It is reported from Peking that a little more "backbone" is being evinced by the Waiwupu of late in its dealing with Russia, It is stated that the question of the Russians, in the event of defeat, forcing themselves into neutral territory, west of the Liao river, having been pressed upon the attention of the Empress Dowager's advisors in Peking the other day by General Ma Yii-kun, it was decided to request the Waiwupu to instruct the Chinese Minister at St. Peters burg to inform the Russian Govern-mont that, should such a violation of neutral territory take place, the Chinese General commanding the Imperial forces along the Liao river would act in the usual manner under the circumstances, namely, give the Russian troops the option either of leaving neutral territory at once, or of being disarmed and sent inland to be interned during the pro-sot the war. There is reason to be-Hieve that an assurance was given by the Russian Foreign Office that Chinese neutral territory would be respected by the Russian forces in Manchuria as long as the same was observed by the Japanese.
Sudden Death of the Governor Kuangsi.
The local mandarins received yesterday from Canton a telegraphic despatch re-jerting the sudden and unexpected death at Kueilin of H. E. Ko Feng-shih, Governor of Kuangsi, and Governor-desigate of Kueichou province. It is also stated that Viceroy Tsen will have to proceed personally to Kueilin, which is the provincial capital of Kuangsi, in order to take over the seals also of the Governership of that province, pending the Errival of the now Governor, HI. i. Li Ching-hsi, who is now on his way from Kueichou province en route to Kueilin. It will be remembered by our readers that Kueilin, about ten days ago, was in danger of being besieged and falling into the hands of the Kuangsi rebels and revolted troops. Probably the very near approach of the rebels and the imminent fate hanging over that provincial capital and the lives of all the mandarins of that city, should it fall like Liuchou and Yungfuhsien, had something to do with the death of Governor Ko Feng-shih. Ko Feng-shih was a native of Hupeh and obtained the literary grade of Hanlin in 1883. In 1888 he was appointed Literary Chancellor of Shensi, and in 1892 became Salt Commissioner of Kiangsu province. In 1895 he was appointed Provincial Judge of Kiangsi; in 1808 he was promoted Provincial Treasurer, and in 1901 Governor of the same province—a decidedly rare circumstance. In the autumn of 1903 he was appointed to the Governor-province, but it was not he took over stories going the rounds that the late Governor showed on certain occasions symptoms of avariciousness, but it is conceded by many who knew the man that these are manufactured tales told by his onemies—men dismissed from office by the Into Governor for that very offence, and such like. As a matter of fact, Ko Fong-shih was a comparatively poor man and the property left by him to his family is small.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.