Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-07-05
CHINA ON TIE RACK.

section of Northeastern CHINA between
Pekin and the sea coast, with the
southerly region that borders on it.
Though long dreaded and confidently
expected by many the crisis was sud-
den in its actual development. 1t came
to head in the latter part OF May,
when one of the periodical rebellions
which occur IN China assumed large
proportions and spread close to Pekin.
This rebellion was carried on by the
now famous society known as the
Boxers. XII
As to the precise origin Of the
sooiety's name accounts differ. One OF
those which has found wide acoeptation
and ia generally stated as correct says
that the origin Is found in the real
name of the society, I-ho-ch' uan,
which may be translated as League
Of United Patriots.'' The last word
in the Chinese title is pronounced the
same as the Chinese word for lists,
though the characters denoting 1t are
different. Thus it ia easy to read the
title as League of United Fists, ;" The
society also deyotes great attention to
athletic Sports. including boxing
The Boxers are distinctively an anti
foreign society. They fear that their
country is to be parceled out among
the land. grabbing nations, and they
believe the missionaries to he the ad-
vance agents in this sort Of grabbing,
They reason that the killing Of two
missionaries furnished Germany with
an excuse for seizing the large and
rich province Of ShRntung, though the
Chinese say the killing was an isolated
act OF lawlessness which the govern
ment could not prevent. About the
same time that Shantung was seized
England took Wei Hai-Wei and Russia
took Port Arthur and .Lien-Wan.
The Chinese feared that this was the
beginning Of the end.
But the Boxers did not turn their
wrath directly against the missionaries.
They knew that this was sure way to
cause foreign intervention of the most
active sort, So they took their revenge
on the native converts to Christianity,
who, they charged, were given unfair
advantages in questions of taxes and
other things through the influence of
the missionaries with the ministers at
PekIn.
Hundreds of native converts we're
murdered, but only two missionaries
as far as definitely known have met
this fate In the present outbreak.
These were Messrs. Norman and Robert
son, both British.
When the rebellion made the
situation at Pekin critical the foreign
Powers, as they had done before in
times Of emergency, sent marines to
guard their legations at the capital.
The United States sent Sc men rs its
marine guard for Minister Edwin III.
Conger. Other marines were landed
| for the protection of the foreign resi-
dents at Tienstin, who numbered about
LOCO. A fleet of % warships, repre-.
senting Russia. Germany, England,
France, Italy, Austria, japan and the
| United States, assembled at Taku, a,
| the mouth of the Peiho River, leading
| to Pelsin.
The Boxers, or perhaps the Chinese
| imperial troops in ooilusion with them,
feared that great foreign army was te
| be sent to seize Pekin. So on JUNE
9Th they cut the railway. IS miles
long, leading from Tientsin to Pekin
This rapidly brought things to /
| crisis. IL the fleets at Taku, which
could not ascend the shallow Peiht
| River, were also cut off from sending
/ L
paratiyely helpless. So on June lott
Vice Admiral Edward Hobart Seymour
Of the British navy took command o
about $500 marines who had beef
landed. With these men he startet
from Tientsin to force his way to Pekil
and reopen the railway. 't
Admiral Seymour assumed command
as the senior officer in rank with th
| - In
of the cruiser Newark commanded tn
| 104 Americans in the contingent. Th
British and Russians were largely Il
the majority. Ger many, France
Austria, Italy and Japan were ais
represented.
This force was soon swallowed UP
1t had advanced 30 miles June lit
and In a fight with the Boxers ha
repulsed them. From June 18th I
June Goth nothing was heard Of j
The mystery was cleared at last by tn
receipt of cahlegram fiom Reai
Admiral Kempf, commanding tn
United States forces at Taku, stain
that Seymour and his men were ]
miles from Tienstin. 1t Is believe
that the expedition got as faI rs Tan
Fang. IS miles from Tienstin aud
miles from Pekin, but was compelle
to return to the position in whic
Admiral Kempff reports it.
Pekin was isolated June 18th by tn
J cutting of the last remaining Telegram
i wire. Not q word from any OF til
, foreign ministers there has reached til
, outside world since, though Sheng, th
] CHINESE Minister of Railroads an
, Telegraphs, has informed the Frenc
consul at Shanghai that all tt
, foreigners in Pekin were safe Jur
r 10th and were then preparing
: leave with the authority OF the Chinel
S government.
r But another source of trouble arose
Q TIenstin itself. Chinese forces su
, rounded the foreign quarters there an
began heavy bombardment A reli
/. force of American marines, under con
:, mand of Major Littleton W. I. Walle
2 acting in combination with 400 Ru
4 SLAMS, was sent from Taku, but met
repulse, the Americans losing fol
killed and seven wounded Later tn
body of troops was reinforced to
: least 1000 men and entered Tienst
! last Saturday. On Sunday it star
i out to relieve Seymour.
a On June 18th the feet of the Powe
i at Taku swelled to "a ships, lombard
Q and captured the forts at 1aku.
Q The foreign commanders at Taku hi
= heard that the Chinese army had III
$ pared to attack Tientsin and that
I was reinforcing the Takn forts. The
y were held to be symptoms OF HOSTILE
!. and the Chinese commanders at Tai
', was warned to desisr such preparation
! He took this to mean war and open
y fire on the foreign feet The lie
II replied and the mud forts were so
!. captured. The United States warshi
u took no part in the bombardmer
though a shot from a Chinese X
et,,oi, Tho on,baat Mnnonaey rar