Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-07-12

WASHINGTON, July 11-Wu Ting
Fang, the Chinese minister to this
country, came to the State Department
in person this morning and delivered
to Secretary Hay a copy of a cable
gram received by him purporting to
be from the Chinese imperial govern
ment, believed to have originated at
the Chinese war department, disclaim-
ing responsibility on the part of the
imperial government for the Boxer"
troubles, and asserting that the en-
gagementat Tien Tsin was the direct
result of the bombardment of the
Taku forts by the foreigners.
Beginning with a recital of the ris-
ing in the provinces of Chilli and
Shantung of "rebellious subjects who
had been in the habit of practicing
boxing and fencing in their respective
villages" and at the same time cloth
ing their doings with ''spiritualistic
and strange rites" the decree goes on
to tell of the "anarchistic" movement
1t says the local authorities failed to
take due notice of the Boxers at first
and the movement spread rapidly I'M
der the impression that it was super
human.
The decree then tells of the en-
trance into Picking of the guards to
But from the time the foreign
troops entered the city, the men did
not devote themselves exclusively to
the protection of the legations. They
sometimes fired their guns on top of
the city walls, and sometimes patroll-
ed the streets everywhere. There
were repeated reports of persons being
hit by strange bullets. They strolled
about the city without restraint, and
even attempted to enter the Tung-
Hsua gate.
They only desisted when admittance
was positively forbidden. On this &C
count, the soldiers and people were
provoked to resentment, and voiced
their indignation with one accord
Lawless persons then took advantage
of the situation to do mischief"
1t was finally decided to request
the foreign ministers TO retire to Tien
Tsin for safety. 1t was while the dis
cussion of this proposition was in pro-
gress that the German minister was
assassinated by riotous mob while
on his way to the Tsung Lii Yamen.
But the Yamen, fearing he might be
molested on the way, did not consent
to the appointment suggested by the
| minister" The anarchists assumed a
more threatening aspect after this,
and it was not deemed wise to carry
out the project of sending the diplo-
mats to Tien Tsin under escort.
June 16, much to the surprise Of
the Chinese government, Lo Jung
Kwang, the officer in charge of the
forts at Taku, was called upon to de-
liver up the forts. Being bound by the
duties of his Office to hold the forts,
how could he yield to the demand?'
the decree asks. The forts were fired
upon and returned the fire. Thus
the conflict of forces began, and GER
tainly the initiative did not come from
our side"
The decree concludes by asserting
that the foreign legations are being
protected by the imperial troops, and
that the anarchists will be punished
as rapidly as possible.
The document gave great satisfaction
here as it showed, assuming there was
some foundation for the first reports
that the imperial government had en-
couraged the Boxers and even partici-
pated in the attacks upon the legations
an effort is about to be made to retrieve
that mistake.
The note is said to have originated
with the privy council and at the State
Department this body is declared TO be
identical with the Tsung Lii Yamen, be-
ing the power next the throne, and the
one which deals exclusively with for
eign powers. The curious means adopt
ed of forwarding the note are supposed
to have been resorted to because what
amounts to martial law in civilized
countries, is now in force in Pekin and
Shan Tung, so that the Tsung Ii va
men would naturally confde the mes
sage TO the war board. now in supreme
control. TO secure its transmission to
Shanghai The announced purpose OF
the Chinese government TO protect the
foreign ministers is gratifying to the Of
f1cials here for they have all along
been more or less doubtful of the au-
thenticty of the several dispatches
which have eminated from Shanghai
respecting the relations between Prince
Ching and the legationers.
It is said that the note does not
call for an answer from the State De-
partment at this stage and will not ma
terially affect the military programme
laid down by our government Such
forces as we can land in China will be