The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-08-21
PEKIN CAPTURED.
conger Safe United States is Expected
to withdraw It's Troops.

The allied armies In China have en-.
tered Pekin. Rear Admiral Remey,
cabling to the Navy Department ia
Washington from Taku. says that Pekin
was captured last Wednesday aud that
the foreign legations are safe.
The allies entered the capital in the
evening and sure unded the legations,
whose inmates were safe The Japanese
lost over 100, but the loss Of the other
allies is not gigen. The Chinese loss is
estimated at 300.
The program u the allies will be de-
termined 30 large extent after they
have informed their Governments Of the
conditions in Pekin. II has already
been decided by the Washington Cabinet
that General Ohaffee, having rescued
Minister Oonger, shall return with the
American troops 10 Tientsin. As TO the
other commanders, IL is not believed
that they will 80 readily give up the
prizs which Is now within their grasp
the possession Of Ohina's imperial
city.
A new column has left Tientsin to
join the allies at Pekin. IL is com.
manded by General Frey, q French
officer. and includes French, German
Austrian and Italian troops.
The reports Of COL Roberts l. Meade
and Major Littleton W T. Waller, who
commanded the United States marines
in the battle of Tientsin July ID and II,
show that the fighting was desperate
before the allies captured the city. The
allies fought all Of the 18th, slept on
their arms that night and won their
victory the next day.
British troops have landed at Shanghai
and German, French and japanese
soldies are expected to follow The
situation there is regarded as much
more threatening from an international
point Of view.
The collapse Of Chinese resistance is
explained in dispatches from Shanghai
as being due 90 the failure of the Chi.
nese to food she country below Tung
Chow. The earthworks connected with
the dam at the Pelho were unfinished
and the canal at Tung. Chow was full Of
water. facilitating boat transport when
the allies arrived there.
Signals between the allies and the
legationers holding part Of the wall at
Pekin were exchanged during the
morning of Wednesday.
A Dispatch from Shanghai says;
1t is believed that Yuan Shi Kai 8
troops have gone thence 10 Shen ST to
protect the Empress. who, according
to reports with Tuan, the imperial
household and the bulk of the army and
Boxers, left Pekin August for Hsian-
Flu.
The flight Of the DOwager Empress
and the Disappearance of the Emperor If
China is regarded in Berlin as Of much
greater and lasting importance than the
mere taking of Pekin. The overwhelm-
ing opinion Is that since all the Powers
have agreed 10 install q strong central
government at Pekin, il becomes neoes-
sary, first. to destroy, or render harm
less. the fugitive government, which Is
responsible for the whole Chinese
eruption. Therefore, IL Is necessary to
follow and capture the fugitives.
The inner or forbidden city at Pekin
which is being bombarded, is sacred
space, where the Emperor and Empress
Dowager reside II the allies damage 1t
the effect may be serious in inhlminR
the Chinese. Wu Ting .fang. Chinese
Minister In Washington, says he has
positive advices that the Emperor and
Empress are not in the forbidden city,
but have gone to Shen 81 province west
of Pekin.
Gen. Chaffee. the American COM
mander, reports that he entered the
legation grounds in Pekin with the
Fourteenth Regiment and light bat.
terry on the evening Of August IA. Eight
Americans were wounded in the days
fighting
Germany will soon have 30, 900 soldiers
in China, and is sending a powerful
feet there 1t is believed that she is
acting with Russo, and is preparing for
an international conflict
The Russians captured Hal Sheng,
after three days fighting The Chinese
lost 400 men and four guns
The powers are willing to listen to
overtures for peace.
All China will 90 to war If the En-
press is molested
France and Germany are hurrying
troops to China.