Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 March 1901 — BRITISH FORCED TO LEAVE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BRITISH FORCED TO LEAVE

Their Work on Railway Siding Stopped. RUSSIA DICTATES TERMS. Russian General Does Not Stand on the Order of the English Troops' Departure, but Says They Must Withdraw or He Will Mot Do So. Count von Waldersee, General Barrow and General Wogack have been in consultation at Pekin, China, and General Wogack has agreed to withdraw the Russian troops from the disputed ground at Tientsin provided the British also withdraw. He insisted also upon a guarantee that work on the railway siding should not proceed until the matter had been diplomatically adjusted. This proposal and stipu-

lation were satisfactory to General Barrow and were accepted by him. The British and Russian troops were withdrawn at 5 o’clock a. m. Friday. Orders have been issued, however, that no British officer should leave, or even "sleep out” at night, or go to dinner without furnishing his address to the adjutant. The marines will return to the ships. Admiral Seymour objects to any of the Australian naval brigade, who volunteered for service on the railway, remaining. The military authorities say he does not understand the situation, that his interference is uncalled for and that the Australian marines are just the men needed. The Russians have ordered a regiment to proceed from Port Arthur to Tientsin. The arrangements made by General Bailloud, the French commander, are regarded as completely satisfactory, and all danger of a collision between the British and French is considerably obviated. Earlier Reports of the Trouble. Prospects of war in the Orient loom up even more rapidly than the hopes of immediate peace in South Africa have gone glimmering. Tientsin dispatches report the situation there as of the tensest nature, while inspired utterances in St. Petersburg are goading Britons into frenzy. It became known at Tientsin that Great Britain formally protested against Russia’s agreement with China regarding Manchuria and that the czar’s laconic reply, wittily interpreted, was that his occupation of that province was none of Britain’s business. In giving out this information the inspired Russian official stuck the goad into the lion’s present most vulnerable spot. He caustically warned Britain to catch Dewet, the fox, before tackling the bear. The excitement and anxiety in Tientsin as to the possible developments of an Anglo-Russian siding dispute do not abate. A company of British troops and a company of Russian soldiers remain encamped on either side of the trench, looking at each other. The Russians have orders to fire on any one commencing work. General Wogack says the trouble was caused by the unwarrantable interference of the British in the affairs of the Russian concession, and he adds that the siding will not be continued unless he receives orders from his own superiors. Both sides will appeal to Count von Waldersee, but they both consider the matter to be beyond his authority and will await orders from Europe. General Wogack, Russian commander, demanded withdrawal of British forces from disputed territory at Tientsin, and apology for removal for Russian flag. British commander refused both demands.