Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-16
FOREIGN MINISTER'S PRISONERS.
Tremendous Force of Chinese Invet
Pekfn-Russia's Intent.

Pekfn-Russia's Intent.
Special Cablegram to the N. Y. Tribune.
LONDON, June 16.-The news from China
today is more alarming than ever. Inc tx
press correspondent at Shanghai says that
the foreign ministers are virtually prison
ers in Pekin, and their position, should the
Chinese troops attack the legation guards
in force is hopeless. A hundred thousand
Chinese soldiers are massed outside the
capital prepared to resist the advance OF
the relief column, which. however. accord
ing to the latest reports, is still at Lang
Fang All official contradictions notwith-
standing. the Express correspondent man am
tains that Russia is siding with the en-
press. Confirmation is lent to this state
ment by the fact that a Russian force win
six siege guns, has arrived OUTSIDE feklI
and is acting independently Of the other
powers though it is believed that France
is cooperating with 1t.
The only telegraph wire now WORKING
from Pekin is the Russian line. and on TINS
line English messages are rgtdly refused.
British reinforcements to the number OF
$50 sailed from Hong Kong yesterday 1or
Taku and today, says the Times, the
cruiser Terrible will leave with s,oo more:
An undated News telegram from Pekln
states that the European legations ana
American missions there have been piaceo
in a state of defense.
Admiral SeymOur's Position.
Admiral Seymour with 1900 marines Is
not more than three-fifths of the distance
hetween Tien Tsin and Pekin, and the
Boxers are destroying the railway In front
of his force and burning bridges behind It,
The excitement at Shanghai and Tier Ts1n
is increasing, and 1t is rumored that the re-
lief column is itself in need Of rescue
Admiral Seymour is a cool, intrepid ON
Ger of excellent judgment, and he can be
hn
Pekin If supplies hold out The foreign ad-
mirals may have miscalculated the strength
of the Boxers, and it may be necessary to
send a Russian military force to support
the marines. The Russian reserve OF 1,IO0
men is already on shore. with guns and
horses and this can be increased by 4,OOO
men from Port Arthur. Englshmen, who
have q confirmed habit Of seeing a deep
intrigue in everything Russian, are con
WINGED that the bridges are burned and the
marines isolated in order to provide the gar
rison at Port Arthur with pretext for
sending an army to Pekin. In this Chinese
affair it is difficult enough to find out what
is on the carpet without trying to look I'M
der it.
Refugees Flee to Pekin.
Dispatches received here before midnight
were mainly from the coast towns, and
there was little trustworthy intelligence
from the capital. Christian refugees had
swarmed into Pekin from the mission sta
tons, and the embassies and Protestant
churches and buildings were barricaded.
The China Inland Mission at Yun-Nan-Fu
had been attacked, and the insurrectionary
movement was spreading from province to
province There had been quarrel be-
tween French and British marines over an
engine, but reconciliation had been eff
fected by the American consul at Tien
Tsin. There were rumors of lizard fighting.
but these were not confirmed with author
ity.
The British policy is not understood, but
there is general impression among men,
bers of parliament that European concert
will lead to Russian occupation, and that
Russia, by making settlement of some
kind with Japan in Corea or elsewhere will
have free hand and not be interfered
with.