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- URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL.

ITRANSVAAL.

CHINA. I

I CHINESE MILITIA CALLED OUT.

, I : CENTRAL NEWS, TELEGRAMS…

IStocks.

I SKENFRITH.

I Howell's School.

I War Items.

I Parliamentary.

Br. Rutherfoord Harris at…

IThe Powers and China.

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I The Powers and China. The alarming state of affairs in China has quite eclipsed all interest in the dispatches from the seat of war in South Africa. Most people are inclined to consider the Boer war as over and so it is as regards any doubt as to its ultimate results. The resistance which the Free Staters have continued to offer can- not last much longer, and there is every reason to believe that Lord Roberts' dispositions now being completed will shortly result in the capture or destruction of all the organised forces of the enemy still remaining under arms. In China, the situation is a most anxious one, because of the savage and barbarous ferocity of the Chinese mob and soldiery. For those of our countrymen in the affected districts, whether civilians, or members of either fighting service, there is unquestionably the gravest cause ior anxiety. Apart from this, it is not to be feared that China will be able for any length of time to prevent the several powers restoring order with a firm hand. One of the strong: points which Lord Charles Beresford urged, after his recent journey to the Far East, was the organisation and equipment of A LARGE CHINESE ARMY, UPON EUROPEAN METHODS. Happily, that project has not as yet proceeded far, and the present state of affairs is a sufficient warn- ing of raising up the great "Yellow Peril" to check all such enthusiasm in the future. Unlike Japan, the Chinese are still true to their ancient traditions, and there is no longer any doubt that the Peking Government is at the bottom of the anti- foreign agitation, or that regular Chinese troops are making common cause with the rioters. The trouble may spread southwards involving much bloodshed, though appearances point to the proba- bility of its being confined to Northern China, to which the evil influence of the Dowager-Empress is chiefly limited. That notorious lady is reported to have issued orders for the extermination of all foreigners," but as a matter of fact, nothing is known of the intentions of the Dowager-Empress, and but little reliance is to be placed upon the incidents reported from day to day. One point alone seems certain which is that the Powers were quite unprepared for these astonishing develop- ments. If it were not for the extreme peril of the European communities, the situation would be truly comical, and infinitely more difficult than any Chinese puzzle of our acquaintance. The Peking Government is pretending to suppress the rioters, while all the time its regular troops are bombarding the foreign settlements at Tientsin with Krupps field pieces. Then we have all the Powers more or less making believe that they are not at war with China, but only with the Boxers. Russia in fact, has issued an official notification that its object is simply to assist the Chinese Government to restore order. All this will strike many people as simply fooling, but, until more troops arrive, the Powers are practically helpless, and the supreme object of the moment is to obtain by any means whatever, the exercise of A RESTRAINING INFLUENCE I'EOM PEKING. The pretence that the Powers are simply assisting China leaves the Peking Government a chance to climb down, and if by such an opportunity it is possible to obtain a check upon disorder much will have been gained. As to the ultimate issue no one appears as yet to have any reassured idea as to what it may lead to. Some say that Tientsin and Peking must be permanently occupied by European troops. That, however, would ouly exasperate the Chinese more than ever against the foreigners, and it would only be possible if it were intended to occupy large portions of China in force. Then again no defeat inflicted upon the Chinese troops, however crushing it might be, would have any lasting effect upon the country. The policy of wholesale executions is the only one that terrifies the Chinese into something like order, and though it is practised by the Chinese Government, it is hardly open to be adopted by the European Powers. Happily, so far, all the Powers seem to be working amicably together in the common interest, and though there is the danger of differences breaking 1 9 out, as in the former Concert of Europe, it is at least, equally possible that this new Chinese Crisis" will prove more effective than the Peace Conference in improving the relations which subsist between the great Powers of the world.

-__._-_-Charge of Abduction…

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1-SIR REDVERS UCLLER.

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