Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-07-12

| countries. The legations at the capital
never h;l much TO do with the people.
but from the time foreign troops en-
| tered the city the guards did not de-
| vote themselves exclusively To the pro-
| lection of their respective legations.
| Iney sometimes fired their guns on top
| OF The city walls. and sometimes pa
trolled the streets everywhere. There
| we've repeated reports of persons being
hit By stray bullets. Moreover they
| Strolled about the city without re-
| straint. and even attempted To enter
| the IunS Hua gate (thc eastern gate
of the palace grounds). They only de-
sisted when admittanCe was positively
| cibidGen.
RESENTMENT PROVOKED.
On this account both the soldiers and
| the people were provoked to resent
mcnt and voiced their Indignation with
| one accord. Lawless persons then
! took advantage of the situation to do
mischief. and became bolder than ever
! in Turning and killing Christian con-
| Veris. The Powers thereupon attempt
eli to reinforce the foreign troops but
| the rcinforccmcnts encountered resist
! ancc and defeat at the hands of The
| insurgents on tho way and have not
| yet been able TO proceed. The insur-
| cents OF the two provinces OF Chi Ii
ana Shantung had Ivy this time eff
| fecteG a complete union, and could not
be separated. The Imperial Govern
| meat MAS by no means reluctant to
issIc orders for the entire suppression
OF this inSurgcnt clement. But as the
trouble was so near at hand. there was
great fear that due protection might
not he assured to the legations II the
anarchists should be driven to eXtrem-
tiles. thus bringing on a national ca
lnnl:ty. There also was Il fear that up
rsingS might occur in the provinces
OF Shi Ii and Shantung at the same
time. with the result that both foreign
miss .onaries and Chinese converts in
| the two provinces might fall victims
/ To popular fury.
| MINISTERS ASKED TO RETIRE.
1t was. therefore, absolutely neces-
sary 10 consider the matter from every
! point of view. As n measure OF pre-
| caution il was finally decided TO re-
! quest the foreign ministers to retire
! temporarily 10 1ien Tsin for safety.
1t was while the discussion of this
| proposition was in progress that the
| German Minister Baron Won Kcttelcr.
was assassinated by a riotous mob one
morning while on his way To the Tsung
l.! Namen. On the previous day the
German Minister hal written letter
Tsung Ii Yamen. but the Yamen
fearing he might be molcsted
on The way. did not consent
to the appointment rs suggested by the
anarchists assumed n more bold and
threatening attitude. and consequent
~ it was not deemed wise to
carry out the project of sending the
diplomatic corps 10 Tier Tsin under
an escort. Moreover. orders were is
sued to the troops detailed for the pro
lection of the legations to keep stricter
watch and take greater prechutiOn
against any emergency.
ATTACK ON PEKIN FORTS.
To our surprise on the Goth of the
nth moon dune l6th), foreign (navaD
n rnl pnll AI
Kwang. the general commanding, and
demanded his surrender of the forts
rOTTryT1Tr5 .TTIT friif-rE57- tevvii-~-v
compliance they would a O'Clock next
day take steps to seize the forts By
force. 10 Jung Kwang 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 II fighting all day. and then
surrendered. Thus the conflict of
forces began. but certainly the initia-
tive did not come from our side. Even
supposing that China were not CON
scious OF her true condition how could
she take such a step as to engage in
war with all the Powers simultane-
ously. and how could she. relying upon
the support of an ararchistic popu-
lace. go into war with the Powers?
Our position in this matter ought to be
clearly understood by all the Powers.
we have suffered. and how China was
driven TO the unfortunate position from
which she could not escape.
Our several ministers will make
known accurately and in detail the con-
| tents Of this decree and the policy of
China to the ministers of foreign at
fairs in their respective countries and
| assure them that military authorities
are still enjoined To afford protection
to the legatio as hitherto. to the
nj oncf Of hnt q tlsa
anarchists they will be severely dealt
with as circumstances permit.
The several ministers Will continue
In the discharge of the duties of their
offices as hitherto without hesitation
and without doubt. This telegraphic
decree is to lie transmitted for their
| information. Respect this
WASHINGTON AUTHORITIES
PLEASED.
The document gave great satisfac-
| ton here. as il showed that assuming
there was some foundation for the first
reports that the Imperial Government
| had encouraged the Boxers. and even
participated in the attacks upon the ie-
cations an EFFORT Is shout to be made
to retrieve the mistake.
The note IS said TO have origna ted
with the Privy Council, and mt the
to be Identical with the Tsung IL va
| men, being the power next to the
throne, and the one which deals eXclu-
| sively with foreign Powers. The Curl
Gus means adopted OF forwarding the
note are supposed to have been re-
! sorted to because what amounts to
martial law in civilized countries is
| now in force in Peki., and Shan TunC
so that the Tsung Ii Yamen would
| naturally confide the message to the
War Board, now in supreme control
Continued on Paoa