The Somerset reporter., 1900-08-23
A fairs In China.


nese, Americans and British attacked
Pekin from the east Wednesday, open.
ing with artillery early in the day. The
wall was obstinately held by the hi
nese. At nightfall the Japanese and
Russians who were attacking north of
the Thung canal blew up two gates and
entered the Tartar city. The Americans
and British, attacking south of the
canal, entered the Chinese city by the
Tung Pien gates. netachments were
sent to the legations from both forces
These met, opened communication and
rescued the ministers and their stats.
Four hundred Chinese were killed
The Japanese had about 100 killed,
including three officers. Prior to the
receipt of this news by the way of Toxic,
the fall of Pekin and the rescue of the
foreigners, penned up in the legations
since June, had been officially confirmed
by Admirals Remey and Bruce from
Taku and by Consul Fowler from Che
foo. The news reach Tien Tsin during
the evening of Aug. 16 and was cabled
from Taku the following day.
kilograms were received at Washing
ton Sunday from Pekin dated 10 from
Chaffee stating: Telegraph line to
Pekin interrupted. Information Japa-
nese sources empress dowager detained
by Prince Yungede inner city, which
being bombarded by allies. Chaffee
reports entered legation grounds even
ing 18th Eight wounded during days
fight. Otherwise all we'll
Fighting continued in the streets of
Pekin and the allies have bombarded
the point that was still resisting. Prince
Yung prevented the departure of the
empress dowager.
A Washington dispatch states that
the presumption there is that the next
move will he an agreement for an
armistice. This may be undertaken by
the commanders of the Chinese armies
and those of the allies on the spot.
This accomplished the question of the
withdrawal of the foreign armies, the
payment of indemnties and many other
problems may be left to the commits
sioners duly appointed to adjudicate
them. There are IL nations pointed
out by the same official which have suffer
ed from the result of the Chinese dis
turbances. All will expect a settlement
of damages which have resulted from
the b Ixer outrages, the murder of mis-
sionaries and the destruction of legation
property. spain is one of these and
although she has not participated in the
relief expedition she has suffered alike
with the others and will expect to be
UNIDENTIFIED for her losses.
China's latest application for peace
negotiations was received early Monday,
at the Chinese legation and was trans.
mitted by MIR. WI to the State depart
ment. Secretaries Hay and Root were
out of the city but Acting Secretary of
State Adee went over the subject with
the President. Earl LIS request is that
the United States shall name Minister
tonger or some other official to act as
peace envoy for the cessation of HOSTILE
ties. The Chinese envoy proposed no
terms to the withdrawal of troops and
made no other suggestion as to what to
come before the commission, his sole
anxiety being to secure the cessation of
hostilities. The application is under
stood also to have been made to the
the powers in the hope that, if all would
name a commissioner, there would be
general council of peace between Ii
dung hang on the one hand and the
several representatives of the nations on
E, n other.
Official Chinese advices from Pekin,
Monday. say that Hsu Tung and VI Lien
Yuan of the anti.foreign party, and Ii
Shan, pro foreigner, have been decapi-
tated, and that Yung Lu has been i'm
prisoned by Prince Ching 1t is added
that the Emperor and Dowager Empress
are 90 miles west of Pekin under a con-
straint of Prince Tuan.
Aug. 20, Gen. Grodekoff, says the st.
Petersburg correspondent of the Times,
"telegraphs remarkable fact, which
must be taken as premonitory notice
of what Is likely to follow. The Rus
SLAMS have conquered the right bank of
Amur, which, therefore, is no longer
the frontier but an international river of
the Russian empire
I'M. Ketels, Belgian vice consul, con-
firms the report of the bombardment
and the capture of New Chwang, by the
Russians "
There will be no favorable response to
LII Hung Changes appeal for the appoint
ment of commissioners to negotiate
peace until the Administration knows a
great deal more than it knows now
about what is going on in Pekin and
what has already happened there. Dis.
patches received Tuesday and Wednes-
day, show that order has not been re-
stored in Pekin as was stipulated for in
the Presidents reply to the Emperor's
appeal for his good offices. There must
be no further fighting If there is to be
any talk about an amicable agreement.
1t was stated by the members of the
cabinet that the Chinese establishment
instead of being a government, appears
to be an enormous, headless affair, with
of wi Ia haa
good, and without power to enforce it's
wishes.
With the recognized ruler in flight, no
one seems to know who, if anybody, is
directing it's affairs AS China is an
absolute monarchy without any legisla-
tive branch, the Emperor and Empress
Dowager are all powerful and practical
ly they are the empire of China.
Under the present remarkable condi-
tons the United States will act with
extreme caution in whatever steps it
may take toward a solution of the pend
ing problems. In the meantime there is
no reason to believe that the United
States and all the other powers interest
ed will keep their armed forces on the
ground, so that order may be maintain
ed and at least a semblance of stable
government brought out of the existing
chaos
The reply of this government to the
appeal of the viceroys of Marking and
Lunan that no indignities be offered the
Emperor and Empress Dowager is
couched in the polite language of di.
plomacy.
The answer is an assurance that the
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