worth of cash that his people change, the money changer paying half and the person who requires change an- other half.
RUMOURS.
It is reported that the anti-foreign general Li Ping-heng has taken the command of 30,000 troops and will proceed to Yang Chuan to resist the advance of foreign troops to Peking. News from Shanghai has been received, to the effect that Li Hung-chang is appointed by an Imperial edict Minister Plenipotiary to negotiate terms of peace with foreign Powers: but the latter refuse to recognise him until they have effectually carried out their promised exemplary punishment.
** WHEN THE CAT'S AWAY "---
Since Li left, robbery seems increasing daily, although armed soldiers have been patrolling about the streets from morn till evening and the street gates has been carefully shut and strictly watched.
THE LEKIN MONOPOLISTS.
There has been a lot of trouble between the mandarins and the lekin monopolists, the latter having failed to pay up the last instalment of the monopoly money, and the bill they gave having been dishonoured. It is said that the four lekin representatives of the 72 guilds are in great danger, for the officials threaten to imprison them and cut off their heads.
ALL BOULS' DAY.
The feasts of All Souls is celebrated during this month: in every principal street large bam- boo structures have been erected and altars put up, covered with embroidery, pot-plants, flower baskets, and curious silk-dressed and paper ef- figies representing different scenes from dramas, etc. Bands of musicians are kept playing nearly the whole day and night, and Buddhist priests saying prayers for the repose of the souls in purgatory, In one small matshed attacked to the main bamboo structure is a large joss, 20 feet high, made of bamboo and paper, hideously painted, to represent the King of Hades. Before this women and children whose parents, brothers, or sisters, husbands or lovers are dead, go to worship, burn joss papers, and weep and lament their fate. Every night there are processions of joss-boats ten or twelve or more in a line, nicely illuminated with colour- ed lanterns, towed by a launch steaming up and down the river, with priests in them chanting prayers and burning joss-papers to propitiate the water spirits. The spectacle is very fine.
THE QUESTION OF THE MINISTERS.
But the most important personages are the Ministers; so long as we keep them in confine- ment, no overture for peace would be for a mo-
ment listened to, and when their big troops arrive it will be too late for talk; consequently the keeping of their Ministers at Peking is also a source of great danger to us. The Viceroys of the provinces have received instructions from the Imperial Government informing them that the foreign Ministers are safe, and the Legations well protected, and have given re- peated assurance of the same to the Consuls of the different nations. Is it not reliable enough until the Ministers are seen marching under escort out of Peking? Who can tell what may happen on their way out. The Boxers are everywhere and are not yet entirely suppressed, and the forces of the Imperial army are weak; if anything happens to them it will be worse still. This is the motive which the foreign Powers should take into consideration. No doubt the Powers have justificable suspicions, which are these: (1) However thick are the city gates, and however high the great walls, they are not as strong as a golden city. Is there any guarantee that the Boxers who are sneaking even in the Imperial harem could not have penetrated into the stronghold? (2) If the Ministers are safe in Peking, as it is said that they are, why on
they not allowed to send letters in their manuscript, each to his country to satisfy his Sovereign? To this day no such letters have been sent. Where is the proof? These are the two circumstances which cause a great suspicion to the foreign Powers. Having these suspicions in their minds, notwithstanding the repeated assurance of all the Viceroys and Governors that they are safe, that the Legations are well protected, and that they will use also their best endeavours to protect the foreigners as well in their provinces, how is it possible to
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OWN
[August 18, 1900.
expect them to withdraw their troops P Upon our Emperor appealing to the Emperor of Japan for mediation and protection, the latter in reply says that if the foreign Ministers were alive and safe, every other thing could be easily arranged. Unless hina does not wish to come to terms of peace, she ought to have sent the Min- isters out under strong escorts, so as to satisfy the Powers that she is not lying. If she really had those Ministers under her protection, as she had openly declared that she had, then she shows no intention of hostility which the foreign Powers ought to take into account. Delay not! Take immediate action to have the Ministers sent out under strong escorts so as to gain the con- fidence of the world.
SWATOW.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Swatow, 9th August.
FRESH ATTACKS ON MISSIONS.
Last night word came of the destruction of four more chapels in the Ung-kung (Hwang kong) district, viz. the E.P. and A.B. chapels in Kaw-thong, and the A. B. chapels in Siau-tung
and Shak-kew-san. In several instances the houses of church members were looted and
everything taken except the clothes on their backs. The authorities seem paralyzed. The Roman Catholic priest at Ung-kung, the Rev. Alexando Legros, is said to have hired a large number of armed men to defend the premises of the Jesuit Mission with those who have taken refuge there.
BRITISH CRUISER ARRIVES.
A. British cruiser the Mokuwk, I believe- came in this morning, and this fact when known will doubtless have a good influence. The pre- fect of how.chou-fu on being asked to protect mission property in that city would only say that he would do what he could in a quiet way, but would take no measures involving pub- licity!
DESTRUCTION AT BO-LAI.
10th Angust. News came yesterday of the destruction of the American Baptist chapel at Bo-lai. After looting it the mob tore it down and utterly de- molished it. In some respects this mob marks an advance in lawless ways. Many were armed and they sought diligently for the native preacher to kill him. He escaped out of their hands, but his wife and little girls were not so fortunate. They stripped her and let her go, but started to carry off the children, though they soon let them go also. So-lai is in the Ung-kung district. As yet there are no reports of rioting in other sections. It is to be feared that some of these mobs may add murder to theft, if allowed to go. unchecked.
THE MOVEMENT SPREADS.
11th August. News comes to-day of the destruction of two more chapels, viz. those at Lai-pu-soa and the hien city.
At Lai-pu-soa the houses of the native Christians were looted before the chapel was attacked. It is rumoured that the officials at Ungkung have arrested three persons sup- posed to be connected with these riots. There hien of Jiaw-pheng. are very few chapels left standing in the entire
[FROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT]
Swatow, 11th August,
I am just informed that at the looting of the Ungkung missionary chapel several outrages were committed by the roughs on the native Christians, foremost of them being the case of a convert whose eyes were bored out by one of the roughs. It appears that when the roughs in- formed the elders of the adjacent villages that they intended pillaging and destroying the chapels, the elders asked them to await the news as to events up North. They said that if the Allies got beaten, then natur lly the chapels would all fall to their lot, but if the Allies were successful in their march, then the inhab itants of the villages would have to pay very dearly for the foreign property destroyed. This argument of the elders had in some cases a convincing effect.
THE TAOTAI.
Our local Taotai, Shin Shai Lin, is, according to general opinion, very friendly towards foreign-
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