General von Waldersee has arrived at Tientsin and has begun
to organise the international force which will act under him. He has already taken possession of Sban-hai- kwan without resistance, and is said to be making prepara- tions for an expedition to Pao-ting-fu. It is not likely, however, that he will take any striking action or make any announcement of his plans till he reaches Pekin. The dateof his entry is not yet fixed, but the various generals have arranged to welcome him with military honours, and General Gaselee has already visited him. Meantime the Russians and Americans have withdrawn most of their troops from Pekin, and the bulk of the American contingent is said to be already under orders for Manila. Taken as a whole, the local as well as the diplo- matic situation continues very obscure, and must remain so until we know with whom we are really dealing when we talk about "the Chinese," and what are the plans and intentions of those who control the still very great physical force avail- able in China. The special correspondent of the Standard, telegraphing from Shanghai on Tuesday, notes a significant fact,—namely, that "the endless stream of troops, munitions of war, and artillery going Northwards along the Grand Canal, in the direction of Pekin, has now been diverted towards Han-kau, on the road to Shensi." That loolfs as if China still means fighting.
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