We have received a telegraphic meial from Prince Ching and Wang a-shao stating that Sung Fan, Viceroy of Shen-Kan, had reported that n large band of—desperadoes belonging to Yingtze, in Pinglo district, Kansu province, had suddenly arisen and burned down the villages and plundered the property of the country people of said di-trict. The desperadoes had also robbed chapels in the said district and wounded the missionaries there together with several of the converts, The metmorialists further report that they have already sent orders that troops be sent Fforward to protect the said missions. On wu." other hand they have also telegraphed o Governor Tsen Ch'un-hsien of Shansi to also send troops and assist [the Kansu troops in bringing the desperadoes to justice. Now, we have again and again declared that' we look upon the missionaries in the various provinces with the same benevolence as on any of our subjects, and repeated orders have constantly been issued ordering that strict protection must be, given to all chapels and missionaries. The news that missionaries have been wounded clearly shows that the local authorities
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