May 4, 1901.]
Chihli.
BATTLES AT THE GREAT WALL,
(Daily Press, 1st May:)
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晶露
ALLIANCES, OLD AND NEW.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. same design of throwing dust in the Minis- forces, A paragraph in the Peking and parties will think long before severing the ters' eyes is at the bottom of the present diffi- Tientsin Times, of the 20th ult., throws a bond. Nevertheless commercial questions culty. The fact is that the interpreters are little light. It is as follows:-"A few days are sure to play a prominent part in the playing the game of the reactionary party, ago, says the Je Je, Count WALDERSEE arrangements of the future.. and both Legations and Headquarters are received information that a large Chinese In a similar way, commercial questions carefully surrounded by spies who take care 'force under General Liu was apparently will have much to do in the mutual attitude that no information shall reach the foreigner, "making hostile preparations in Shansi, of Germany and Russia. The treaty of unless such as they themselves have con- "and some cavalry and artillery started commerce between these two nations expires cocted. Although comparisons are apt to "for Chengting-fu to reconnoitre. Prince in 1903, and it is extremely problematical become odious, we yet may contrast the state CHING and LI HUNG-CHANG, on learning what modus vivendi will then be adopted of Canton under the Allied Commission in this, were much disturbed and at once between these two great Powers. Well-in. 1859-1861 with that of Chihli at the mo- "notified the Chinese troops to withdraw." formed persons in Russia testify to an in- ment. In the former case the Commis. If it is a fact that these are the men who creasingly bitter feeling towards Germany, sioners placed the administration, under opposed General KETTLER, the aspect of which is due to many causes, but especially careful guarantees, in the hands of the pre-affairs is anything but promising. The to the opinion that Russia's policy generally vious local officials, whom they made per- natives in the North appear to have the has been thwarted in several directions by sonally responsible. That this personal idea firmly rooted in the minds that that of Germany. If Russia were happy responsibility was not a mere nominal thing Count VON WALDERSEE has in contem- and prosperous in herself she would pro- we may point out from the incident of the plation an expedition to Hsianfu. It is bably treat Teutonic opposition with a cor- imprisonment of PEI Kwer for accepting probable that this is the disastrous result tain amount of indifference, in the belief bribes. The result of the system was that of those errors in the Commander-in- that time was fighting her battle, and that restore the the Chinese themselves acknowledged that Chief's policy on which we have commented only patience was needed the city had never been better governed. more than once, as in our issue of yester- balance in her favour. But far from being The opposite system of attempting personal day. Of course if the Chinese troops flourishing or contented, Russia is suffering government with inadequate knowledge has invaded Chibli with hostile intent, there was from great commercial and industrial de proved something very like a failure in no course open to the Allies' leader but to pression, and some of her own leading men drive them out with the greatest expedition believe that she stands on the edge of a possible. But more than once in the past financial abyss from which all the artifice few months collisions appear to have occured of M. DE WITTE will not'save her. The between the Allied and Chinese troops difficulties of their country increase the which arose from misapprehensions. We acerbity with which Russians are now Though the details are by no nicans clear can only trust that this is not what happened regarding the developments of German yet, it is plain from various telegrams re on the 23rd and 24th ult. It is far pre- policy in the Near and Far East. Re- ceived from the North that serious fighting ferable to think that the two battls were sponsible writers do not hesitate to speak has occurred within the last ten days in the the result of wanton aggresion of the of a growing rift between Slav and Teuton. province of Chihli. An Ostasiatische Lloyd Chinese troops. The question cannot The Emperor WILLIAM has, it is true, shown telegram from Peking, on the 23rd ult., re-actually be decided, however, before the more regard for Russia's feelings than has ported news from Paotingfu that a Franco-arrival of further details.
been grateful to the people of Britain ; and German expedition reached the Great Wall
in China in particular he has acted in such on the previous day. The troops of General
a way that Russia, unopposed by the nerve- LIU KUANG-TSUI, it was stated, had retired
lesa, the "gelatinous" policy (as it has been. behind the Wall before the troops reached
(Daily Press, 29th April.)
styled) of Lord Salisbury's Government, there and offered no resistance. The ex- With the beginning of the new century has grown overweening, with the result
is now, faced by pedition was therefore to return. According politicians and public writers have busied that the world
most critical and dangerous situation in to Japanese telegrams the ostensible object themselves with speculations as to new of the Franco-German expedition was to arrangements of the Powers in Europe and Manchuria and the neighbouring provinces crush the remnants of "Boxer bands. throughout the world. They appear to have of China. Germany, Lowever, has not It is plain, however, from later despatches satisfied themselves that the old alliances failed to exact a very full compensation for that something far more serious than Boxer and bonds cannot be counted on as likely her complaisance; and now Russia, resent- bands was encountered, and the statement to endure long into the century. They ful though she may be at the likely that the expedition was to return was ab- point out that the Triple Alliance is now success of Germany in the race for the surdly premature. The telegram which fast approaching the time when it must Persian Gulf, is probably more alarmed reached us late on Monday night brought either be renewed or dissolved. Many still at Germany's position in China. the substance of Count von WALDERSEE's anticipate no little difficulty about its Hitherto, says a correspondent of obvious official report of serious fighting at the renewal for another period. Of the authors authority, writing recently to the Daily Great Wall of China. The dates of the of the original treaty, they point out, nearly Chronicle, Russia has supposed that she had battles are furnished by the Ostasiatischs all are dead. The Emperor FRANCIS JOSEPH only two opponents to deal with in Northern Lloyd telegram, which appeared in the is the only one of the three Monarchs who China - one, Great Britain, who she believed China Mail, as the 23rd and 24th April; presided over the original negotiations, and would never seriously oppose her in Man. and the exact places are fixed as a little of the statesmen who drafted the first treaty churia, because she could find compensation to the north of the Huailu Pass 01 -Bismarck, Andrassy, and CrisPI-only in other parts of China; the other, Japan, for the first day, and the Kukuan Pass on the the last-nained survives, aud politically he whose power she feels, rightly or wrongly, second. The German force, under the com. has long ceased to be a force. The Italian nothing but contempt. But the deve mand of General KETTLER, was arranged people, or at least the poorer section of lopment of German plans in North China in four columns, and on the 23rd ult."an them, are not inclined to look favourably on has been startling in its rapidity and com- attack was made on the Chinese fortresses, a tie which imposes on them so 'heavy a prehensiveness. Bussia is filled with appre- which were not captured until after eleven taxation to meet Italy's military and naval hension; for that the German ægis should hours' fighting. On the 24th a Chinese obligations to her allies, while the German-be thrown over the Chinese Empire, and force of 6,000 or 8,000 men, entrenched, it Italian commercial treaties are by no means especially over that part nearest to her own is stated, in front of the French at Kukuan in favour of Italy, It is stated that the possessions, was a contingency that never Pass, was attacked and routed. Count new Italian Foreign Minister will make presented itself to her deepest thinkers Von Waldersee's report, however, makes the re-entrance of Italy into the Triple most prescient statesmen. To add to the Russia's it look as if the Chinese were the attacking Alliance dependent on a favourable re- already enormous drains on party, for it is said that they were every-
vision of the Commercial Treaty with finances caused by her activity in North- where repulsed and were pursued to Germany, What significance is really Eastern Asia, the St. Petersburg - Go- now confronted with Kukuan.' The German losses are put, on to be attached to the recent Franco-Ita-vernment the same authority, at seven killed and lian amenities at Toulon, it is impossible great addition to her expenses brought thirty-two wounded, while they captured to say. French publicists will make the about by vigorous German competition. thirteen quick-firing guns. The Chinese most of it, and the Italian Government It is for this reason, no doubt, that we have losses are reported to be severe.
itself is likely to be pleased at the almost seen the reconciliation between Russia effusive remarks of President LOUBET. But France after a period of strained such demonstrations need not meau much, between the two allies. The i and it is to be doubted whether Berlin is at result is sure to be another French all agitated at the sight. The Triple Alli- ance has done much toward preserving the peace of Europe during the end of the Nineteenth Century, and the contracting
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Now, though we are quite in the dark as to who these troops are with whom the Ger- mans have had so severe a struggle-for the French appear to have taken no part in the fighting it is obvious that they must have been trained soldiers and well armed, either of the Imperial army or of the provincial
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Russia. - In return for this Francs the privilege of supporting Russian China, with a hope that she may thing more for herself in Bouth-
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