Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1900-09-14
CONTINUED from md page.l

T-4-HSZAf -eE-#H HtsFt. 1890
decided to initiate immediate negotia-
tons with China. 1t willformulate de-
mands for an indemnity, and if they
are accepted italian intervention will
be considered terminated and no fur
ther warfare in China will be consid-
cred.
N Q Looting by Americans.
Washington, Sept. 12.-The war de-
partment made public the following
telegram:
Fowler, Chefoo: Send following cable
gram to Coolidge, commanding united
forces Tientsin: Reported here extensive
looting in Tientsin. Report Immediately
whether American troops took part II so,
punish severely; repress sternly. Absolute
regard for life and property Of noncom-
batants enjoined.
"coRB1N."
The following reply was received:
'"Tientsin, July 25.-Looting by American
troops in walled city of Tientsin inbound
ed and denied. Silver taken from burned
mint under direction of Col. Meade, ma
rine corps; commanding, who was in
valided to-day. No property destroyed ex-
cept under military exigency. American
troops have orders to protect life and prop
erty in American southeast quarter of city,
assigned them. Will forward reports of
commanders Of American a guards in city"
Chinese Led in the Looting.
supplementary to the above, Col.
Coolidge also transmitted the reports
of Maj. Waller, of the marine corps;
Maj. j. M. Lee, commanding the First
battalion of the Ninth infantry, and
Maj. Morris C. Foote, commanding
company NJ, of the Ninth, which lat
ter were the first American troops to
enter the city, and also an additional
report signed by himself, all of which
bear witness that United States
troops had no hand in the looting Of
Tientsin. Indeed, an the reports in
dictate that the Chinese themselves
were foremost in the looting, and
that pillaged property covered the
streets before the allied forces en-
tered the city. The report of Maj.
Foote, while excluding the Americans
from any share in the ~plundering,
testifes that looting was INDUCED in
by the troops of the other nations.
The horrible condition of Tientsin
when the city vas occupied was re-
ferred to in Maj. Lees report. The
stencil from unburied corpses and
refuse is said to have. been terrible,
although everything possible was
done by the American forces, at least,
by bringing order and cleanliness out
of the chaos and filth that reigned in
tho s%roofc ne T;onfc;p r.
Empress Reported Captured.
London, Sept. IA dispatch to a
news agency from Nagasaki, Japan,
says it is reported there that the dow
ager empress of China has been cap
tured by the Russians at Johol (?).
France Follows Russian Proposal.
France has formally adhered to the
Russian proposal to withdraw from
Picking to Tientsin. A representative
of the press learns on. unquestionable
athority that telegraphic instructions
were sent Monday from Paris and st.
Petersburg to M. Pichon and M. De
Giers, respectively the ministers of
France and Russia at Peking, directing
both ministers, in conjunction with
Gems. Frey and Linowitch, to take
measures to withdraw the legations
and military c~ontingents of both coun-
tries to Tientsin Immediately circum-
stances permit.
Diplomatic circles in London are in
cined to believe that this step will lead
to similar action on the part of the
United States and Japan, and that,
while Germany may hold out until
Field Marshal Count Won Waldersee
arrives in China, she will ultimately a c
quiesce, leaving Great Britain little
choice but to follow suit.