The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-08-16
THE SITUATION IN CHINA.

The allied forces are reported TO be
within sixteen miles Of Pekin. The
Chinese are in full fight.
General Ohaffee continues his remark.
ably rapid advance to Pekin, and will
doubtless reach there this week.
1t is reported that the Empress Dow
ager wants to remove the entire court
from Pekin before the arrival Of the
allied forces
The British governments reply to
Ohina's quest for q cessation Of HOSTILE
ties is couched in the same terms as
that Of the United States.
Should the Empress Dowsger leave
the Chinese capital Prince Tuan might
seize the opportunity TO murder the
ministers before the arrival Of the for
eign forces.
The execution Of Oheng Yien Husn
the Cantonese who was the special Am
bassador Of China to Queen Victoria's
jubilee, is said to have created wide
spread terror.
Advices from Yang Tsun state that
the Americans losses were heaviest in
that fight. the Fourteenth Infantry
having Q killed and 90 wounded. Dur
ing the night the Britiuh and Russian
guns shelled the American troops In
mistake. wounding ten men.
The Chinese, according to reports, are
again desperately attacking the lega'
tions. which have few defenders left. 1t
is also alleged that Prince Tuan and a
hundred other officials have left Pekin
and that the news Of the capture Of
Yangtsun caused heavy exodus OF the
residents.
The allies have made distinct ad-
vance in their march to Pekin. Gen.
Ohaffee, commander Of the United
States forces in China sent a. dispatch
stating that he arrived at Ho-Si.W q
Thursday. HU ST WI is 38 miles from
Pekin. At the samerate Of progress the
troops should reach Pekin this week
The reply Of the L nited States govern
ment 10 Ohina's request for cessa'
tion of hOstilities states that this
government is ready 10 enter into an
agreement between the powers and the
Chinese government for q cessation OF
hostilities on condition that sufficient
body Of the allied forces be permitted
to enter Pekin to escort the foreign
ministers and residents to Tien Tsin
The United States reply is approved
by oil the other powers interested. 1t
is authoritatively stated that with the
entry Of American troops into Pekin
and the safe arrival Of Minister Con-
ger at Iieu Tsin the participation Of the
| United States in the military move.
| ments In China will end.
A high Government official says that
she indemnity which the United States
would demand for every American citi-
zen killed or manned by the Chinese dur
ing the present trouble would be sufficient
ly large TO support their families. In COM
fort. This Government does not want
a'pr0viDce, a town. village or sin.
gle square foot Of Chinese territory es
Indemnity 4" said the official, who is
close to the President. There i5 but
one indemnity which they can give
our people, and that Is q monetary In
demnity to the families Of the American
victims. For every one Of these China
must pay a sufficient sum to keep their
families from want. This Govern
ment will exact assurances Of salts.
factory character that such state OF
affairs as now exists in China shall not
again occur. The nature Of these assur'
ances will be determined later.