Beh June, ALL sorts of wild rumours were flying about Shanghai yesterday, among them that two Belgians had been murdered quite near Tientsin, that there: had been a battle between Russian and Chinese troops, that Tientsin was to be burnt and a beginning had been made with the British Consulate, ete, ete. We know, however, that the railway communication between Peking and TTientsin, was restored yesterday, which is reassuring. The news which reached us last night and which we publish this morning is at any rate authentic and it is serious enough. Two British missionaries have been killed, the Rev. H. V. Norman and the Rev. C.
Robinson, both sent out by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. Where they were killed is not stated, but their post was at Yungehing, about twenty miles north-east of Paotingfu. They were both unmarried. With the number of men that have been Janded and the number of men-of-war at_ Taku we may conclude that the foreign residents at Peking and Tientsin are safe, but great alarm must inevitably be felt for the safety of those who are in outlying stations, and who have not yet come in. The Empress Dowager is reaping the whirlwind, as predicted; and according to native reports, she is beginning to be herself alarmed at the storm she has raised. We trust the report is well-founded that the China Association here has wired to the Foreign Office to rely on British forces for the suppress sion of the present rising, and not be content to take the assistance that may be proffered by any Continental Power. It is well that in a cris like this all the Foreign Powers should work together: but we should insist on keeping the position to which our predominating interests in China entitle us; nor should we be content to see any Power undertaking the suppression of the Boxer rebellion on behalf of China. It might be difficult afterwards to oust that Power.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.