The news of the week from Pekin is reassuring only
from one point of view. The Great Powers are awake to the serious danger, not only of a general massacre of white men throughout China, but of anarchy in the Empire itself, with the terrible problems which that anarchy would involve, and are acting with decision and in concert. Whether anything has been written in the shape of an "agreement of dis- interestedness," as is reported from Copenhagen, may be doubted, but it is certain that the Admirals, British, German, French, Russian, Austrian, and Italian, have been ordered to act together, that the passive resistance of the Chinese officials has been set aside rather roughly, and that a com- posite force of two thousand marines and sailors, half of them British, is slowly forcing its way from Tientsin to Pekin. It has already dispersed a force of " Boxers " on its route, killing thirty-five of them, and should be in Pekin by Monday in spite of the fact that Friday's telegrams show that the railway has been broken behind it. Further reinforce- ments, fifteen hundred Russians from Port Arthur, and six hundred British soldiers from Hong-kong, are on their way to Taku, and it is believed that the Legations will be strong enough to compel the Empress-Regent to dismiss some of her counsellors, and act energetically against the "Boxers." It is not known whether the combined force will be resisted at the gates, where a general is in command whom the Europeans distrust, but it has Maxims with it, some days' provisions, and, as is evident, clear orders to disperse any, whether soldiers or "Boxers," who may venture to assail it.
