The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-08-20

The fact that only the 14th infantry ana
Riley's battery entered the city, as
shown by Gen. Chatfees despatch, does
not indicate that the 9th infantry and the
marines who were so conspicuousIy gallant
throughout the advance upon the capital,
did not participate IN the engagement
which resulted directly in the rescue OF
the bssieged legations. 1t is pointed out
as likely that Gen. Chatfee acting in
consonanee with the other commanders,
divided his force, leaving the 9th infantry
and the marines without the city to
act as a rear guard to prevent the escape
of Chinese troops by other gates than
those through which the allies entered,
or for some other excellent reason. Only
two battalions of the 18th infantry are
with Gen. Chaffee. They comprise about
800 men. This would indicate that only
about one-third of Gen. Chaffee's force
actually had entered the city at the time
he sent his despatch. The fact that only
eight Of the Amerion forces were
wounded, none being killed, IS regarded
as notably fortunate.
Admiral Remey's despatch, which con-
tains much interesting information in a
few words, is as follows:
"Che Foo, (No date)
bureau of Navigation, Washington,
Taku, 18th: 4
Telegraph line to Pekin interrupt ed.
Information, Japanese sources. Empress
Dowager detained by Prince Yungedo
5.,,.o,. 81 ~ -vT,soE F,atv,< 4<.,, F ..y{od t1v q
lies. Chaffee reports entered legation
grounds evening 14th. Eight wounded
during fighting; otherwise all well.
(Signed.) "Remey." !"
The startling feature of the despatch is
that lighting within the city of Pekin
was continuing according to Admiral
Remey. The inner. or as 1t is popularity
known, the Forbidden City, evidently
has not been taken. 1t is surrounded by
massive wall of solid masonry more
than 20 feet high and it is not regarded
as surprising that the Chinese should
make their final stan1 within it's shad-
ows. Prior to the receipt of the despatch
it was accepted generally as a fact that
the Dowager Empress, IN company with
the Emperor and a large suite had left
Pekin While nothing is said in Admiral
Remey's advices as to the whereabouts of
the Emperor it is deemed scarcely possi-
Bile that he left the city without the En-
press Dowager.
Some doubt of the accuracy of the in
formation received by Admiral Remey
is expressed, particularly as the Chinese
minister, Mr.. WI, is very positive that
the Emperor, Empress Dowager and the
entire Chinese court left Pekin before the
arrival at the gates of the allies.
Minister WI said to the Associated
Press today that he had official advices
to the effect that the Emperor and EN-
press Dowager had gone from Pekin to
the province Of Shen ST, considerable
distance west OF the capital city. He had
not been advised TO what city they had
gone, but it seems probable that their
destination was the capital of the prov
ince OF Shen ST. The minister believed
they were entirely out of danger. The
statement that the Dowager Empress was
detained by Prince Yungedo therefore
gave him little concern. He said there
was no Chinese Prince Yungedo. 1t is
not Chinese name. 1t might be, the
minister thought, a Japanese name, but
personally he knew Of no such person.
At the Japanese legation the despatch
Of Admiral Remey was read with the
deepest interest. There too, it was said
that Yungedo was not Chinese name.
No Japanese official of that name was
known to the legation. The solution of
the question was that the name should be
Yung Lu. He Is the coInmander-in-chief
of the Chinese tmpe rial troops and is
said to have strong pro-foreign inclina
tions and sympathies. No conjecture
was offered as a reason for the detention
of the Dowager Empress by him. Among
Washington officials it is regarded as
hardly likely that the Empress Dowager
is being detained by any Chinese official.
If she is in Pekin at this time. she is
there. probably of her own accord.
While no surprise was evidenced at the
statement Of Admiral Remey that the
inner city was being bombarded, some
concern was expressed lest the final
stand OF the Chinese troops within what
they regard as most sacred precincts,
should prove a very serious affair.
Pekin comprises practic ally four cities.
In one in extent OF area it is about the
size of the city of New York. The four
segments of it are the Chinese city, the
Tartar city, the imperial city and the
forbidden city. The last is the "inner
city, mentioned in Admiral Rerney's
despatch and is the residence of the En-
peror and the seat Of the imperial court.
Nobody is allowed within its massive
walls except by special permission of the
Emperor and Empress Dowager. The
foreigners who have entered it's gates are
comparatively few in number. Further