The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-08

LONDON, Aug SIN the House Of Com
mons today Right Hon. William st. j.
Brodriclz, Under Secretary for Foreign Af-
fairs, stated that the Government had just
| received the following telegram in cipher
from Sir Claude Macdonald, the British
Minister at Pekin. The message was
handed in at Sanega Yamen at 3:40 p. N.
yesterday, and was received at o'clock
this morning:
"Pekin, Aug. 81 today received
your cipher message forwarded through
the Chinese Minister The shell and
cannon fire ceased on July 16, but the
rife fire has continued from the Chi
nese positions held by Government
troops and Boxers intermittingly ever
since. The casualties since then have
been slight. Except one private ma
rIne, all the wounded are doing well.
The rest of the British in the legation
are well, including the whole garrison.
The total of killed is 60 and wounded
110. We have strengthened our forti-
f1cations. We have over 200 women
and children refugees in the legation.
The Chinese Government has refused
transmission to kilograms in cipher
until now"
MI Brodrick also read the following tel
egram from Rear Admiral Bruce at Taku,
sent via Chefoo:
"Chefoo, Aug g.
Twelve thousand allies strongly at
position two miles outside OF Tientsin in
the early morning. The Chinese were
driven out and retreated north The
allies are pursuing them. Transport is
following the troops by road and river.
THE advance on Pekin has begun
Mr. Brodrick added that he thought these
kilograms were highly satisfactory.
The Berlin correspondent of the Co
logne Gazette" hears from an authoritative
source that Field Marshal Won Waldersee
has beeen appointed commander-in-chi
of the allied forces in China.
The message from the British Minister at
Pekin created no little excitemsnt in Gov
ernment circles. It comedies closely with
the despatch from the American Minister.
Mr. Conger, which was received in Wash
ington yesterday Both of these messages
from Pekin are regarded as furnishing
proof that the assaults on the legations are
being committed by Imperial troops
The only differences of opinion are as to
whether the Chinese Government is be-
hind the attacks. or is unable to suppress
a rebeIlious element among its soldiery,
Some of the high officials still hold the
conservative view, and express the belief
that the Imperial authorities have done
and are doing all they can to protect the
foreigners.
1t must be admitted however. that those
who hold this opinion are in a very small
minority. Those who take the opposite
view point out that the Chinese Govern
ment has officially guaranteed safe con-
duct for the ministers from Pekin to Tien-
tsin, and they ask the pertinent question,
why. if safe conduct through a hostile
county can be guaranteed, the diplomats
cannot as well be protected in the capital
Itself.
That part of Sir Claude MacDonald's
message which says. "the Chinese Gov
eminent has refused transmission to tele-
grams in cipher until now is interpreted
as meaning that the Imperial authorities
have had the power at any time during the |
last two months to place the ministers in |
with their respective Gov |
Because of their not having |
done SO. China will have an enormous |
penalty to pay.
Anxiety increases here as the allies move |
toward Pekfn. There is widespread |
fear that when the attack is made on the |
Capital the legations will be stormed by fu- !
rious hordes whose onslaught they will be |
unable to resist. BY many the situation of |
the foreigners in Pekin is thought to be |
more fraught with peril now than at any |
time
NEW CHINESE CABLES.