The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-03
THE NEWS FROM CHINA
THE FOREIGN LEGATIONS SAFE UP
TO THE 18th
NO NEWS AS To CONDITION
The Bare Fact of Their Being in Pekin
and Safe Received From Four Differ
ent sources Admiral Kempf OPP
posed the Attack on the Taku Forts.
Further Details of the Fighting
About Tien Tsin-More Missions
Destroyed.

Washington, June 30-For the first
time since the break of communication
with Tien Tsin, news came today of
the foreign ministers there which the
officials accept as accurate. Assur-
ances, coming from four separate
sources, that the ministers We're safe,
bodily at least, up to five days ago,
seem TO remove all doubt on that
point, while the agreement of the dis
patches of Admiral Kempff, of United
States Consul Ragsdale at Tien Tsin
and if Minister Wp to the effect
that the ministers are still in Pekin
would seem 10 afford a solid basis for
the acceptance of that statement.
The news of the day. important
tnough 1t is, has not changed the pol
ICY OF the government towards China
mere is nothing to show that the i'm
perlal government is responsible to a
uegree Warranting the declaration of
state of war. Therefore, the plan is
20 push forward in the effort to bring
away the foreign ministers, doing this
slde Dy side with the other powers
ana leaVlng all other questions for fu-
ture determination If the Chinese
government ordered the attacks on our
Az 80, IiCu lllcy nave declared war,
ana II that fact shall be established
the government will act accordingIv
On the other hand, if the Chinese gov
ernment was not directly party TO the
uprising, then it has demonstrated its
lncapacity and must reckon with the
onlted states government hereafter
Tor the heavy injuries inflicted upon
its citizens and its interests Mean
while as our commanders in China ap-
pear 10 be following a proper course,
lhey will be left unhampered by fur
tner instructions at this juncture. and
VIII not even be reinforced, unless
they require it. The above We're the
conclusions reached at a cabinet to-
day. There is still no war with China.
II may be rT that Admiral
hempff'S prudent -,rse, as set out in
the news dispatches, and in the alb
sence of official statements, meets the
unqualified approval of the admins
tration.
A cablegram received at the state
department today from Ambassador
Choate from London states that the
foreign ministers We're safe at Pekin
oi~the 25th instant. The Chinese min
lster here, Mr.. WI, has private ad-
wees to the same effect, which he has
brought TO the attention of the state
department.
The navy department has received
the following cablegram from Admiral
Kempff:
"Che Foo. June 80.
Secretary Navy. Washington.
Ministers at Pekin were given
twenty-four hours to leave on the
18th. They refused and are still mere
The Pekin relief forces got hat way.
They were attacked by imperial troops
on the 18th. McCalla was in COM
mand. Four were killed and twenty
five wounded: McCalla and Ensign
Tassig wounded, but not seriously.
Now over $4,000 troops ashore Com
mander Wise commands at Tong Ku
in charge of transportation, rail and
river. The combined nationalities find
It necessary to make use of some civ
llians TO operate railway.
''KEMPFF."
The following cablegram has been
received from United States Consul
RagSdale at Tien Tsin, dated the 9th
instant being the first communication
received from that officer in nearly
two weeks:
Siege of Tien Tsin raised. Troops
sent for the relief of the legations re-
turn. In vain fighting seven separa te
battles. American loss six killed.
ministers given twenty-four hours to
leave Pekin. Refused. Still there.
"RAGSDALE.''
London, June 30.-The war office has
received the following dispatch from
Colonel Darwood:
"Che Foo, June 30.-The arsenal
northeast of Tien TSin was captured
during the morning of June 9th by
| the combined forces. The British
troops engaged were the navtl brigade
and the Chinese regiment. The naval
brigade had four killed and fifteen
wounded, including two officers. The
Chinese had no casualties. The latter
checked an attack by the Boxers on
our left flank, with heavy loss 10 the
enemy"
KEMPFF OPPOSED ATTACKING.
Copyrighted by the Associated Press.)
Taku, June 27.-Admiral Kempff, op-
posed the policy of attacking the Chi
nese ermy, unless they began hostili-
ties 1t is now admitted that the
powers attacking the forts turned the
Chinese into allies with the Boxers.
Americans think this might have been
avoided. Admiral Kempff has held
aloof from hostilities beyond move
mentS necessary to rescue Americans.
The forces ashore now number 5000
| of which $500 are British, 1900 Ger
mans, 1000 Russians, $500 japanese,
| and the remainder American, French.
Italian and AustrAns-
Yesterday the English torpedo boat
| Fame visited the fort at the New city,
twelve miles up the river. IL was
| found deserted and was blown up.
Lieutenant Jayne of the Newark,
| trying to reach Tien Tsin by boat at
| the time of the storming of Tien Tsln,
| had fierce fight with the Chinese.
Major Walters battalion of 13O ma
| rines, with Commander Craddock' S
| British naval brigade numbering 500,
| were camped on June 22nd eight miles
from Tien Tsin, where the railroad
4 IL