The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-20
ALLIES ATTACK
PETANC FORTS.
Heavy Cannonading is Reported
From Taku.
Chaffee Reports Murder of a
Number of Missionaries.
COUNTRY is STIRRED
By Russia's Proposition to Evac-
uate Pekin.
Won Waldersee Leaves Hong
Kong For Shanghai.

AOuS FOR SHANGHAI
GCopyright, 1900. by Associated Press
Taku. Sept. 20.-The allies attacked
the Petang forts at daybreak. Heavy
cannonading is going on.
MESSAGE FROM CHAFFEE.
Washington, Sept 2O.-The war de-
partment has received the following:
''Taku (no date)-Adjutant General,
Washington: Pekin, Sept. 17.-Further
reply to your No. 49, following accepted
here as reliable: Two daughters of At
water and 26 others murdered at Taiuan
July 8. Clapp and wife, four others muir
dered, Taiku, July 81. Atwater, wife,
two children, six others murdered by
their escort near Pen Chow Flu August
Is in Chan ST province. Same message
reports six persons. Dixon and wife,
Occurren and wife, single gentleman and
mountains from mission thirty miles
to north of Takuan. They escaped on
horseback and possibly may have evaded
their pursuers- CHAFFEE.
USED SILVER BULLETS.
Yokohama. Sept. Z, via Victoria, r. C.,
Sept. 20.-The country is tremendously
stirred up by the discussion of Russia 8
proposition to withdraw from Pekin.
While there is no fear of Russia, there
is the deepest diStrust of her diplomacy,
and a conviction that an alliance exists
between the MuscOvite power and the
empress dowager's government. The po-
litical situation here now hangs upon
the outcome of this Russian question.
An account has just reached us of the
straits to which the Pekin garrison was
reduced from the lack of ammunition
during the last days of the siege. Every
scrap of metal no matter how valuable,
was utilized and it is said that the enemy
was greatly encouraged when silver
bullets We're rained upon them, this be-
ing an intimation of the failure of the
garrison's supply of ammunition
CHAFFEE PREFERS TENTS.
Copyright, 1900, by Associated Press
Pekin, Sept. IA, via Shanghai-General
Chaffee expresses a preference in favor
of tents for the winter campaign rather
than unsanitary buildings The indica-
tions are that 10000 of the allies will
winter at Pekin- The German force will
be the largest Some of the troops will
probably be distributed in the surround
ing cities to relieve the strain. The Jap
anese will withdraw the most of their
force to Nagasaki. The Russians will
retain at least two thousand here
A joint expedition to PaOting has been
planned by the British, German and
French forces. The dowager empress
has expressed her Willingness to return
to Pekin if guaranteed protection. The
generals in command and the ministers
of the powers are unwilling to assume
such a responsibility.
A number of small bands of boxers
have been reported in the neighborhood
recently.
Won WALDERsEE SAILS FOR
SHANGHAI.
New York, Sept. 2O-A dispatch from
the Herald from Hong Kong says:
Count Won Waldersee has left here on
the German cruiser Hortza for Shanghai.
The British consul in Canton has re-
ceived a telegram from officials at Kuef
Yang saying the missionaries of that dis
trict have left by way of Szeh Chuan
and that Taoti has sent soldiers to safely
escort them to Chung King.
WANT PEACE RIGHT AWAY
Washington, Sept 2O.-The Chinese
minister has received a dispatch from
the Viceroys OF the southern provinces
of China making an appeal for the op-
ening of peace negotiations without fur
ther delay. They represent that a pro-
longation of the unsettled condition is
a serious disadvantage to China and all
parties concerned. :
Admiral Crowninshield, chief of the
navigation bureau, and citing secretary
of the navy, has received the following
cablegram from Admiral Remey: :''Taku,
Sept. 19.-I have called upon Ii Hung
Chang officially. Arrived September 1S
in a merchant vessel. He will proceed
at once to Pel<in- He desires that 1 ten
der his sincere thanks for the consider
alton he has received from the United
States government. REMEY."
CHAFFEE TO DIVIDE HIS FORCES
Washington, Sept. 2o-The war de-
partment has received the following ca
blegram from Gen. Chaffee:
."Taku, (no date) Adjutant General
ngtOn-Pekin, Sept. 16.-To avoid
further crowding Pekin have had in
mind a division of my force between
Pekin, Yaung Tung, Tien Tsin at the
latter place, leaving one battalion only
because ground Tien Tsin, low damp,
unsuitable. Other commanders no in
structiOns but they assume at
least some of their troops remain Pekin
during winter state this as indicat-
ing what is to be ascertained here not
knowing of course, the action being ta-
ken by the powers and the United
troops retired toward Tien Tsin yet
moved Condition of Chinese some bet
ter; gardeners entering the city freely
relieving the distress prevailing some
days ago. Slight resumption trade, 9TH
er conditions very fair rendering the sit
uation quiet. Expedition today expel
boxers to the westward in order free the
country for coal supply Pekin. Head
quarters one squadron Sixth cavalry
Yang Tsun to camp. Telegraphed you
Both railroad to be repaired Ii Hung
Chang left Shanghai 18th. Remeyz re-
ports Rockhill expected Taku, 18th.
A portion of this dispatch is unintelH
gible to the department official and they
have asked the telegraph company for
a correction on it.
RUSSIA STARTED 1T.
Washington, Sept. 2O.-It now appears
that Russia. first put forward the propo-
sition for the punishment OF the leaders
of the Chinese uprising. This was in a
paper offering. a general programme for
conducting the peace negotiations
The first item of the programme was
the punishment of the Chinese Of
tenders The proposal came previous to