The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-08-08

ally accorded respite in consequence
OF the defeat OF the Chinese army al
Tien Tsin. The powers are now expos
ing them through vacillation to a re-
newal Of the attack when their ammu-
milton is well-nigh exhausted, and they
are dependent upon the empress dow
ager for supplies OF food, while the gen.
erals and admirals are holding confer
enees and delaying an advance. and the
fighting is likely 10 be more desperate
and the situation af ;he legations more
critical in consequence OF the long halt
and the intrigues which are apparently
IN progress.
The only alternative for a march to
the capital is negotiation through Ii
Hung Chang for the delivery OF all the
foreigners at Tien Tsin and for the
payment of indemnities. and 1t is doubt
full whether the legations will consent
to abandon their position. or whether
any Chinese general would conduct
them in safety to the coast. Moreover.
the delivery at Tien Tsin could only be
secured under pledge that the powers
would not subsequently send an army
tc the capital to effect their reinstats-
ment.
Public opinion mere strongly favors
an advance of the allied army with all
possible despatch, after the empress has
beer warned that she and her ministers
viii be held responsible for the safety
Of the legations. The foreign Office re-
mains silent. but the measures adopted
for Strengthening the American contin-
gent and protecting British interests
indicate clearly the governments re-
cngnition Of the grave danger OF re-
volt in middle China.
There was no official confirmation
here at midnight of the Washington
report that battle had been fought on
Sunday at Pei Tsang. in which the al
lied troops had met with heavy losses.
but had forced the Chinese 70 retreat
from a strong position. Mr.. Broderick
confessed that he had no information
respecting the advance Of the allies,
and at late hour nothing was known
in parliament about the battle.
The press dispatches from Tien Tsln
Of an earlier date reported General
lungs troops in strength eight miles
away and the country flooded
through the opening Of the canal bank.
II there had been battle the Chinese
would probably have brought on the
fighting, for the allies. according to
the most trustworthy press correspon-
dents. were divided into two camps.
and were unable to agree upon any
plan OF operations.
SAN FRANCISCO. Aug. IA story
Of Russian brutality in China is told
by Mrs. E. B. Drew, wife Of the Brit
ish commissioner Of customs at Tien
Tsin, who arrived from the Orient on
the transport Logan. She says:
During the bombardment we lived
most Of the time in our cellar
Our house was partially wrecked by
big shells. Sleep was out Of the ques-
tion most of the time. and so unstrung
were we that but little food satisfied
us. There was ever present the haunt
ing fear Of the Chinese triumphing and
slaughtering every foreigner and con-
vert.
Some. probably all. Of the women
were prepared to act in case the Chi
nese effected an entrance. But. aside
from that unpleasant recollection. it ap-
pears that the allied officers were pre-
pared to act did not know It at the
time. but I understand that ten or
twenty msn had been detailed to kill
all the foreign women in case the Chi
nese were the victors."
Mrs. Drew with much Indignation
then spoke Of the atrocities Of the Rus
sian troops, saying:
They Dillaged, looted. tortured and
murdered right and left. There were
many infants and children killed by
bayonet thrusts. and many were tossed
from bayonet points only to be caught
again and tossed tima and again.
There is ample evidence Of these un-
sDeakable occurrences.
"And about Chinese women. They
were mistreate1 and murdered in house
after house. It seems as If nothing
could stay the mad frenzy Of these
Russians.
"out from Tien Tsin. along the Pei
Ho and Yellow rivers. are numerous
little villages. Ths Russians swept
through the villages, destroying life and
property. In these places they also
tossed infants and other children in the
air from bay0nets. And every time
this child-tossing tragedy was INDUCED
in the dead body of a mother, father.
or both would be hard by. The Rus
slams also drove the women and chill
cren into the Pei Ho and Yellow rivers,
where they were drowned
After shooting AMI numbering to
their hearts content, the Russians
would plllage, loot and burn every
house that caught their eyes. There
was no attemot at conccaiing all of
this remarkably barbarous conduct. I