The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-05
A REFUGEE FROM PEKIN.
Only Quick March Can Save the
Legations.
(From the Salt Lake Herald

(From the Salt Lake Hersld.)
MI Smead. of New York, who is at the
Knutsfo-d Hotel. having just come from
Pekin, China, said last night that he can
not understand why the Ministers OF for
eign Governments and Americans and
| Europeans there did not get away before
the trouble with the Boxers reached such
a point that their lives were in danger
He left there because he believed that
| there was danger. and others could have
done the same thing. He was in Pekin on
May 20, and at that time when he walked
thro ugh the streets, Chinese, or as he
maintains, Manchurians. threw stones at
him and spit at him. This showed suf-
fciently for him their condition OF mind.
Tho foreigners knew that there was dan
ger, but nothing was done about it. Each
diplomat seemed to think that II he was
moderate with the Chinese Government he
could get more fayors from it. Every one
Of them realized that as soon as troops
started on the march to Pekin he would be
in very bad odor with the Government.
I'm the club at Tientsin many warnings
came by letter. They were received every
day and they told of the rise of the Boxers
and the spread of their movement. But
little heed was paid to them. The mem
bers of the club would pass these letters
about and crack jokes about them. They
ger In Pekin it was different. The Min
listers knew there was trouble coming.
Many foreigners sent their wives and fam
lilies away. They were sent to Shanghai
and Chefoo.
There are about 500 or 1000 foreigners
in Pekin exclusive of the loco or 1900
troops of different nationalities. l don't
think that any of the troops have very
heavy guns. They have no such siege
guns as has the Chinese Government.
The wall which protects the British Le-
CATION buildings is secure, but it would
not stand against an assault of heavy guns.
l saw several Krupp guns of a modei
make landed at Tientsin for the Chinese
Government. The wall would not stand
long against them.
Iii Hung Chang is between the devil ana
the deep sea. II he thought that China
could defeat the civilized world he would
join in with the movement. But he knows
better and he is at a loss to know what
to do.
There is but one way to reach Pekin.
1t requires a much larger force than the
allied powers have at Tientsin. They
must have many more troops, and they
must march through very quickly slaugh-
tering thousands OF Chinese as they go.
This will spread terror among them and
will show them that they are not proof
against foreign bullets. A quick moveme.t
of this kind would probably end the war.
But there has been the most absurd delay.
Troops by the thousand should have
been marched in at once. They should
have been sent from all quarters. Now
the Chinese are becoming emboldened and
they will believe the more firmly that they
can drive the q igners out.
But do not believe that there will be
n prolonged war with China. The troops
of the Government are not organized or
equipped. Vast hordes of them could be
gotten together. But they would not be
organized. nor would they be armed with
anything but their three-prolged spears
An army might outnumber any that the
world could send. but it would be nothing
more than a mob of millions without !
equipment or leadership. They would be |
soon subdued"