The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-07-12

comparative urgency OF the occasion,
granted the request as an extraordinary
mark Of courtesy beyond the require
ments Of international Intercourse, over
five hundred foreign troops were senttfo
Peking.
Shows chinn's Attempt to be
Friendly. ~
This shows clearly how much care
China exercised in the maintenance Of
friendly relations with other countries.
The legations at the capital never had
much to do with the people. But from
the time foreign troops entered the city
the guards did not devote themselves
exclusively to the protection of their
respective legations. They sometimes,
fred their guns on top8of the city
walls, and sometimes patrolled the
streets everywhere. There were re-
pented reports OF persons being hit by;
stray bullets. Moreover. they strolied
about the city without restraint and
even attempted &c. enter the Tung Hua
gae (the eastern gate Of the palace
grounds). They only deslsted when I'D
mittance was positively forbidden On
this account both the soldiers and the
people were provoked To- resentment,
and voiced their indignation with ono
accord. sLnwless persons then took ad-
vantage Of the situation to do mischief
and became bolder than ever In burning
and killed Christian converts.
The powers ,thereupon attempted to
reinforce the foreign troops in Peking,
but the reinforcements encountered re-
slstance and defeat Mt the hands OF the
insurgents on the way and have not yet
been able to proceed. The Insurgents
on the two provinces OF Chilli ana
Shan TuRg had by this time effected a
complete union. and could not be sepa-
rated. The imperial government was
by no means reluctant to issue orders
for the entire suppression of this insur-
gent element. " ~
Orders to Troops to Exercise Fro-
;5535 3e caution. IL /, (, Z
However, orders were issued to the
troops detailed for the protection Of the
legations. to keep strIctcr watch and
take greater precaution against any
emergency. To our surprise, on tho
twentieth Of the fifth moon. (June 16),
foreign officers ut Tnku called upon Lo
Jung kwang. the general commanding,
and demanded his surrender Of the
forts. notifying him that failing to re-
ceive compliance they would, at 2
o'clock the next day, tIke steps to seize
the forts by force. Lo Jung Kwaug
being bound by the duties Of his Office
to hold the forts. how could he yield to
the demand? On the day named they
actually first fired upon the forts,
which responded and kept up fighting
all day and then surrendered. Thus tho
conflict of forces began, but certainly
the initiative did not come from our
side. Even supposing that China were
not conscious of har true condition, how
could she take such step as to engage
In war with all the powers sinultan-
eously, and how could she. relying upon
the support OF anarchistic populace, 40
into war with the powers? Our POSI-
tlon In this matter ought to be clearly
understood by all the powers. The
above Is n statement ofthe wrongs we
have suffered. and how China was
driven to the unfortunate position from
which she could not escape.
Contents of Decree to be Made Known
Our several ministers will make
known accurately misunderstanding con-
tents OF this decree and the policy os
China to the minister of foreign af-
fairs in their respective countries and
assure them that military authorities
are still strictly enioined to afford pro-
lection to the legations Us hitherto, to
the utmost Of their power. AS for the
uft ha
with as circumstances permit.
THE several ministers Will continue
In the discharge of the duties Of their
offices, us hitherto without hesitation or
doubt. This telegrnphic decree to be
transmitted for Information. Respect
this"
The note is said to have originated
with the privy council and at the state
department this body Is declared to 'bo
identical with tho Tsuns Ii Yamen, be-
Ing the power next the throne, and the
one which deals exclusively with for
cign powers. The curious means adopt
ed Of forwarding the note arc supposed
to have been rcsorted to because what
amounts TO martial law In civilized
countries. Is now In force In pektn and
Shan Tung, SO that the Tsung Ii Ya-
men would naturally confdc the mes
sage to the war board, now IN supreme
control. to secure It's transmission to
Shanghai.
officials Gratitled at Announcement.
The announced purpose of the Chi
nesc government to protect the foreign
ministries is gratifying to the officials
here for they have all along been more
or less doubtful OF the authenticity OF
hn pat IL ia frt, tp1, 81, knt