Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1900-08-14
And the Taku Forts by Chinese
Troops Has the Sanction of
the Emperor.
AMERICAN SOLDIERS LEAD
Drove Chinese Out and Took Pos.
session Of Their Trenches
Before Other Allies
Came Up.
NO CHINESE GRAB FOR U. S.

London. Aug. 14-Gen. Chaffees
message announcing hls arrival Aug.
9th at Ho 81 WI stands as the latest
official intelligence on the march of
the allied forces on Pekin. English
papers say it is rather annoying that
their naval and military officers can
not communicate with high officials
here while Admiral Remey and Gen.
Chaffee can do so by the Snanghai-
Canton wire
st. Petersburg papers are campaign
ing against the political activity of
Great Britain in the Yang Use valley.
The st. Petersburg Gazette" inter-
viewed member Of the United States
embassy as to the reasons why the
United States assumed hostile atti-
tude towards China in view of Lii
Hung Chang's declaration that Minis
ter Conger could be sent safely to
Tien Tsin on the condition that the
United States abandon the idea of the
march on Pekin. The member in
question is quoted as saying the Uni
ted States was indignant at thus being
bargained with and expressed his be-
lief that the United States would send
many troops to China.
Paris, Aug. 14-A dispatch received
here from the French consul general
at Shanghai show that apprehension
exists there as to the conditions pre-
vailing at Shanghai and vicinity The
French ministry therefore decided to
take precautions to defend the French
concession at Shanghai. Information
obtained from British sources say the
allied troops were within twenty-five
1Ilometers of Pelrin, but the date Of
this news is not stated.
New York, Aug. IA dispatch to |
the Herald" from Chefoo dated Aug. |
9Th, says: Chinese plans for the re. |
capture of Tien Tsin and Taku forts
have been sanctioned by the emperor
New York, Aug. IA dispatch to
the World from the headquarters
of the allied troops in the field at Tai
Tsung, Aug. Sth, via Takue, Chefoo
and Shanghai, Aug. 18th, says: "The
general advance of the allied forces
began this "wednesday morning
The order is to rush to Pekin with
no rest. We probably shall arrive al
the gates of the Chinese capital in
seven days, reaching there next We'd
nesday. The enemy is demoralized
The Chinese are reported to have re
treated straight to Pekin after having
been Unexpectedly driven out of
Yang Tsung, Monday Yang Tsung
was captured by the Americans under
Gen. Chaffee They led the allies in
a forced march from Pei Tsang and
attacked before the natives recovered
from the effects of their signal defeat
the day before. U. S. regulars made
a dash when they found the enemy
and soon were masters of the posi-
tion. The Americans had done their
work so quickly that they were in the
Chinese trenches before the rest of
the allies knew it and the Russian
battery threw shells among the Amer
leans through frightful error. The
American casualties are estimated
at about seventy, mostly of the Four
teenth infantry. Forty per cent OF
the Ninth infantry were exhausted by
the long, hard marching, and the in
tense heat.
Washington, Aug 14--A high gov
ernment official said today that the
indemnity demanded for every
American citizen killed or manned by
the Chinese during the trouble would
be sufficient to comfortably support
their families the remainder of their
lives. "This government does moi
want province, town, village or Q
single square foot Of Chinese terri
tory as idemnity,' sand the official
who is close to the president. There
is but one indemnity which they car
give our people and that is monetary
indemnity to the families of their vic
tins. For every cne of these, Chin;
must pay sufficient sum to keep theil
families from want during their lives
This government will exact assuranc
es of satisfactory character tha
such state of affairs as now exists II
China, shall not again occur. The ma
ture of these assurances will be de-
termined later. The collection of in
demnity may prove difficult and i
may be decided. although SO far th'
proposition has not been considered
to station warships in the harbors 0
the principal cities and officials with
in these cities to watch revenues an'
protect the interests of the UniteV
States If need be. by taking charg
of such revenues and reserve som
portion Of them to apply to the IN
demnity. Troops may be necessarI
to protect the officials stationed il
these ports. II this plan should b
adopted the different allies doubles
viii cooperate Efforts will be mad
OF course. to trace the responsibilit
4or recent outrazes but It wi1I Be diff