SHANGHAI DURING THE BOXER OUTBREAK, 1900

Signs of Unrest

Ominous clouds appeared on the political horizon during 1899, and there was a general feeling of unrest throughout China. There were frequent reports of the growth of an anti-foreign spirit and of persecution of Christian converts. Rebellions broke out in different parts of the country and secret societies manifested considerable activity.

Shanghai was visited by Kangyi, Assistant Grand Secretary and President of the Ministry of War, who had been appointed High Commissioner for the purpose of investigating affairs in Kiangsu and of raising an increased revenue for the Imperial Exchequer. The foreign press facetiously termed him the "Lord High Extortioner." He was extremely anti-foreign and exercised a dangerous influence.

Rise of the Boxers

At this time, a secret society, known as the "Boxers," became prominent in Western Shantung. In Chinese, the name might be written in two ways. In one way, it meant "The Association of Justice and Harmony," and in another way, "The Fists of Patriotic Union."

As the society made boxing and gymnastics its ostensible purpose, it obtained the name of "Boxers" and adopted as its motto "Preserve the Dynasty, exterminate the Foreigners." Its members passed through various stages of secret initiation, and believed that those who reached the highest stage became invulnerable to wounds by sword, spear, or bullet. They became active in raids against Mission premises, and in the persecution of Christians, and as the provincial and local officials sympathized with their aims, little was done to check them.

Murder of Rev. S. M. Brooke

On October 31, 1899, the Rev. S. M. Brooke,a missionary of the Church of England,while returning from Taianfu to his station at Pingyin, was murdered by a band of the Great Sword Society at Maokiapu, 50 miles southwest of Tsinanfu. Although the case was taken up by the British Government, and the culprits were brought to justice, the anti-foreign agitation continued. The decree put forth at that time by the Empress Dowager was unsatisfactory to the foreign Powers, and was considered by the "Boxers" and "Great Sword Society" as favourable to their enterprise.

Protest Against Abdication of Emperor

It was known that the Empress Dowager had already decided on the policy of driving the foreigners into the sea, and that she looked upon the Boxers as valuable allies in carrying out her plans. In order to maintain her power, she planned to force the Emperor, Kwang Hsu, to abdicate, and to place a child named Puchen on the throne. Many of the officials of the Empire protested, and memorials opposing the proposal were sent to Peking. One was telegraphed from Shanghai on January 26, 1900, signed by Kin Lien-shan, Manager of the Imperial Telegraph Service, and 1,230 others, assuring the Emperor of the senders' loyalty and begging him not to abdicate. The Empress Dowager, furious at the attempted frustration of her designs, ordered the arrest of Kin Lien-shan, who was able to escape only by fleeing to Macao.

Siege of the Legations

Although warnings were given of a terrible storm about to burst in North China and throughout the country, yet for the most part the foreign Ministers in Peking were incredulous, and relied on the promises of the Chinese Government to quell the disturhances.

As the Boxers drew nearer to Peking and outrages were committeed in the neighbourhood of the Capital, the Diplomatic Body at last became conscious of the peril, and Legation Guards were sent up from Tientsin. This is not a history of China, but of Shanghai, and so we must pass over a detailed account of the memorable siege of the Peking Legations, and must confine ourselves to a consideration of how Shanghai was affected by the cataclysm.

The Defence of Shanghai

As the residents of Shanghai became aware of the dangerous situation in the North, it was realized that the conflagration might spread throughout the whole of China and that an anti-foreign uprising might break out in the Settlements. Shanghai was unprepared, as it depended for its defence almost entirely on the volunteer corps and the police force. It was not pleasant for those who understood the Chinese language to hear groups of servants and coolies speaking about the day of reckoning for the foreigners, and of the general massacre about to take place.

When Admiral E. H. Seymour of the British Navy visited Shanghai, after the failure of his attempt to reach Peking with a small relief force, the defence of Shanghai was seriously taken in hand. It was decided to make the line of defence on Defence Creek, and it was arranged to give rockets and flags to foreigners dwelling in the suburbs so that they could signal if their premises were attacked. Mounted Sikh policemen were detailed to patrol the outlying districts at night and to give warning of approachmg danger, and an appeal for troops was sent to the governments in England and America.

Agreement with the Viceroys of the Central Provinces

The situation was somewhat relieved by the fact that the Viceroys of the central pr-vinces refused to obey the order to rise and drive out the foreigners. They realized that China was not strong enough to throw down the gauntlet to all the Western Powers. An agreement was made 'by Chang Chih-tung, the Viceroy of Hunan and Hupeh, and Liu Kun-yi, the Viceroy of Kiangsu, Anhwei and Kiangsi, with the foreign Consuls in Shanghai, guaranteeing to preserve peace in their jurisdictions, provided the foreign troops confined military operations to the North. It was understood that whatever might happen to the foreigners besieged in Peking, these Viceroys were not to be held responsible. The Powers were satisfied, and the Viceroys issued proclamations to the people informing them of the agreement, which was faithfully observed on both sides, and was the means of saving China from wide-spread anarchy.

Edict of the Empress Dowager

Peking was soon cut off from the rest of the world, and surrounded by a hostile force, aided and abetted by the Empress Dowager.

On June 24 she issued an edict to the following effect: "Whenever you meet a foreigner, you must slay him; if the foreigner attempts to escape, you must slay him at once." Some one in Peking had the courage to alter the character "sha," meaning "to slay," to "pao," meaning "to protect," and thus the disastrous results of such an edict were partially averted. To the parts of China within the disturbed area, the written text of the edict was sent by courier, and foreigners were ruthlessly massacred at Paotingfu and Taiyuanfu.

On July 14 a deep gloom fell over Shanghai, when it was reported that Sheng Hsuan-hwai, Director-General of Telegraphs, had received a telegram from Yuan Shih-kai (Governor of Shantung) stating "Messenger from Peking, July 8, arrived to-day, reports that the artillery of the Boxers and Tung Fu~iang's troops made a breach in the Legation walls, afterwards taking them by assault. Massacre followed, no one left alive. Chinese losses enormous, foreign ammunition exhausted."

Although Sheng Hsuan-hwai denied receiving this telegram, it was telegraphed to all parts of the world and for a time was generally believed, so that even a day was appointed for holding a solemn memorial service in St. Paul's Cathedral, London.

In Shanghai there was much grief over what was supposed to be the tragic end of friends and relatives.

Arrival of Li DowHung-ehang in Shanghai Among the officials who understood the madness of the policy of the Empress Dowager was the veteran statesman, Li Hungchang. Having received the appointment as Viceroy of Chihli and Peiyang Tachen (High Commissioner of North China), he left Canton for the North on July 16. Upon arrival in Shanghai ne attempted to negotiate with the Consular Body, but was informed that "if the Envoys were alive he must negotiate with them, and if they were dead he must deal with the Home Governments." Although not permitted to negotiate with the Consuls, he used his influence towards restraining the folly of those responsible for the uprising in the North.

Landing of Foreign Troops

Throughout this period there was great apprehension in Shanghai, and it was not until the British authorities sent a force of 3,000 Indian troops from Hongkong that a feeling of security was restored. The Chinese authorities objected to the landing of these troops, and appealed to the American Government to uphold them in their protest.

Failing to get encouragement from this source, the Viceroys yielded and the men who had remained outside Woo- sung since August 12 were, much to the relief of the foreign residents, landed at Shanghai on August 17.

The other Powers were unwilling to leave the duty of protecting Shanghai and the Yangtze valley entirely in the hands of one Power, and on August 18 the French landed a hundred sailors, and after a few days, 250 Annamese tirailleurs. These were followed in a short time by detachments of troops from all the nations concerned, and Shanghai took on the appearance of an armed camp.

Relief of the Legations

In the meantime, on August 14, the Allied Force which had advanced on Peking from Tientsin, had succeeded n raising the siege of the Legations, and the Imperial Court had fled to Sianfu. Great was the joy in Shanghai when news was received of the relief of those who had been shut up in the beleaguered Legations for so many trying days and a solemn Thanksgiving Service was held in the English Cathedral.

German Overseas Expeditionary Force

At first Germany, having no troops in China and only a small naval force, had been unable to give assistance in suppressing the Boxer Outbreak. When the news of the murder of Baron von Kettler, the German Minister, on June 20 reached Europe, Germany at once took steps for organizing an overseas expeditionary force of 7,000 men, under the command of Count von Waldersee, who was recognized by the other Powers as Commander-in-chief of the International Force.

When Count von Waldersee arrived in Shanghai on September 22, a general review of all the foreign troops in garrison was held on the enclosure within the Race Course.

The force consisted of Rajputs, Sikhs, Baluchis, Ghurkhas, Volunteers, Artillery Companies A and B, Customs Company, Reserves, German Company, Japanese, French, Light Horse, Bombay Cavalry, Annamites, French Mountain Battery, and German Regulars.

Count von Waldersee arrived at eight o'clock in the morning, accompanied by Brigadier-General Creagh of the British Army, and carried in his right hand the baton presented to him by the German Emperor at the time of his departure.

In the march past the Germans led the way. The short, quick step of the little Ghurkhas aroused considerable interest, while the guns of the Royal Artillery, each drawn by six beautiful horses, excited general admiration.

It was the finest military display Shanghai had seen up to that time.