The Extras that we published on Saturday show how very serious is the condition of things in the north, and it adds greatly to our anxiety to know that the Imperial Telegraph Administration will not take messages any more for Tientsin. reverted that the telegraph office at has been burnt and the operators have run away; but itis a curious thing that it was known here the night before that communication was going to be interrupted, and the Express issued by the Administra: tion says that "restoration is not expected The Extra we issued on Saturday giving sketch of what the Boxers did in Peking on the night of Wednesday last shows that the Government is prepared for war with all the Foreign Powers, for it is ridiculous to suppose that with all the well-armed troops it has at its comm: it could not stop the Boxer riot if it wai to. While a state of war exists in the north, it would be well if measures were taken' here to prevent munitions of war being shipped from Shangh Tak and it would also be well for the Consu here to prevent their nationals from selling arms to Chinese while the crisis Insts. It is a scandal to see in the Chinese newspapers advertisements offering Mauser rifles and ammunition for sale.
We are glad to see that troops are being sent up from Hongkong, but it is just like our usual unreadiness that the authorities there should only have discovered at the last moment how many or rather how few men the Hinsang could carry. Tt is not unlikely that every man that Hongkong can spare will be wanted, and we cannot understand that we have no news from home of the dispatch of troops from India, and the appointment of a General in com: mand. We are very alad that the Russians should ce-operate with us in the operations at Tientsin and Peking, but we hope that the silence at home does not menu that Tiussia has offered to take the task of restoring order on her own shoulders, and that the Powers are considering the elfer.
Meanwhile, the Japanese are largely augmenting their forces at Taku, Two more large cruisers and two more gunboats are being dispatched, and one regiment is to Teave immediately. ' When the four vessels now under orders arrive there will be a fleet of ten Japanese men-of-war at Taku, six cruisers, three gunboats, and one torpedo destroyer. We should not be surprised to see this fleet increased and a Japanese army corps prepared to land in China; the recent breach of the law of the sanctity of ambassadors, which is recognised by' all nations having the slightest claim to be above the state of barbarism, a claim which the present Government of China appears to have forfeited, is not likely to he treated lightly by the island Empire of the East. The murder of Mr, Sugiyama will surely be the last straw which will crush the Empress apd her gang.
Some considerable anxiety has been felt, on behalf of the relief column commanded by Admiral Seymour, it being known that the provision train sent to them has had to retura to Tientsin without effecting its purpose, the Boxers having swarmed over the line again between Yangtsun, which is eighteen miles from Tientsin, and Langfang. The Chinese here had news, however, yesterday that the relief column was engaged with Chinese troops, and if this be true, the column must have reached to outside the walls of Peking. It is hoped that this is the case, as the country between Langfang and Peking is bare, and no supplies would be obtainable. There is another report that a column of seven thousand Russians has gone up to the relief of the foreigners in Pekivg, They must be in very anxious plight; not only are they open to a direct attack from the Boxers, which could probably. be easily repulsed, and the Chinese soldiers, but they may have the greatest difficulty in getting food and water, especially if their servants have deserted them. The "China Gazette" published yesterday a London telegram announcing the murder of the German Minister and the burning of his Legation; the news is not confirmed at all, and it may possibly be only the reflection of the very doubtful telegram published by us on the 15th instant, Under any circumstance it must have come from Shanghai, and it would be interesting to know what isthe authority for it. There has been an idea that news that has not reached us has been going home from Peking vid Siberia; but, the Havas telegram that arrived here from Paris yesterday contains nothing more than. a transcript of the Extras which wa published on Saturday. and which appear another column, From this it is inferred, and it is known otherwise, that the only news received at home of the crisis has come from Shanghai.
As we have already stated, we believe that the Viceroys Liu Kun-yi and Chang Chih-tung will do everything in their power to maintain order in the Yangize Valley. We regret to hear from our Hankow correspondent that H. E. Chang is a good deal hampered by his Governor, Yii Yin-lin, who is a strong Conservative and a friend and nominee of the Empress Dowager. To strengthen the ands of the Viceroys, H.M.8. Hermione is being sent up the river from Woosung, and the Undaunted, which was under orders for home, has had those orders countermanded, and i8 coming up here from Hongkong, and will probably go to Nanking.
From Ningpo we learn that the Chinese are naturally much excited over the events in the north, Ié the present troubles ars quickly settled there is no fear of any movement, but if. the settlement is protracted, there will certainly, we are told, be trouble in Ningpo, Wild rumours as to what is going to happen to. foreigners in another two months are being circulated, and the term ' Foreign Devil ordinarily' very rarely heard in Ningpo, is becoming more frequent. It appears that there is no branch of the Boxers in Ningpo, but there are other secret societies there. Chinese reinforcements are being sent to Chinhai "to keep out the foreign war-it becomes necessary." No trouble is apprehended" in Shanghai, but all the necessary precautions have been taken by those responsible for the defence of the Settlements. The American Association have been advised by wire that the U.
ister and Admiral have been given full power to take what measures they think necessary in the circumstances.
Tt is significant thus it was freely stated yesterday that the Directors of the China 'Merchants' Company are contemplating once more the transfer of their steamers to a neutral flag.
The Hupao" issued an Extra last evening, stating that the foreign: forces have occupied the Taku Forts. If this has not been done, it ought to be done at once.
18th June.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.