It is considered in London that the trouble at Tientsin was engineered from Europe in the hope of deterring Russia from joining up with France and Britain as joint guarantor of the Eastern European line. It is believed to have been represented to Moscow that one of the first fruits of such an alliance would be to support Britain in China.
The new commander in Tientsin only joined in April and begins his tenure with a blockade. Sir John Laurie has handled the situation well On arrival he found the area Outside of the Concession closed to the British from 7 p.m. daily so no doubt he saw what was coming. The Durhams have had a busy tim since their arrival from Shanghai and had great need for a united battalion by drawing in men from
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