Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 December 1897 — KAISER IS DEFIED [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

KAISER IS DEFIED

CHINA’S EMPEROR WILL NOT YIELD. Refuses to Agree to the Demands of Germany—He Desires to Submit the Entire Matter to Arbitrators—Martial Law at Kiaochou Bay. Rather Lose His Crown. A special dispatch from Shanghai announces that the Emperor of Chiua has declared that he would rather forfeit his crown than agree-to—the conditions demanded by Germany as redress for the murder of two German missionaries— Nies and Hennle—and the destruction of German mission property in the Province of Shantung. Admiral Diedrich, the German commander of Iviaochou Bay, the dispatch further states, has proclaimed martial law in the district around Iviaochcu. China, the dispatch concludes, desires that her dispute with Germany be submitted to arbitrators to be appointed by Holland and Belgium. Last July a Chinese mob attacked the Christian mission at Kiaochou Bay, which is a point in the Yellow Sea, in the Province of Shan-Tung, about 300 miles north of Shanghai. The mission was in charge of two missionaries named Nies

and Heuule, who had succeeded in attracting to their schools a very generous following of Chinese youth. The attack was made in broad daylight, and the buildings were burned. When Nies and Hennle, the missionaries, tried to dissuade the rioters from acts of violence toward the native converts there was an instant attack made upon the Germans themselves. Both Fatalljr Wounded. The two Europeans were attacked with swords and clubs, _and, before they could defend themselves,Toth had been mortally wounded. They were at once thrown upon the buraiug ruins of the mission, where they died. Refugees from the dismantled school at once communicated the facts to the nearest representatives of the German nation and the news provoked a storm of indignant protest as soon as it was repeated in Berlin. Steps to punish the perpetrators of the deed were at once put ou foot. A German war ship was dispatched to the Yellow Sea and Nov. 22 the admiral in command landed a foroe of marines ou the shore of the bay, which was commanded by a Chinese port with a garrison of 1,500 men. The admiral, protected by the man-of-war, commanded the Chinese general to withdraw his soldiers from the fort and the latter did so, claiming the protection of the admiral. The Chinese soldiers ran in complete disorder into the fastnesses of the hills, abandoning their position, which the Germans at once occupied. A demand was made upon the Chinese Government for an indemnity on account of the slaughter of the missionaries and the destruction of school property. Pending a settlement of that question the German force maintained its position on land and the man-of-war remained in the adjacent waters for the purpose of affording any needed protection. Russia May Interfere. It is said that the Chinese ministers have appealed for support to Russia, and that the czar has intimated that a continuance of German occupation will be regarded as an act of hostility to the Russian nation and damaging to Russian Interests. Emperor William, at the recent opening of the German parliament, clearly foreshadowed the forcible occupation of a port in Chinese waters, and his address left little room to expect that the force there would be withdrawn. In addition, it is well known that a gunboat which had been ordered to Ilayti to settle a little difficulty which the Berlin Government had in the West Indies has been recalled, and is now on its way to the China Sea. By the time Russian protests can be considered at Berlin it is likely Emperor William’s naval and land forces will be so strongly established on the shore of China that they will not easily be dislodged.

EMPEROR WILLIAM.