The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-16
CabIegram from American Consul
Ragsdnle I'm which He Says Fore
eigners Are still Safe.
pEK1NG VIRTUALLY A PRISON
FOREIGN MINISTER'S NOT ALLOWED
TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUTSIDE.
100000 Troops Ready to Repaise the
diers Discussed by the Cabinet.

TIEN-TSIN, June Is. The
mixed forces, it is reported, will
attempt to seize the Taku forts to-
night.
General Mich is moving $500
troops from Iu-Tai to Chun-Lia-
Ceng.
General Tune's Shanghai troops
are moving to Peking.
LONDON, June 1s.-This is the situation
in China as II appears TO the Shanghai
correspondent of the Daily Express. cabling
last evening:
1T is really state of veiied war The
members Of the foreign legations In Peking
are virtually prisoners, and the Chinese
troops are only restrained from attacking
them by fear OF the legation guards.
Meanwhile the ministers are altogether
unable to communicate with the officers
commanding the relief column. which is
tween Tien-Tsin and Pekine. The walls
OF the capital are guarded by 100000 inn
perial troops. The gates are heavily de-
Tended with modern guns. General Tung.
acting under orders from the Empress dow
ager, says that no more foreign troops
shall enter the sacred city.
ION Monday the ministers sent demand
TO the Tsung Ii Yamen that the gates be
opened, declaring that otherwise the
foreign troops would enter forcibly. To
this no reply was given. A second message
went unanswered or had not been answered
when the latest news left Peking.
..Sir Claude MacDonald's latest message
says that the legations are capable Of sus-
tanning an effective defense unless attacked
I'm force"
Russia, this correspondent asserts, not
withstanding assurances 10 the contrary.
sides with China Some foreign troops are
already reported to be In the environs of
Peking, and the attitude OF the Chinese
troops is increasingly menacing.
1.-The streets of Peking.' continues the
correspondent OF the Daily Express. ''are
reported to be seethng with anti-foreign
mobs clamoring for the destruction of the
legations and the death of the foreign min
listers. Even were the Tsung IL Yamen dis
posed to restrain the violence of the re-
actionaries it is considered highly improb-
able that they will be able TO hold them in
check. For the foreign ministers the crisis
will arise when the relief column comes in
sight OF Peking. 1t is still felt here that
the foreign force is wholly inadequate to
battle with the hordes OF Chinese troops
massed outside the gates. which now in
clude the imperial troops from Shan-Hai-
Kwan."
A disquieting element In the situation Is
the fact that. although the Russo-chinese
telegraph line from Peking via Kiakhta
| eastern Siberia) is working again. the
transmission Of messages is rigidly re-
fused.
From Tien-Tsin II is reported that the
foreign forces in the harbor will attack
the Taku forts and If necessary lombard
them.
The international column appears to be
still at Lang-Fang engaged in slowly re-
pairing the railway. which, according 10 a
dispatch from Tien-Tsin 10 the Daily Mail.
dated June II, cannot be effected for weeks.
The force is short OF provisions. and as II
is without field transport it must stick TO
the railway.
The report that the mixed forces will
seize the Taku forts is taken 10 mean that
| the foreign commanders expect no aid from
the Chinese government in repressing the
| disorders and are determined 10 make Taku
secure a base from which 10 operate
The St Petersburg correspondent OF the
Times. telegraphing Thursday. says: I'm
competent political circles there Is no wish
trace of intention 10 act in China. other
than With the great powers. AZ the same
time there is no desire TO establish Euro
pean concert. Russia, like the United
States. reserves to herself Independence Of
action"
The murder OF the Japanese chancellor
of legation at Peking. by the Chinese i'm
perial troops has aroused keen feeling In
Japan. The press urges the government TO
exact ample reparation. Eight warshipa are
to be sent TO Taku.
The Hong-K correspondent Of the
Times. under yesterdays date. saws: THE
southern provinces Of China are stili quiet.