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

ment's notice when she receives the
mandate Of the powers. Great Britain
Is now awaiting answers from the
chancelors 10 its proposals.
The British cabinet had long meet
ing this morning Under the presidency
OF Lord Salisbury. and fully consider
ed the crisis.
THEN TsIN. June %, via Che Foo.
July /. and Shanghai. July 5.-Those
best informed in Tien Tsin consider
the position OF foreigners In Pekin as
almost helpless. Il IL hopeless to at
tempt TO force the war with the force
available. Commanders are willing 70
resort 10 desperate means. but TO at
tempt a forced march from Tlen Tsin
with the forces at hand means cer-
tain slaughter Of the civilians left at
Tien Tsin. Enough soldiers are neces-
sary TO defeat the Chinese army. main
tain communication with the base Of
supplies and guard the hospitals en-
route.
The water supply is an important
problem in a country furnishing none
except river wells. which are being
poisoned. The Chinese are committing
terrible atrocities upon the wounded.
The, 49, ,,,,,ttI.tf,., al ~ LEA that
fail into their hands. General Tung
Fuh Slang. with 10000 Of the best dis
ciplined troops In the Chinese army,
Mahommedans. are marching from the
southwest toward Pekin. The army
thereabouts numbers $1,000
The empress has fed to her sum-
mer palace. The Mahommedan Boxers
are fighting in Pekln. Ten regiments
Of General Nieh's command. north Of
Tien Tsin. are reported to have desert
ed and gone to pillaging the country.
Residents declare that a Chinese COM
nune has been inaugurated. and that
peaceable Chinese have been the great
est sufferers. The foreign soldiers are
burning the outskirts Of Tien Tsin TO
deprive the enemy Of shelter. and the
Boxers are destroying outlying villages
for loot. The smoke Of hundred fires
can be seen in every direction.
Tien Tsin was not bombarded for the
first time today for a fortnight. Fam
lilies are returning to their homes for
their possessions. The women and
children viii be sent to Talxu as soon
as travel Is safe. No unfriendly Chi
namen are visible in the streets. A few
Of the richest, with their families. are
huddled in the outhouses for protec-
tion, badly frightened. others conceal
ed in various houses shoot at the Eu-
ropeans on the street.
The Chinese dead about Tien rsin
number thousands. Most Of those who
have been killed lie unburied in the
fields. The river of Taku is full of
floating bodies. and many have been
washed under by the tide. Dogs are
feeding on these bodies along the banks.
The small American contlngents ev-
erywhere distinguished themselves.
Captain McCalla and Major Waller are
at Tien Tsin. Their men are placed
ia the lead Of every movement. BY
common consent. the British are close
beside them. The foreigners in Tien
Tsln declare. however. that they owe
their lives to the Russians. without
whom the smaller detachments must
have been overwhelmed on that dark
est Wednesday when the Chinese were
pressing on every side and the brav
est men were abandoning hope. The
Russian commander. Colonel Wozack.
arranged the main body. with the civ
ilians. to make a sortie in the direc-
tion of Taku. He left 400 Russians to
defend the city and engage the atten-
ton of the Chinese. the intention be-
ing for them to ultimately sacrifice
themselves. The arrival of the Amer
leans saved the day. Their arrival
proved a complete surprise.
Among the military evidences of i'm
mense Chinese preparation for war may
be mentioned that arsenals and stores
hitherto unknown have been discovered.
with $1OOOO,OOO worth of arms and am
munition Of the most modern type.
These arms and ammunltions have
been destroyed with three arsenals out
side Tien Tsin.
Several thousand troops under Cen
eral Mich are holding the native city
five miles north Of Tien Tsin.
1t is rumored that 10000 Chinese
will attack the place at noon today.
The troops are under arms. but the
Chinese failed to materialize. Admiral
Seymour was wounded slightly recent
ly by spent ball, which struck him
in the shoulder while in the house
with Commander McCalla and Com
mander Taussig.
The hero of Tien Tsin is James Watts,
young Englishman. perhaps the best
rider in China, who, with three Co.'S
sacks, ran the gauntlet to Taku with
messages, charging through villages
under fire repeatedly. Several foreign
commanders nave recommended the
quartet be decorated.
NEW YORK. July CIV. w. Rock