Evening star., 1900-12-03
ANNUAL MESSAGE
Continued from First Page.)

| Continued from First Page)
preparations made to stand a siege. which
at once began.
From June Goth until July 18th, writes
Minister Conger. -there was scarcely an
hour during which there was not firing
| upon some part of our lines and into some
Of the legations, varying from a single shot
to general and continuous attack along
the whole line" Artillery was placed
| around the legations and on the overlook
ing palace walls, and thousands Of 3-inch
shot and shell were fired. destroying some
buildings and damaging ALL So thickly did
| the balls rain that, when the ammunition
of the besieged ran low, five quarts Of Chi
| nese bullets were gathered in an hour in
one compound and recast.
| Attempts were made to burn the Iega-
| tions by setting neighboring houses on fire.
but the flames were successfully fought on.
| although the Austrian. Belgian, Italian and
Dutch legations were then and subsequently
| burned. With the aid Of the native con-
verts, directed by the missionaries, 10
| whose helpful cooperation Mr.. Conger
| awards unstinted praise. the British lega-
| ton was made a veritable fortress. The
| British minister, Sir Claude Macdonald,
| was chosen general commander of the de-
| fense. with the secretary of the American
! legation, Mr.. E. G. Squiers as chief Of
| staff.
To save life and ammunition the be-
sieged sparingly returned the incessant fire
| of the Chinese soldiery, fighting only to
| repel attack or make an occa sional success
| full sortie for strategic advantage such
| as that of fifty-five American, British, and
Russian marines led by Captain Myers. oe
| the United States Marine Corps, which le
suited in the capture Of a formidable bar
ricade on the wall that gravely menaced
the American position. 1t was held to the
| last, and proved an invaluable acquisition,
| because commanding the water gate
through which the relief column entered.
During the siege the defenders lost G5
| killed. 135 wounded, and by disease-the
last all children.
On July 14th the besieged had their first
communication with the Tsung-li Yamen.
| from whom a message came inviting to
conference, which was declined. Core
spondence, however, ensued and a sort OF
armistice was agreed upon, which stopped
the bombardment and lessened the rifle
| fire for a time. Even then no protection
whatever was afforded, nor any aid given,
save to send to. the legations small sup
ply of fruit and three sacks of flour.
Indeed. the only communication had with
| the Chinese Government related to the oc-
casional delivery dispatch Of a telegram
or to the demands Of the Tsung-H Yamen
for the withdrawal of the legations to the
coast under escort. Not only are the pro-
testations of the Chinese Government that
it protected and succored the legations pos
itively contradicted. but irresistible proof
accumulates that the attacks upon them
1x, ia1 Ia rtX
uniformed. armed. and differed. belonging
to the command of jung Lu, the Imperial
commander in chief. DEGREES encouraging
the Boxers. organizing them under promi-
nent Imperial officers. provisioning them,
and even granting them large sums in the
name Of the Empress Dowager. are known
to exist. Members Of the Tsung-H Yamen
who counseled protection of the foreigners
were beheaded. Even in the distant prov
inces men suspected of foreign sympathy
| were put to death. prominent among these
being Chang Yen-hoon, formerly Chinese
minister in Washington.
With the negotiation of the partial armis-
tice of July 14th proceeding which was
doubtless promoted by the representations
of the Chinese envoy in Washington. the
way was opened for the conveyance to Mr..
Congcr Of test message sent by the Sec
retary of State through the kind offices Of
Minister WI Ting-fang. Mr.. Conger's re-
ply, dispatched from Peking on July 18th
through the same channel, afforded to the
outside world the first tidings that the in
mates of the legations were still alive and
hoping for succor.
This news stimulated the preparations for
a Joint relief expedition in numbers suf-
cient to overcome the resistance which for
a month had been organizing between Taku
and the capital. Reinforcements sent by all
the cooperating governments were con-
stantly arriving. The United States contin-
gent, hastily assembled from the Philip
pines or dispatched from this country,
amounted to some 5000 men. under the
able command first of the lamented Colonel
Liscum and afterwards Of General Chaffee.
Toward the end Of July the movement be-
gan. severe conflict followed at Tientsin,
in which Colonel Liscum was killed. The
city was stormed and partly destroyed It's
capture afforded the base Of operations
from which to make the final advance,
which began in the first days of August,
the expedition being made up of Japanese.
Russian, British and American troops at
the outset.
Another battle was fought and won at
Yangtsun. Thereafter the disheartened Chi
nese troops offered little show of resistance.
few days later the important position of
Ho-si-woo was taken. A rapid march
brought the united forces to the populous
city Of Tung Chow. which capitulated with
out contest.
ENTRANCE INTO PEKIN.
On August 14th the capital was reached.
After q brief conflict beneath the walls the
relief column entered and the legations
were saved. The United States soldiers,
sailors, and marines, officers and men alike.
in those distant climes and unusual
roundings. showed the same valor. discip-
line. and good conduct and gave proof of
the same high degree Of intelligence and ef
ficiency which has distinguished them in
every emergency.
The Imperial family and the Government
had fled a few days before. The city was
without visible control. The remaining Im
perial soldiery had made on the night &C
the 18th a last attempt to exterminate the
besieged, which was gallantly repelled. 1t
fell to the occupying forces to restore Or
der and organize a provisional administra-
ton.
Hanpilvc<he acute dfsfurha ncea w ,-e cnr-