21 JULY 1900, Page 1

Thie enormous crime has caused a cry of horror through-

out Europe, but it has not quickened the action of the Courts. Rather it has rel)ased them from the necessity of postponing their interests to their humanity. The general idea in all capitals is evidently to accumulate about 90,000 Europeans in Taku, and, while supplies are collecting there, to send forward 50,000 Japanese, whose supplies are ready, to storm Pekin, the Courts trusting that as they hold the sea the Japanese will act as their agents and enforce their terms. The European and Indian troops-30,000 Russians, 20,000 British, 15,000 Germans, 10,000 Americans, 7,500 French, and 6,000 Italians—are afloat, and will be in Taku by mid- Anglia, but their transport, which it is most difficult to collect, will hardly be ready before September. No generalissimo has been appointed or suggested, but he will probably be a German, the British retaining the supreme command at sea. The Chinese are gathering troops from all quarters, except Shantung, where a great army is collecting

for the storm of Shanghai, and they will probably bay/ 150,000 men between Taku and Pekin, who will use the spade, let loose the canals, and throw up mighty walls. They have plenty of artillery, and are manufacturing shells in quantities in their own arsenals. The march, therefore, though quite practicable, will be a terrible and protracted one.