The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-08-24
GREAT FIRE RAGING.
Chinese Are Reported to Be Burning
Their Capital.

London, Aug. 24.-Fires, fighting and
dissension are apparently following in
the wake of the relief of Pekin. The
Daily Mail publishes dispatches from
the Chinese capital, dated as late as
August II, declaring that a great fire
was then raging in the imperial city
The Russian commander had declined to
accept the decision OF the other gen
erals not to violate the imperial pre-
cinctS and street fighting was going on.
General Chaffee-so it is asserted
maintained that the Chinese had been
adequately punished already and that it
would be unWise to take the imperial
palace. This explains the withdrawal of
the Americans after preaching three
gates, as cabled by the special CORES
pondent of the Associated Press. The
Russian general, however, maintained
that his government had declared " ar
against China and that therefore, there
hostilities into the sacred precincts.
Judging from various, and in many
cases contradictory dispatches that have
reached Europe from Pekin, the COM
course, for a Reuter- telegraph asserts
that Sentries were placed to prevent
looting- Hence it is presumed that the
imperial buildings, although captured,
will not be destroyed.
The fires appear to be incendiary, and
to be caused by the Chinese themselves.
All the dispatches point to the fact
that when the latest message received
here left Pel1in, the commanders were
somewhat at sea regarding their future
action, all awaiting instructions from
their governments.
The foreign residents appear to have
been sent to Tien Tsin, although the st.
Petersburg correspondent of the Daily
Mail says the ministers will not leave
Pekin until negotiations for indemnity
are under way.
Neither commanders nor the diplo-
matlS We're IN communication with the
Chinese government on August II. They
ycr- 1pr lf-ra11f T97si1a
Among the puzzling reports as to the
whereabouts of the empress dOwager is
one from st. Petersburg that sch is in
the vicinity of Pekin, but surrounded.
The emperor seems to have disappeared
completely.
1t is officially reported that the minister
of the Netherlands, DR.. F. NJ. Knobel,
was Slightly wounded during the siege.
st. Petersburg dispatches announce
good progress in the Manchurian cam
paign- The town of Mergen was cap
tured August IS, with trifiing loss to the
russians, While the Chinese suffered Sc
verely, leaving ten guns, 700 rifles and
large quantities of ammunition in the
hands of the Russians.
The reports of risings in northern
Korea are confirmed. 1t is believed that
these are not due to i'll will toward for
eigners, but to local dissatisfaction. The
Korean government is sending troops to
the disaffected districts.
According to kilograms from Shang-
hal, considerable uneasineSS is felt there
over the fact that no dispatches have
been received from Pekin since August
20.
Other Shanghai reports locate Emper-
or Kwang Su as under the protection of
the allies, and the dowager as already
captured by the Japanese.
Describing the engagement west of
Tlen Tsin, August 6, a special dispatch
says: The sixth United States cavalry
worked with driIl-like precision in the
hand to hand fighting, and the Chinese
only eScaDed through the bungliner of
Gen. Dorward."
Berlin learns that there has been fur
ther fighting west of Tien Tsin, which
creates the impression that the pro-
vince of Pc Chi Lii must be effectively
occupied before Peace negotiations will
become feasible.