The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-08-22
Sdi! Fighting IN Pekin.
Dowager Empress Said to be
Held In Sacred City While
Allies Bombard.


Washington, Aug 19.-From Gen
-Cbaffee today the war department
received official confirmation Of the fall
of Pekiu aud the rescue Of the 5esieged
lagetiooers.
The dispatches of the American com
mander was not long aud contained few
details, but the uoconcealed satisfaction
with which it was received By officials
Of the ADMINISTRATION indicated clearly
the anxiety that bad been eneendered
BY his prolonged silence. His last
ecmmunication to the goveromeot prior
to she receipt OF soday's advices. vas
dated Aug II. at Matow. almost 80
miles from Pekio. The explsuasios OF
his silence is suggested in advices
received by the navy department today
from Admiral Remey. who TELEGRAPH b.
ing from Taku on the 18th, says the
telegraph liue between that point and
Pekio Is interrupted
The oablegram from Admiral Remey
sonssios some important information
not mentioned by Geo Chaffee. He
makes the startling statement. oo Jap
aosse authority. that tho inner city of
Pekio was being bombarded by the
allied forces Admiral Remey says
also that the dowager empress is
detained in the inuer city By Prince
Eungedo.
Advices received late last night from
the foreign ofdce at Toxic, japan. by
the japanese legation in this city. con
6rm aud amplify previous accounts OF
the capture Of Pekiu by the allied
troops
Following is the text OF the dispatch
from Gen Chafee. as made public by
the var department:
Chefoo. Aug 10. 1900
Adjusant Geueral, Washington
Pekio, Aug 15.-We entered iega-
,ion's grounds at 5 O'Clock las: oighs
with Fourteenth acd light battery
Eight wounded during days fighting;
otherwise al: well Caafee
The dispatch. which was received
during the morning, vas transmitted
Immediately to the president. at 'ae
White House. He expressed his
qualification at the news it contained.
particularly at sne small loss sustained
by the American troops. A copy of
the dispatch was sent to Ads Geo
Corbin, who is in New York.
It will be noted that the dispatch
indicates that the American troops
entered the legation grounds at 5
O'Clock on tSe evening Of the l4'h ioss
By the Washington officials aud BY the
several legation officials to whom 1t vas
shown, the da.e of Gen Cbaffee's com
nuuicatlon is regarded as an error Of
TRANSMISSION. Il is believed that the
word Fifteenth" should be sixteenth
All previous advices. oficial and uocAi
eisl, have indicated that the Legation
we're relieved 90 the evening OF the
18th. Wednesday. after day of sharp
fighting Minister Wu. the Chinese
representative, and the japanese minis
ter, were quite positive 90 this point.
all of their Official advices being that
eatrance 80 the city Of Pekin was
effected early 10 the evening Of
Wednesday, the 10Th inst.
The fact tha, only the Fourteenth
infantry and Riley's battery entered
the city as shown by Gen Chsd-e's
dispatch, does not Indicate shat the
Ninth infantry and the marines, who
we're go conspicuously gallant through.
ont the advance upoo the capital. did
not p.r.ioipate in the engagement.
which resulted directly 10 the rescue Of
the besieged lega,iouers. It is pointed
cut as likely that Gen Chafee. ac.iog
10 ooosonance With the other commsnd
ers. divided bis force, leeviog the
Moth infaotry sud The marines without
the walls of the city to act as g rear
guard, to prevent the escape of Chinese
troops By other gates than those
through which the allies entered, or for
some other excellent reason.