The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-02
Ministers Safety Due to Allies Vic
tories at Tien Tsin.
AND SCARCITY OF CHINESE AMMUNITION
DR.. Morisoo's Letter Exposing the Infamy of the
Chinese Government May be Follow
ed by a Declaration of War
by the Powers.
(By the Associated Press.)

London, August g. Thursday, a. m.)
told. DR.. Morrison, in the Times today
holds up the Chinese Government before
the world as guilty, and to a degree OF
infamy and duplicity that exceeds the
surmise of it's worst detractors. In the
same dispatch he gives more hopeful
view of the prospects of the besieged than
has been expressed by any of the others
who have been heard from.
simultaneously there come from the
Belgian Charge d'Affaires at Shanghai an
official statement that the allies are ex-
pected to reach Pekin in about week,
they being IS miles from Tien Tsin yes
terday.
Another letter has been received at
Tien Tsin from the British Minister,
Sir Claude Macdonald dated July oath.
eve are surrounded by Imperial troops"
he writes, "who are firing on us con-
tinually. The enemy is enterprising but
cowardly. We have provisions for about
a fortnight and are eating our ponies.
"The Chinese Government if there be
one, has done nothing whatever to help
us. If the Chinese do not press the at
tack we can hold out for say ten days.
SO no time should be lost, ifs terrible
massacre is to be avoided"
Yet a Shanghai special says Ii Hung
ChanC has received a decree, dated July
28th commanding him to inform the con-
suls that the Ministers were safe on
that date. Evidently Sir Claude MacDon-
aid was over pessimistic as DR.. Morri-
son, under date of July 21st. announces
the arrival of supplies. In view of this
it is quite within reason that the edict
announcing the safety of the Ministers
on the 2Sth is correct
Sir Claude MacDonald's latest letter,
while a strong indictment of the Chinese
Government, is not nearly so much SO as
DR. Morrison's dispatch. That correspon-
dent with the imperial edicJs as authority,
declares that as late as July End the I'M
perial Government urged the Boxers to
continue their 'loyal and patriotic SER
vices in eXterminating Christians" He
explains those marvellous changes in the
Chinese attitude which have so puzzled
the world. 1t appears that all the ap-
peals for Intervention and all the protesta-
tions of friendship have been due en-
Tsin. The Ministers at Pekn owed their
safety up to July 21st not to Government
protection but to the scarcity of Chinese
ammunition and to the fear which the
Tien Tsin victories inspired.
When it is remembered how great re-
lance is placed upon DIR. Morrison in
England, the Importance of his exposure
of the Chinese Government can scarcely
H,, 0C+i toH 10 hop oh,
all hopes entertained by Lord Salisbury
that the Chinese Government might yet
be proved not directly responsible for the
outrage and it may result in an entire
cessation of the negotiations with Chinese
diplomatists, if not in an open declaration
of war on the part of the powers.
General Sir Alfred Gaselee is quoted as
saying on July 2Sth that he was ready
to advance although lacking in artillery.
Colonel Daggett commanding the Ameri-
cans at Tien Tsin, is also credited with
a similar statement on the same date,
although utterly without transportation,
not even having a horse for himself.
Reinforcements are reported to have
been sent to the Chinese at Yang Tsun,
where strong entertainments have been
thrown up to bar the advance of the allies.
The Berlin correspondent of the Daily
Chronicle says that Emperor Williams
approval of the employment of non-com-
missioned men on leave is evidently in
tended to pave the way for a German
expedition on a large scale and that it is
probable that when sufficiently large,
this force will act independently.
Commenting upon DR.. Morrisons dis
patch. the Times says:
'It is now beyond doubt that the fire.
quent assertions of the different Chinese
reports that for a month past the Lega-
tions have been enjoying the protection
of the throne are, one and all, unqualified
falsehoods The cumulative evidence is
overwhelming that the whole affair has
been throughout under the control and di-
rection of the Chinese Government.
''It now rests with the powers to make
the Chinese Government understand that
it will be held fully responsible for what
ever happens in Pekin."
CHINESE TROOPS LEAVE PEKIN.