Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-12-11

/ legation. Other powers took similar .ac-
| ton, until some 400 men were assembled
| in the capital as legation guards. Still
the peril increased and an attempt of the
| foreign ships to make landing at Taku
was met By fire from the Chinese forts.
The forts were thereupon shelled By the
| foreign vessels. the American admiral
| taking no part in the attack, or the
+, ground that we were not at war with
| China. Two days later the Taku forts
were captured after a sanguiDary conflict.
| Severance of communication with Pekin
followed, and the isolation of the legation
was complete.
Heroism of the Legations.
The siege and the relief of the legations
has passed into undying history. In sll
the stirring chapter which records the
heroism of the devoted band, clinging to
| hope in the face of despair, aud the I'M
daunted spirit that led their believers
through battle and suffering to the goal,
it is a memory Of which my countrymen
may be justly proud that the honor Of
| our nag was maintained alike IN the siege
and the rescue, and that stout American
hearts have again set high, in fervent
emulation with true men of other race
and language, the indomitable courage
that ever strives for the cause of right
and justice.
By June 10 the legations were cut off.
An Identical note from the yamen ordered
each minister To leave Pekin, under
promised escort, within twenty -four
hours. To gain time they replied, asking
pr0iongatiOn of the time which was af-
forwards granted, and requesting an in
teryiew with the tsung-li-yamen on the
following day. No reply being received
on the morning of the Goth the German
minister, Baron Won Ketteler, set out for
the yamen to obtain a response, and on
the way was murdered.
An attempt by the, legation guard TO
recover his body was foiled by the Chi
nese. Armed forces turned out against
the legations. Their quarters were sur
| rounded and attacked. The mission com
pounds were abandoned, their inmates
taking refuge in the British legation,
where all the other legations and guards
gathered for more effective defense. -Four
I hundred persons were crowded into its
narrow compass. Two thousand native
converts were assembled in nearby pal
ace under protection of the foreigners
Lines of defense were strengthened
trenches dug, barricades raised and prep
arations made to stand siege, which at
once began.
From June 20 until July H." writes
Minister Conger there was scarcely an
hour during which there was not firing
upon some part of our lines and into some
of the legations, varying from a single
shot to a general and continuous attack
along the Whole line" Artillery was
placed around the legations and on the
| overlooking palace walls, and thousands
of 3-inch shot and shell were fired. de-
I stroying some buildings and damaging
all.
Attempts were made to burn the lega-
lions by setting neighboring houses on
ire, but the flames We're successfully
fought off, although the Austrian Bel
gian, Italian and Dutch legations were
then and subsequently burned. With the
aid of the native converts, directed by the
missionaries, to whose helpful co-opera-
ton Mr.. Conger awards unstinted praise,
the British legation was made a yeritable
fortress. 1t was held TO the last, and
proved an Invaluable acquisition, because
il commanded the water gate through
which the relief column entered. During
the siege the defenders lost sixty-five
killed. 49, wounded and seven by disease
the last being all children.
Not only are the proteStations of the
Chinese government that it protected and
Succored the legations positively contra
dicted, but irresistible proof accumulates
that the attacks upon them were made by
imperial troops, regularly uniformed,
armed and Differed, belonging to the
mander-in-chief.
DEGREES encouraging the Boxers, organ
izing them under prominent imperial Off
GERS, provisioning them, and even grant
ing them large sums in the name of the
empress dowager, are known to exist.
Members of the tsung li-yamen who coun
seled protection of the foreigners were
beheaded Even in the distant provinces
men suspected of foreign sympathy were
put to death.
With the negotiation of the partial ar
mistice of July Il, a proceeding which
was doubtless promoted by the represent
atoms of the Chinese envoy in Washing
ton the way was opened for the convey
ance TO Mr. Conger of a test message sent
by the Secretary of State through the
kind offices of Minister WI Ting Fang.
Mr.. Conger's reply. dispatched from Pc
kin July Is through the same channel,
afforded TO the outside world the first
tidings that the inmates of the legations
We're still alive and hoping for succor.
Joint RELIEF Expedition.
This news stimulated the preparations
for a joint relief expedition in numbers
sufficient to overcome the resistance
which for a month had been organizing
between Taku and the capital. Re-en-
forcementS sent by all the cooperating
governments were constantly arriving.
sembled from the Philippines or dispatch
ed from this country, amounted to some
5000 men, under the able command first
Of the lamented Col Liscum and after
ward of Gen. Chaffee
Toward the end.the July the movement
began. A severe conflict followed Mt TEN
tsiu, in which Col Liscum was killed
The city was stormed and PARTLY destroy
ed. Another battle was fought and won
~ Yang-tyuu. Thereafter the diShearten-
cd Chinese troops offered little show Of
resistance. X few days later the impor-
tant position eff Ho-Si-W0o was taken
4 rapid march brought the united forces
TO the populouS city of TungChow, which
capitulated without contest. Aug. II
the capital was reached. After a brief
conflict beneath the walls the relief col
umn entered and the legations were saw
ed
The United States soldiers, sailors and
marines, officers and men alike in those
distant climes and unusual surroundings
showed the same valor, discipline and
good conduct aud gave proof of the same
high degree of intelligence and efficiency
which have distinguished them in every
emergency.
The imperial family and the govern
ment had fled few days before. The
city was without visible control The
remaining imperial soldiery had made on
the night Of the 18th a last attempt 10
exterminate the besieged. which was gal
/ lantly repealed. Ii fell 70 the occupying
forces to restore order and organize
provisional administration.
The policy OF the United States through
all this trying period was clearly am
nounced aud Serupulously carried on A
/ circular note to the powers dated July 5
proclaimed our attitude. Treating the
/ conditions in the North as one Of virtual
I anarchy. in which the great provinces Of
/ the South aud Southwest haS no share
I We regarded the local authorities In the
/ latter quarters as representing the Chi
neSe people with whom we sought to re-
main in peace and friendship. Our de-
elared aims involved no war against the
( Chinese nation. We adhered TO the legit
/ innate Office Of reScuing the imperiled le
/ cation. obtaining redress for wrongs 81
ready suffered. securing wherever poSSi-
/ bic the safety of American life aud prop
Z erty in China. and preventing a spread
Of the disorders or their recurrence.
+ As was then said. THE policy Of the
Z -. = -.