The age-herald., 1900-07-25
THE MASSACRE MAY
 YET BE CONFIRMED
Sir Claude McDonald's Message
 Regarded as a Prelude
TO MOST DlREFUL NEWS
Batch of Telegrams from Tien Tsin Are Loud in Praise of the Gallantry ofJapanese and Amer
 
 ican Soldiers

London July 25, 4 "A. M.-sir Claude Mac Donalds message, dated July 4, appealing for relief, is regarded in London as only a prelude to the absolute confirmation of the massacre. This is also the opinion of the Japanese minister here. The newspapers suggest that the British minister's dispatch was held back and released about the same time as MT. Congers undated mes sage. Although the American and British forces are working harmoniously, the ques- ton of means of communication between Taku and Pekin gives evidence of jealous ies between the powers and other dis patches from Tien Tsin show that the lan- guage difficulty has been hamperng the military operations
 A dispatch to the Daily News from Tien Tsn, describing the fighting, says:
 Colonel Liscum mstook the road and was nearly isolated. General Dorward, on a premature report from the Japanese com mander that the city had been entered, ordered a general advance, which proved a costly error.
 Much valuable time was lost and trouble occasioned yesterday because the messen- gers between General Fushima and Gen. eral Dorward did not understand each others language"
 The Tien Tsin correspondent of the Daily Mail says that when the Chinese regulars saw the Boxers who led the attack being killed they began to retire. He asserted that the admirals have decided that it would be useless to move toward Pekin without at least 6Q.OOo men.
 In an editorial, referring to this state ment, the Daily Mail comments upon the American proposal to advance with 1000 men.
 It says: I've have learned in Africa to despise our enemies and in the interest of civilization We do not wish to see such lesson read to the United States by the 'heathen Chinese
 American Gaiiaufry Praised
 whole batch of Tien Tsin despatches are published today. All praise the gallan- try of the Americans and Japanese. The Standard correspondent says that the Americans at first made a mistake in esti- mating the fighting capacities of the Chin ese. He expresses some doubt about the ability of the allies to hold the position captured unless they are reinforced. It ap- pears that large hauls of silver were made by the allies, the metal being carried away in buckets the Chinese merely assisting
 Requests for mediation addressed to the foreign powers are interpreted here to be a proposition for the acceptance of foreign aid to reDress the rebellion and Lii Hung Chang's statement that he could restore orr der with 20,000 white troops is looked upon as a Subue argument in favor of appoint- Ing him to the command of the allied forces to the exclusion of the Japanese
 The Shanghai correspondent of the Times teiegraphing Monday says:
 Tn an interview today Lii Hung Cbanp reiterated his statement that if the Man emu party had been guilty of the horrible treachery involved in a massacre of the members of the legations he would abso- iuteiy refuse to attempt to negotiate He said the present intention of the Tsung-I- famen was to memorialize the Empress DoWaSer to reVictual the legations and to arrange to send them to Tien Tsin un- der the escort of General Sung Wad Lin. He declared that the fighting had ceased and that the foreign troops were holdinr a position south of the Yu Ho bridge. while general Tung Fun Pang's forces were on the north.
 VIII Wait for News
 Earl Ii expressed the intention to wait Tor news of the number of foreign leea- tons before proceeding northward
 ''On receiving this he will be escorted by AooOV sioopo "ho are HOW mastering In this province.
 Obviously, u Hung Chang has not changed his views or his methods, while she puerility of his arguments is increas- ing with age. The impression is gaining ground that the Manchus are temporizinp while preparing to retreat to Hsiang Flu. A confidential member of his staff says that Earl Lii will not go north until he is convinced that the Empress Dowager has seen the folly of her present policy"
 Nhn Times says that before leaving u Hung Chang countermanded his order for the Black Flags to march on Pekin, and they are now encamped outside of Canton.
 The Shanghai correspondent of the Daily Mail records the gallant action of Japan ese soldier during the attack on the gates of the city of Tien Tsin. dynamite charge failed to explode. Seeing this, the soldier ran forward with a torch, causing an immediate explosion by which the brave fellow was blown to pieces.
 The Standards correspondent at Tien Tsn sends a curious statement to the ef- feet that Russians claim that their force occupied Pe1in two days ago and that all the foreigners were safe.
 The Daily Telegraph has a dispatch from Tokio, dated July 23, that the railway bat talion organized in 1895 has started for China together with force of coolies and artillery.
 The Hong Kong correspondent of the Daily Express reports an attempt to blow up the Baptist chapel in Canton, with the apparent intention to kill the Christians.
 Ministers Again Safe
 St. Petersburg, July 24.-The Chinese En- bassy in St. Petersburg has received des- patch from the Tsung Ii Yamen, from Sheng, director of railroad and telegraphs, to the effect that the foreign ministers in Pekin were safe on July IS and that it was "Give Him an Mch,