A telegram from Anch'ing (Nganking), the provincial capital of Anhui, reports the arrival at that city on Saturday, the Excellency has been lately inspecting Wanchih, near Wuhu, sud appears to thave a favourable opinion of the place as site for the new arsenal which is proposed to take the place of the, nan Arsenal, but he says that he will not give a decision until he has seen Pinghsiang (in Kisngsi province), where are H. E-Sheng Kung-pao's coal mines and short railway; that place being the alternative arsenal as recommended Viceroy Chang Chih-tung who, it seems, has a scheme to take the mines and railway away from H. E. Shei Kung-pao. The latter on his part ready to give up the property for a stiff price.
Important Conferences by telegraph have been lately going on, reports our Peking native correspondent, between the High Commissioners of the Army Reorganisation Departu the Viceroys of Chihli, Liangkian, Hukusng: provinces, with reference proposed large loan from a certain foreign country, the money to be used for, the reorganisation of the Imperial forces and the formation of a fleet of armoured 78, coast defence ships, second and class fast of the Navy is be given into the hands of the Army is to be entirely on the British and Japanese naval officers and
Japanese model.
20th December. The Bund Murder.
Some surprise has been naturally expressed at the seeming indifference of the Chinese community here in the matter of the murder of the unoffending Ningpo man, Chou Séng-yn, on Thureda; {Iast." This seeming calm has, however, been due to the landable efforts of the j lending Niogpo gentry and merchants of Shanghai to keep down any ebullition of anger on the part of their fellow-provincials, of whom there are estimated to be at lest 120,000 here, and the desire to see first what position would taken by Yusn Taotai in the matter. Ax a matter of fact it is known to not a few that, had they their way, soune 30,000 Ningpo fisherman coolies j and' other handicraftsman would have gathered on Fridny last at the Guild, or what is usually called the Ningpo Joss house, in the French Settlement to concert means of getting revenge on the Russian sailors for the cowardly murder of their fellow-townsman. Aware of the danger of a riot in which entirely innocent people would be sure to suffer first, the leading gentry and members of the Committee of the Ningpo guild promptly sent round word counselling patience and asking all their fellow-provincials to have [confidence in their efforts to obtain justice for those concerned. Furthermore, 3 report having somehow rounds that the Russian officials w willing to pay an indemnity of $10,000 to the family of the marred Chow Song. Saco sent word £0 the relations of the lead it try and merchants at
family not to accept a copper cash of blood-money from the Russians. They said if these relations needed money the Chinese community would promptly subscribe as large, if not a much larger, sum for them. All that every rig thinking Chinese demanded was justice and the proper punishment of the murderer, which the Shanghai Taotai, representing the Chinese Government in Shanghai, had perfect power to inflict, after due trial, since all the Russians belonging to the Askold, Mandjur, Grosovoi, and Ratstoropuy, interned at Pootung, are prisoners of the Chinese, and are therefore under their laws and jurisdiction, We translate belo press that was sent out yesterd noon and distributed amongst the Ningpo community residing in the International and French Settlements and in the native city and suburbs "With reference to the case of the two sailors of the runaway Russian cruiser Askold, one of whom fatally hit without cause or reason four unfortunate fellow-provincial, Chou' Séng-yn, with a penter's adze, or axe, on the Nanking Road jetty, on the 15th of December while he was passing by, we the unders ed, now learn that the Russian Consul wishes to send the murderer and his companion back to their own vessel tobe tried according to Russian naval law. This manner of conducting such a case is indeed entirely contrary to what has been the custom in the Foreign Settlements. How can we, the fellow-provincials of the murdered Chou Séng-yn, of Nivgpo, then stand by and look on without making s word of protest at such a miscarriage of justice, whereby the legal prerogatives of China are taken away? It has therefore boon decided to engage a foreign lawyer to draw up letters in our na addressed to the Senior Consul and also to the Municipal Council of the International Settlements asking them to fight strongly for the rights of the Settlements and the preservation of the peace thereof. On the other hand we re also sending by telegraph petition to His Excellency the Imperial High Commissioner of the Nanyang and Viceroy of the Liangkiang provinces, and a letter to the Shanghai Taotai setting forth the powers and prerogatives of a Neutral State in a case where interned prisoners are guilty of breaking the laws, and praying for the ut and firm transaction of everything pertaining to the case under con-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.