Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-08-09
ACTUAL WAR NOW ON
PIETSANG FIGHT HAS PRECIPI-
TAFED CONFLICT.
CHINESE WELL EQUIPPED
Strength Of Allied Forces Trifing in
Comparison With China's Millions
Lii Ping lungs Ominous En-
trance Into Chinese Politics-More
Artillery Shipped to Taku.

Washington, Aug THE announce
ment received through Admiral Remey
and Commander Taussig, of the report
ed heavy firing on the road beyond
Tientsin, was the news of interest in
the chinese situation yesterday, Little
doubt is expressed at the navy depart
ment that the news is substantially
correct 1t is probable that a later re-
port may reduce the list Of casualties
among the international forces, but it
is eydeLl the move upon Pekin is at
last fairly under way, and that strong
opposition has been encountered. War
department officials who have been eX-
ceedingly reticent for several days as
to news from the seat of war, admitted
yesterday, when the naval dispatches
were received. that the announcement
Of the battle was not unexpected.
Opinion among the various officials
now in Washington are somewhat di-
yided as TO just what is presaged by
Yesterdays events The more optim-
istic are inclined to think that such a
severe hlow as Tx Chinese must have
received at Pietsang would result in
the speedy disintegration Of the forces
now opposing the march OF the inter
national column, In line with this
prediction it was prophesied
that the Chinese government
would find means to send
the ministers from Pekin under an es-
cort and thus staye off the advance
upon the capital. On the other hand
there are a number of officers in posi-
ton to Judge equally well who held
that the fight at Pietsang was only the
beginning of a strenuous resistance that
would be continued to the gates Of Pc
kin. or beyond 1t was urged in sup
port OF this view the- the Canese had
a hundred men to lose against one OF
the allies that they were well armed
with modern guns, and had apparently
abundance of ammunition.
It is stated that considerable appre-
hension exists among those conyersant
with oriental affairs at the reappear
ance in Pekin politics Of that rabid.
anti-foreign fanatic. Ii Ping Hung. i
is understood that his appearance in
Pekln affairs may have something 20
DO with the Shanghai rumors Of III
Hung Chang's suicide. II is believed
that with Ii Ping Hung and Prince
Tuan IN control of the de tacto gov
ernrent in China. religious war Of
dervish-like fanaucism will probably
be waged against all anti-forcignors,
and friends Of the more liberal Chr
nese statesmen are exceedingly anxious
as to their fate under the fuan-h re-
gime
The department IS in receipt Of d
dispatch from Gen Macarthur. an-
nouncing that he has shipped addi-
tional artillery supplies TO fakn toruse
I'm the Chinese campaign These sup
plies include several gatling guns. and
the remainder of the rifle and howirzer
siege train now IN Manila which up to
date ~ remained useless in ,laf
country on account Of the bad roads
How much better General Chsffee NAV
we AD|t Na AAbAAlh itt-t" -Ah."+'e..'
through the almost impossible rice
zwamps OF China. no one at the war
department. was willing 70 guess bur
his recent disotach contained an ur-
gent appeal for more artillery. and be
is getting Il. Ordnance experts az the
war department say that IL 1t comes TO
4 bombardment Of PaB.n these fre-lneh
rifles ana seven-i7eh 'oTi,zers. with
their enormous bursting charges Of
high explosives. viii be the most effee-
tive battering weapons q the interna-
tlensl column Minister WA left WASH
ineton Saturday, for Cape May and re-
NAMED away from Washington yes
terday. although he had been expected
u return sunday night. All inte-roga
lions al the embassy met vita the re-
sponse that there vas no news nor eK-
peetatlons o. any