The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-07-18

and copied for distribution about !
o'clock Before it was given out It
was decided to make some change In
the copy. the nature Of which was not
disclosed, and the above copy finally
vas given to the public.
LONDON. July I7.-European Jour
nails are today indulging in a great
deal Of wild talk credlting the powers
with having decided to lay Pelrin in
ashes. remove the capital to Canton
and hang the empress and Prince
TuaD. but the writers fail to take in
to account the difficulties which would
attend such undertakings. However,
the chancelIories fully recognize the
magnitude OF the task confronting the
great powers. As matter OF fact.
as has already been pointed out In
these dispatches. the only thought for
the moment OF the powers is how best
to reach Pekin. Once there. they can
be depended upon. according to the
best official information. to exact what
eyer penalty appears to be the most
striking and effective.
This mornings news Of the success
OF the allied forces at Tien Tsin. though
that success has been dearly bought.
appears to clear the air somewhat.
This victory over the Chinese. Il is
hoped. win enable the allies to resume
preparations for an advance. especial
" as today it is officially announced
that the Japanese force Of 1900 Will
all ba disembarked by July 10 at the
latest The suggestions Of scattering
the forces throughout China in pursuit
Of the Boxers emanate wholly from ir-
responsible quarters. In official circles
there is a full realization Of the neces-
sity Of having the coast towns occu-
pied and secure before proceeding to
Pekin. The only course open to the
powers is to remain in the capital until
fanaticism wears itself out and the
elements Of an orderly native govern
ment begin to emerge.
According to a Shanghai dispatch
published here today. 100000 Chinese
troops. armed with Mauser rifles and
modern artillery are encamped at three
points within 40 miles Of Shanghai.
ready to besiege the town IN the event
OF an attack by the Europeans upon
the Woo Sung forts.
According 10 telegram from Che
Foo received here today. 10 OF the
allied troops were killed in the assault
upon the native city Of Tien Tsin.
The atrocities with which the storm
ing and destruction Of the last embassy
enclosure were accompanied may be
left to the imagination. il any one who
remembers the story of Cawnpore has
the heart to picture the scene.
The South African war. with its daily
lists Of casualties and deaths from few
er may have created some insensibility
to the pathos Of human suffering, but
the coolness and lack Of excitement
with which the most monstrous crime
of the century was discussed were most
remarkable. One explanation Of this
strange calm was the fact that all re-
fiecting men had abandoned hope
many days before the catastrophe was
revealed by the Chinese officials, and
that the public was prepared for the
worst.
The press. with one or two except
ions. is avoiding historical writing
about nemesis and vengeance. and is
displaying GOODNESS and common sense.
Thoughtful men perceive the gravity of
the situation when the murderous Cam
arllla has usurped power sent a horde
of soldiers and fanatics to drive the al
lies from Tien Tsin and ordered fifty
thousand Black Flags to march to-
ward the Yangtse.
The British roll-call at Pekin includes
the names of about 20 women and
many children. There were many mis-
sionaries with their families in the
doomed enclosure. Friends of the Brit
ish minister remember sadly his satis-
faction when he received his appoint
ment. and his telling to them that he
was at last in great luck in receiving
his promotion Lady Hart Is complete
ly prostrated at her London home by the
tragic death of her husband, for which
his own dispatch prepared her.
The only journalist at Pezin was DR..
Morrison, whose dispatches published
in the Times have been marvels Of en-
terprisa and Oriental cunning. He was
an Australian who had travelled far
and wide in China and perfectly under
stood the native character.
NEW YORK. July IA dispatch to
the Journal and Advertiser from Lon
don says:
In the lobby Of the house Of commons