The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-08-07

york August Ga dispatch to
r.,h,,ne from London says: There Is
~ .,.i tumble of menaces and surmises
,.,m China. with no official bulletins
., ,ba hattie of Pietsang on Sunday
"a no apparent change in the situation.
NM chinese camarilla with the empress
,.u,yer at its head, is doing everything
/ ,s mower to prevent an advance oil the
MA army on pekin. Heads are falling
rider to convince the powers that
,orouons have no friends and are at
~ mercy of the empress dowager ana OF
prnce Tlan. Troops are massed between
r,sn Tsln and the capital and are strong
4 :. ;n,rannhed in order TO warn the forelsn
Commanders that they will be forced TO
lam heir way into the city.
Inc communications OF the ministers
wph their governments are closed De-
rsnse the empress dowager prefers TO
lave the civilized world utterly IN the
{dark such reports as are allowed 10
mass out TO the coast are menaces' IKE
+ he rumor that Tung Flu Slang mas
stoned the further entrance OF supplies
j Into the British legation, or confessions
Of terrorism. like the story tnat F4hcs
Tnne has nut TO death Yuan Shin Kai and
atber y.ceroys. or glittering promises, like
ne reiterated assurance that the lega-
tiopers are under the escort of strong
force and are journeying TO the coast.
An these rumors are signs that the en-
nress dowager is determined to keep the
snes out of Pekin. Her motive is plain.
She is convinced that If they once enter
he capital some of them will not go out
until provinces have been coded to them
in Place OF indemnity.
The situation Is so perplexed that 1t is
no, strange trat several powers are hesl-
taing to start the advance, but 1t is evil
dem that the empress dowager is
strengthened by every day of inaction and
DELAY The legations narrowly escaped
destruction when Vice Admiral Seymour
ordered the first relief column to retreat,
and TO them was finally accorded a respite
ii consequence OF the defeat of the CHI
nese army at Tien Tsin The powers are
now exposing them Though vacillation TO
renewal of the attack when their ammu-
milton is well nigh exhausted and they are
dependent upon the empress dowager for
supplies Of food.
The camarla Is growing holder and
Lore insolent while the generals and ad-
MlralS are NolulnB conferences anu ueldy
ne an advance. when fighting is likely to
be more desperate and the situation OF
the legations more critical in consequence
Of the long halt and the intrigues which
are apparently in progress.
The only alternative for a march to the
capital Is negotiation through Ii Hung
Chang for the delivery of all the foreign
ers at Tien Tsin. and for the payment of
Indemnity, and II is doubtful whether the
legations will consent. to abandon their
position or whether any Chinese general
could conduct them safely 10 the coast.
Moreover their delivery at Tien Tsin could
only be secured under a pledge that the
powers would not subsequently send an
army To the capital to effect their rein
Statement
Public opinion here strongly favors an
advance Of the allied army with all posi-
Ole dispatch after the empress has been
warned that she and her ministers will
oe held responsible for the safety of the
legations. The foreign office remains
silent but the measures adopted for
strengthening the Indian contingent and
protecting British interests in the Shang
Use valley indicate clearly the govern
ments recognition of the grave danger
ora general revolution in middle China,
mere was no official confirmation here
q Midnight OF the Washington report
.nal battle had been fought on Sunday
rletsang in which the allies had met
'.'n neavy losses, but had forced the