The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-08-20
FAIL OF pEKIE
Told by General chaffee and Admiral
Remey-Fighting Within the Walls
of the city-Dowager Empress De-


Remey-Fighting Within the Walls
of the city-Dowager Empress De-
tanned.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. 19.-
From General Chaffee to-day. the war
department received official confrma-
ton OF the fall of Pekin and the rescue
ofsthe bes!egeds slegatloners. 10 = =
The dispatch OF the American COM.
mander was not long and contained few
details, but the unconcealed satisfac-
tion with which 1t was received by off,
cials Of the administration, indicated
clearly the anxiety that had been en-
gendered by his prolonged silence. His
last communication to the government
prior to the receipt OF to-day's advices
was dated August II at Matow. almost
thirty miles from Pekin. The explana-
ton of his silence is suggested In ad-
vices received by the navy department
to-day from Admiral Rcmey, who tcle-
graphing from Taku on the 1Sth,e says
the telegraph line between that point
and Pekin Is Interrupted
Cablegram Important.
The cablegram from Admiral Remey
contains some important Information
not mentioned by General Chaffee. He
makes the startling statement. on Jap
anese authority. that the Inner city OF
Pekin was being bombarded BY the ni-
lied forces. Admiral Remey says, also,
that the Dowager Empress is detained
in the inner city by Prince Yunsedo.
Advices received late last night from
the foreign office at Toxic, Japan, by
the japanese legation in this city. con-
firms and ampliAes previous accounts
Of the capture OF Pekin by the allied
troops.
The dispatch from General Chafree,
which was received during the morn
ing, was transmitted Immediately to
the President. at the white house. He
expressed his qualification at the news
1t contains. particularly Mt the small
loss sustained by the American troops.
A copy. OF the dispatch likewise was
sent to Adjutant General Corbin, who Is
in New York.
Date Regarded as nm Error.
1t will be noted that the dispatch In
dIcates that the American troops enter
ed the legation grounds at o'clock on
the evening OF the fourteenth instant.
BY the Washington officials and by the
several legation officials to whom It was
shown. the date OF General Chaffee's
communication Is regarded MS an error
Of transmission. 1t is believed that the
word fifteenth" should be Sixteenth"
All previous advlces. official and uno!l-
clal. hnve indicated that the legations
were relieved on the evening OF tho NJ
teenth, Wednesday. after. n day of
sharp fighting. Minister WI, the Chi
nese representatives. and Minister Ta-
kahIra. OF Japan. were quite positive on
this point, all their official ndvices be-
Ing that entrance to the city OF Pckin,
was effected carly In the evening OF
"Wednesday, the 18th inst. KS
The fact that only the Fourteenth In
fantry and Rilcy's battery entered the
city. MS shown by General Chanfee's
dispatch, does not Indicate that the
Ninth Infantry and tho marines, who
were SO consplcuously gallant through
out the advance upon the capital, did
not participate in the engagement.
which resulted directly In the rescue of
the bcsIeged legatIoncrs. 1t is pointed
out as likely TINT General Chafrec. act
Ing In consonnnce with the other com
mandcrs, divided his force, leaving tho
Ninth infantry and the marines with
out the walls OF the city to act ms q
rcnr guard; TO prevent the escape of
Chinese troops by other gates than
those through which the allies entered.
or for some other excellent reason.
Only two bastnlionB OF tho Four