New-York tribune., 1900-07-20

eigners has resulted in a massacre unique in the
history Of civilization. To explain or 10 under
stand the exact causes which led up to this
frightful deed OF blood is as difficult a task at
this time would be an attempt to forecast
accurately its results That the former extend
as far back the distant day when China
was first compelled by force Of arms to open
one Of her ports TO European traders many be-
lieve; that the latter may materially affect
Chinas history for all time to come-and per-
haps the history Of the whole world-nearly
every thoughtful observer will admit Sixty
years of constant aggression by European Pow
ers seems at last to have aroused the stagnant
rational spirit of the Chinese to the boiling
point Symptoms and prophesies Of a dangerous
ebulIition Of long pent up hatred were not lack
ing, but the imminence of the peril was appre-
ciated by few. probably because no one sup
posed that the central government would en-
courage . movement which might pass beyond
its control and compromise II with all Europe
But this is just what appears to have happened
The Boxers. or insurrectionists, first began to
attract serious international attention in the
latter part Of last May. Before that their up
Tisings and riotings in districts more or less
distant from Peking had been considered as Of
only local Importance, and OF transient nat
ure. It was fully expected that the Government
would suppress the peculiarly named organiza-
tion before II could do much damage. But on
Nav % a report was sent out from Shanghai
that Government troops attempting to queu
riotous band of Boxers in the suburbs Of Peking
itself had been defeated which had caused
affairs around the capital to assume suddenly a
critical aspect. The conviction then took form
that foreign troops ought TO be sent TO Peking
10 protect the foreign legations there while the
withdrawal Of all missionaries from the interior
became imperative. It then. too. that the
Diplomatic Corps decided TO ask the Tsung-li-
Yamen (Chinese Foreign Ofice) to define ex-
pIicitIy the measures which the Government in
tended TO take in dealing with the Insured
rionists Tuo1 SIS
AMERICAN MARINES LANDED.
On the very next day Boxers tore up sufi-
cient of the railway between Peling and Tien-
Tsin to suspend train service between the cap
ital and the seacoast The United States cruiser
Newark flagship Of Rear-Admiral Kempf,
which had arrived at Taku on May % sent
ashore los marines with machine gun and a
field gun on May "a One hundred men each
were also landed from British. japanese, Ger
man Italian. Russian and French warships
then at Taku When an attempt made TO
2end these troops by train to Pekng to protect
the foreign legations there, the Tsung- 1amen
would not permit il, saying shat the Government
troops were fully able TO cope with the situa-
tion unaided. The foreigners insisted, however,
and the Tsung-li-Yamen yielded On May 81 a
special train started from Tien-Tsin for Peking
with the following forces; Americans, Off
GERS and 56 men; British 3 officers and y men;
Italian. officers and 80 men; French, 3 officers
and 70 men: Russian, 4 officers and II men;
japanese, officers and q men. They took along
five quick firing guns
On June ! United States Minister Conger
ported to the State Department at Washington
from Peking that these guards for the legations
had arrived ard their appearance had had the
immediate effect of improving the situation and
causing the Boxers within the city TO assume
less beigerent attitude; but Minister Conger
telegraphed on June that outside of Pekng
the murders and prosecutions by the Boxers
seem to be on the increase. All foreigners have
fed. The Chinese Government seems either un-
willing or unable to suppress the trouble. The
troops show no energy in attacking the Boxers"
On the same day the insurgents wrecked the
railroad between Peking and Tien-Tsin again
and all traffic over the line was suspended.
RUSSIANS BEGIN THE FIGHTING.
On June Rear-AdmiraI Kempff sent dis
patch saying that the Russian force landed at
Tfen-Tsin had been the first TO begin fighting
with the Boxers. who now threatened that city.
and that Captain McCalla had taken command
of the American force there. Gable messages
were sent TO Minister Conger and Rear Admiral
Kempff by President McKinleys direction on
June giving them ample authority to meet any
emergency likely 10 occur in the Chinese crisis
without involving the United States in any COM
bnation among the Powers or interfering in
affairs in which this country has no direct con-
cern. Meanwhile reports of murders of foreign
ers outside Peking were arriving day by day
and on June the British landed 800 more men
at Tien-Tsn and began preparations to force a
passage to Peking through the hordes Of Boxers
which had cut the railroad and beset the capital
Twenty-Five warships of the various Powers had
assembled opposite Taku by this time.
Minister Conger sent word June that the
situation was steadily growing worse, and two
more American warships were ordered to Taku
the gunboat Nashville, with force Of thirty
marines. from Cavite. and the Monocacy, from
Shanghai. strong force Of foreign troops was
dispatched from Tien-Tsin for Peking on June
with $50 Britishers; Captain McCalla with 100
Americans; forty Italians and twenty-five Aus
triaus. A second train contained coo British
japanese Russian and French troops On the
first train Hotchkiss and other guns on
the second repairing material and new rails
BY this time thrty-one foreign war vessels were
reported at Taku. and all telegraph lines into
Peking had been cut.
The relief expedition was held up about thirty
miles from T1en-Tsn by badly damaged bridges,
and while making repairs had their first brush
with Boxers. who appeared in small force and
were soon routed, leaving about thirty dead
CONGER ASKS FOR AID.
Minister Conger. the telegraph wires being
cut, managed to get message out Of Picking by
States troops. The courier reported that the
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