Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-30
DOUBT IS REMOVED
Ministers Safe in Pekin
on 22d.
NEWS FROM LEGATIONS
Private Messages Were Re-
ceiVed at Tien Tsin.
CONSUL FOWLER'S WELCOME REPORT
Minister WI Regards the News
as Indication.
LOCAL BELIEF CONFIRMED

The Secretary of State received at mid
night last night dispatch from Mr.. Fow-
Ter. United States consul at Chefoo. dated
at noon on the Goth. Mr.. Fowler said:
a letter from the German legation dated
the 21st instant received at Tien Tsin. Ger
man loss is ten dead and twelve wounded.
The Chinese ceased their attack on the
Eth Baron Ketteler's body said to be safe.
The Austrian. Italian. Dutch and Spanish
legations destroyed and the French legation
partially.
"A letter from the Japanese legation.
dated the 22d arrived at Tien Tsin on the
9th Ten battalions of Chinese shelled the
legations necessarily from the Goth of June,
and stopped on the 18th of July, but may
renew The enemy decreasing The
German. Russian. American. British, half
of the Japanese and the French legations
still defended Japanese say they have food
for six days. but little ammunition. The
emperor and empress are reported at
Pekin."
German Ambassador Informed.
Baron Won Holeben, the German ambas-
sador, called early upon Secretary Hay
this morning, and it at first supposed
that he had come for the purpose of Off
cially informing the State Department of
the receipt of the important letter from
Mr. Fowler. II appeared, however that
the embassy had not received any informa-
tion from Berlin on the subject, but had
naturally been extremely anxious to secure
confirmation of the press advices indicating
positively that authentic communications
have been received from the legations at
Pekin within the week.
Naturally the ambassador was extremely
pleased to have such confirmation as Sec
retary Hay could extend in the shape of the
Fowler dispatch. He is hopeful of soon
hearing directly from Berlin on that sub
iect.
Apparent Discrepancy in the Letters.
As is always the case with these Chinese
advices, a discrepancy appears Immediate
ly upon a comparison of the German and
the japanese advices. This applies particu-
larry TO the date of cessation Of the attack
upon the legations. TIE German report
says the attack stopped on the 18th the
japanese report places the cessation OF
firing on the 1Ith. The Stale Department
Officials believe this is easily explaSSable by
a consideration Of the differences between
the Christian and Chinese calendars.
The Japanese advice is probably based on
the Chinese calendar. which is about five
days ahead of the Gregorian calendar. and
this would account for the apparent dis
crepancy.
Another curious statement however. Is
contained in the Japanese report to the eff
feet that six legations We're being still de-
Tended on the nd This is in apparent con-
fiict with Mr.. Conger's last reported state
ment. tina; the Iegationers were in British
legation. under continuous shot and she'll"
etc.
Military men here are amazed at the
statement that the legations successfully
resisted nearly months incessant shelling
by ten battaliOns of Chinese. That any
trace Of brick building should remain
after such a terrific bOmbardment is utter
ly inconce,vabIe by them. Like the be-
sieged in MafekIng or Cronje's men, the
legation people might have burrowed in the
ground and have held out for a long time
but the Chinese fire must have been very
impotent TO have left anything standing OF
a building.
Confirming the American Belief.
The view which the Washington cabinet
has taken from the beginning. that with the
exception of Baron Ketteler the legation
ers at Pekin were alive long after the date
which was said to have marked their mas
sacre, is being slowly but surely confirmed
The most Important contribution in support
OF our governments position since the re-
celpt OF the Conger photographic letter rep-
resenting the foreign minister to have been
alive on July 4. came today from Consul
Fowler at Chefoo. The letter referred to
by the consul as coming from the German
Agation at Pekin IS supposed here to have
Deen an autographic letter. and so abso-
iutely removed from the possibility of
fraud The japanese report is also under
stood 10 have come down to the sea with
out having passed at any state through
Chinese hands 1t was one of the first re-
suits OF the private messenger system in
aGgurated by the commanders of the allied
forces Taken in conjunction, the two re-
ports submitted by Mr. Fowler added over
wfeimingiy TO the weight of testimony in
favor OF the existence OF the legationers
and tend to vindidate at every point the
policy of Secretary Hay. though the latter
vas so violently criticised in Europe.
Qualification of Mr. WI.
The Chinese minister, Mr.. WI, received
the Fowler dispatch with evidences of deep
Satisfaction, but refrained from any de-
cided demonstration. He has been under a
great strain for several weeks past and
aside from his natural anxiety as to the
trend Of affairs in China. he has taken as
almost a personal matter the incredulity of
the European chancellories and the nm
favorable comments of certain sections of
the press. He has evidently felt that not
only his own good faith but shat of his
government was being questioned by the
world at large and he accepted the news
contained in Consul Fowler's dispatch as a
yindication of both He said: