The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-07-17

forces. The representatives OF the sew
eral nations manage their civil AND
military affairs largely without coop
Grafton. The ranking office OF each
nationality a absolute jurisdiction
ove the operations Of his governments
troops. Questions of policy are dis
cussed daily at international confer
ences, which have not the power TO en-
force the wishes of the majority
Admiral Seymour's method Of COM
handing is to make requests, which
the other commanders generally fol-
low; but there ave been instances
Of the ranking officers holding aloof
from operations of which they disap-
proved.
NEED OF MORE TROOPS.
There is great need of more troops.
The present force of 10000 men is at
tempting to hold a line fifteen miles
long around the city. There is also
great need of rebuilding the railroad to
Taku and getting artillery equal to
the guns with which the Chinese are
b~ombarding the allies position.
The weeks work resulted in a sub
stantial gain for the Chinese, as the
allies lost fifty or sixty men and sue
ceeded in accomplishing nothing.
Yesterday furnished a new illustra-
ton of the weakness of the present
methods. A majofity of the command
0S $1,000 ooAS@d SAloI IL " oS 4AllPC l. Z
to attack the native city beyond the
foreign settlements and to destroy the
artillery there which menace the set
Element. The attack was fixed for four
days ago, but was postponed because
the Russian commander considered
his men unfit for duty after their re-
cent work. 1t was again fixed for yes
terday morning. but was postponed
because credible reports were in cir
culation that 10, 200 regulars from the
northwest had reinforced the Chinese.
In the meantime the Chinese had re-
moved two big guns on the fort at the
native city and had planted foul in
the open near the east arsenal, two
miles away. They shelled the city for
four hours, sending in more than 100
shells. They got the range of the public
building and of the club houses used
as a hospital and dropped shells all
about them. Fortunately, most of the
shells We're defective and failed to
burst, and the others had a small >ra-
dius of effectiveness.
In the absence of a concerted plan
the Russians sent a few companies Of
.Cossacks with two field guns, and the
japanese a battery of six 3-pounders
and two companies of infantry. sup
porting the English 12-pounders from
her majesty's ship Terrible, to silence
them. The Terrible's guns failed to
get an effective position and the Rus
SLAMS had n gun dismounted and
four men killed early in the engage
ment. The Japanese were confident
that they silenced the guns in the
open, but it appeared to the on-lookers
that these guns fired the last shots as
the japanese were retiring.
The Russians lost heavily and the
japanese had one killed and twelve
wounded. The Chinese threw shells
into the city this morning to show that
they are still alive.
The have raised their flag
over the imperial university OF Tien
Ts1n. The officers of the university are
Americans. The viceroy decided the
property to them. Consul Ragsdale has
protested against the action of he
m
Yokohama, July 12.-Though no
decision has yet been announced, it
is certain that Japan will send nearly
$4,000 troops to China. The Press
agrees that the dispatch of so large a
force is a duty in the interests of hu-
manlty but asserts that a large meas
ure Of responsibility for the troubles
rests upon Russia and Germany be-
aus of their arbitrary action in
China.
London, July u, 3:55 D. m.-The
lowing dispatch from Vice Admiral
Seymour:
'Tien Tsin, Sunday, July Z.
The Chinese continue fighting, Of
ten smelling the settlements. They are
extending their lines along the LIZ Tai
An canal TO the northeast and are ap-
pearing in greater force west of the
city. Yesterday we bombarded the
city and immediate suburbs, which
topped the Chinese gun fire for some
time. The French settlement and sta
ton are most subject to attack. To
day there was mother bombardment
l am steadily getting UP more guns.
Ten thousand troops are now here.
More are required, but both the Rus
/ n japanese are expected"
ANOTHER RUMOR OF MASSACRE
OF FOREIGNERS.
Shanghai, July Pit is reported tt at
a Chinese merchant here has receiy ed
a letter from Pekin dated June Both,
saying the legations We're demolished
and that the foreigners had been
killed.
1t is announced from a good source
that 80, 1000 Russians are marching on
Pekin from the north.
Che Foo, Monday, July 9.-It is re-
ported on good authority that Prince
Tuan has become insane.
In consequence of the movements of
the rebels toward TSin Tau, the Ger
mans have withdrawn some Of their
troops from Taku to protect Tsin Tau.
The women and children from New
Chwang ave riv here.
London, July 13.-The Canton CORE
spondent OF the Daily Telegraph wir-
ing July 18th. says
Iii Hung Chang a decided to re-
main here, and the American gunboat
which was waiting TO convey him en-
route to Pekin will sail tomorrow.
THE WORST FEARS ENTER
TANNED.
Paris, July 12-The Temps this even
ing that it is in a position
to affirm that, contrary TO statements
from various sources, no European
telegram has been received from Pekin
since that of Robert Hart, dispatched
Sunday, June oath, declaring the situa-
tion was desperate. Continuing the
Temps says: The subsequent silence
is sinister. If il is tru the legations
| are safe hey could communicate with
| Europe. If they annot it is because
the Chinese have juggled dates and the
massacre really took place as an
| nouneced on June 3Oth or July 1st.
-