The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-06-29
BATTLE OF TIEN TSIN
SEVERAL HOURS OF FIERCE FIGHTING
BEFORE THE TOWN
SbyMOUR'S DESPERATE POSITION
He photographed on Monday That He
Could Hold Out Only Two Days-Re-
lief Column started Immediately.
Chinese Government Sends Foreign
Ministers From PekIn-Consequeni
ces of Such Actfon-Strength Of the
Opposing Forces = Uneasiness at
Shanghai.

1hahShol'
Washington, June 27-The Chinese
minister called this morning on the
secretary of state and communicated
to him the contents of a dispatch
which he has received from the Tsung
Ii Yamen at Pekin, dated the 18th in
slant. The dispatch states that the
foreign ministers had before that date
asked permission for legation guards
to enter the city, which permission
had been granted; that they subse-
sequently asked that these guards be
reinforced, which the Chinese govern
ment was not disposed to permit. The
dispatch then goes on to state that a
consul general at Tien Tsin, supposed
to be the French consul general, had
telegraphed to the viceroy of Chi Ii
that the foreign admirals had demand
ed the surrender of the Taku forts and
that the foreign ministers were short
ly to leave Pekin for Tien ~Tsin with
their guards.
The developments of the day respect
ing China were important and inter
Inc NnlneSS minister : report Ol
the departure of the foreign ministers
and their guards from Pekin greatly
relieved the officials here, who took it
as the first tangible evidence that
the imperial Chinese government had
a full realization of the enormity of
permitting the ministers to come TO
personal harm, and were thus under
taking, as far as lay in their power, to
observe the amenities if international
exchange.
The keenest interest is shown by
the officials to learn the conditions un-
der which the ministers left Pekin.
The Chinese minister's dispatch was
OminOusly silent on that point and al
though the minister maintains almost
obStinatel his confidence in the nom
existence of a state of war, it is gen.
orally admitted that it will be difficult
to accept his conclusion if it shall
transpire that the Pekin government
has itself sent the ministers away
with their passports, or, what may
come to the same thing, with a guard
as safe conduct.
At the state department it is said
that if it shall be explained that the
imperial government did this, not with
a purpose of rupturing diplomatic re-
lations, but simply to ensure the safe
ty of the ministers, which they were
unable to guarantee as long as they
remained in Pekfn, then there is stin
ground for an understanding. 1t is,
however, pointed out that in such case,
the self-confeSSed inability of the i'm
perial government to maintain peace
and order at the capital would amount
to an omission of its utter failure as
a government. and would leave China
in a state worse than that OF actual
war.
In either event, it now appears TO the
satisfaction of the officials that there
was absolute justification for such in
terventiOn as we have offered in
China.
TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
REOPDNED.
Notice has come 20 the government
that the cable companies have again
reopened communication telegraph
cany with Taku and Che Foo. This
arrangement has been made by means
of the Russian telegraphic system con-
Meeting with the Siberian railroad sys-
tenn. An European agent has man
aged to reopen the lines, though the
means of communication between Che
Foo and Taku and Tien Tsin are tor
tuous and probably precarious.
The war department officials insist
that no orders have gone forward to
send more troops to China than the
Ninth regiment, now on its way from
Manila, and the Sixth cavalry, which
will sail from San Francisco next Sun
II is said that with these two organi-
cations and the marines now on Chi
neSe soil General Chaffee Will have
the full brigade to which his rank en-
titles him.
Rumors of Withdrawals of troops
from Cuba are said to be the proba-
BILE basis for the persistent statements,
that more soldiers have been ordered
to China 1t is admitted that two reg
iments will soon be ordered to the
United States from Cuba, the particu-
lar organizations being designated by
General Wood, but they simply will
take the place in home garrisons OF
regiments OF regulars which will so out
to Manila to relieve volunteer organi-
Zations there.
THE MINISTER WITH SEYMOUR.
Washington, June 27.-rhe following
cablegram was received at the navy
department late this afternoon:
--Che Foo. June 81.
Secretary Navy, Washington.
"IPekin force and ministers reported
with Pekin relief expedition, entrench-
ed eight miles from Tien Tsin.
'KEMPFF."
Berlin, June 27.-The German con-
snlate at Che Foo confirms the con-
tents of the message from slce Ad-
miral Seymour which reached I1en
Tsin Monday saying he was then eignt
miles westward of that city perrloiy
harassed. could only hold out anotner
two days and had 63 men killed ana
over 200 wounded and adds tnat the
admiral asked for the dispatch Oh d
Starvation never yet cured dyspep-
sia. Persons with indigestion are al
ready half starved. They need plentS