Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1900-12-14

SnlpS that could be spared Tor service on
the Chinese coast. A small force Of ma
rinss was landed at Taku and sent to
Pekin for the protection Of the American
legation. Other powers took similar ac-
tion, until some 400 men were assembled
in the capital as legation guards. Still
the peril increased and an attempt Of the
foreign ships to make landing at Taku
was met by fire from the Chinese forts.
The forts were thereupon shelled by the
foreign vessels, the American admiral
taking no part in the attack, on the
ground that we were not at war with
China. Two days later the Taku forts
We're captured after a sanguinary conflict.
Severance Of communication with Pekin
followed, and the isolation of the legation
was complete.
Hcroism of the Legations.
By June 10 the legations were cut off.
An identical note from the yamen ordered
each minister to leave Pekin, under
promised. escort. within twenty'four
prolongation Of the time, which was al.
forwards granted, and requesting an in
terview with the tsung-li-yamen on the
following day. No reply being received,
on the morning Of the Goth the German
minister, Baron Won Kctteler, set out for
the yamen to obtain response, and on
the way was murdered.
An attempt by the legation guard to
recover his body was foilcd by the Chi
nese. Armed forces turned out against
the legations. Their quarters were sur
rounded and attacked. The mission COM
pounds were abandoned. their inmates
taking refuge in the British legation,
where all the other legations and guards
gathered for more effective defense. -Four
hundred persons were crowded into its
narrow compass. Two thousand native
rOyvcrfc Hvorn ocSo,,,t,1od n ,,oo rI,x, n.
nee under protection of the foreigners.
Lines Of defense were strengthened,
trenches dug, barricades raised and prep
arations made to stand siege, which at
once began.
Prom June 20 until July IT," writes
Minister Conger, there was scarcely an
hour during which there was not firing
upon some part Of our lines and into some
Of the legations. varying from single
shot to a general and continuous attack
along the whole line." Artillery was
placed around the legations and on the
overlooking palace walls, and thousands
of 3-inch shot and shell were fired, de-
stroying some buildings and damaging
all.
Attempts were made to burn the lega-
tions by setting neighboring houses on
fire. but the flames were successfully
fought off, although the Austrian, Bel
gian, Italian and Dutch legations were
then and subsequently burned. With the
aid Of the native converts, directed by the
missionaries, to whose helpful co-opera-
ton Mr.. Congcr awards unstinted praise,
the British legation was made veritable
fortress. It was held to the last, and
proved an Invaluable acquisition, because
it commanded the water gate through
which the relief column entered. During
the siege the defenders lost sixty-fiye
killed, 135 wounded and seven by disease
the last being all children.
Not only are the protcstations of the
Chinese government that it protected and
snccorcd the legations positively contra
dicted. but irresistible proof accumu!ates
that the attacks upon them were made by
imperial troops, regularly uniformed,
armed and oflicered, belonging to the
command Of Jung I4u, the imperial COM
mander-in-chief.
With the negotiation Of the partial mr.
mistice of July II, a proceeding which
was doubtless promoted by the represent
ations of the Chinese envoy in Washing
ton, the way was opened for the convey
ance to Mr.. Conger of test message sent
by the Secretary OF State through the
kind Offices Of Minister WI ling Fang.
Mr.. Conger's reply, dispatched from Pc
kin July 1S through the same channel,
afforded 10 the outside world the first
tidings that the inmates Of the legations
were still alive and hoping for succor.
Joint Relief Expedition.
This news stimulated the preparations
for a joint relief expedition in numbers
which for a month had been organizing
between Taku and the capital. Rc-en-
forcements sent by all the cooperating
governments were constantly arriving
The United States contingent, hastily as
sembled from the Philippines or dispatch-
ed from this country, amounted to some
1000 men. undfS the able command first
OF the lamented Col. Liscum and after
ward Of Gen. Chaffce.
Toward the end the July the movement
began. A severe conflict followed ut Tien-
tsin, in which Col. Liscum was killed.
The city was stormed and partly destroy
ed. Another battle was fought and won
at Yang-tsun. Thereafter the dishearten-
ed Chinese troops offered little show Of
resistance. A few days later the impor-
A rapid march brought the united forces
to the-populous city Of Tung- Chow, which
capitulated without contest. Aug. IA
the capital was reached. After a brief
conflict beneath the walls the relief col
umn entered and the legations were saw
ed.
The United States soldiers. sailors and
marines, officers and men alike in those
Sc
showed the same valor, discipline and
good conduct and gave proof Of the same
high degree Of intelligence and efficiency
which have distinguished them in every
emergency.
The imperial family and the govern
ment had fed few days before. The
city was without visible control. The
remaining imperial soldiery had made on
the night Of the 18th last attempt to
exterminate the besieged. which was GAL
lantly repelled. It fell to the occupying
forces to restore order and organize u
provisional administration.
The policy of the United States through
all this trying period WINS clearly an
nounced and scrupulously carried on. A
circular note to the powers dated July 3
proclaimed our attitude. Treating the
conditions in the North as one Of virtual
anarchy, in which the great provinces Of
the South and Southwest had no share.
We regarded the local authorities in the
latter quarters as representing the Chi
nese people with whom we sought to re-
main in peace and friendship. Our de-
clared aims involved no war against the
Chinese nation. We adhered to the legit-
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