Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-08-09
THE MOVE ON PEEIN.
heavy Fighting Reported on the
River Beyond Tien Tsin.
PREDICTIONS DRAWN FROM FIGHT.
Apprehension Felt by Tho.e Convsrsant
with Oriental Affairs vt the KSAppsar-
ancn In Pekin Politics Of til. Anti
Foreign Fanatic, Ii Ping Hung.

washington, Aug. 7.-Ihe an
nouncement received through Rear
Admiral Remey and Commander
Taussig, of reported heavy fighting
on the river beyond Tien Tsin, was
the news of interest in the Chinese
situation. Little doubt was expressed
at the navy department that the news
was substantially correct. The dis
patches stated that the allied forces
lost in killed and wounded 1000 men,
chiefly Russians and Japanese. 1t is
probable a later report may reduce
the list of casualties among the in
ternstional forces, but it is evident
that the move on Pekin is at last
fairly under way, and that strong
opposition has been encountered.
The war department officials, who
have been exceedingly reticent for
several days as to news from the seat
of war, admitted yesterday when the
naval dispatches were received that
the announcement of the battle was
not unexpected. Opinion among the
various officials now in Washington
is somewhat divided as to just what
is presaged by yesterdays events.
The more optimistic are inclined to
think that such severe blow as the
Chinese must have received at Pei
Tsang will result in the speedy disin-
tegraton Of the forces now opposing
the march of the international col
umn. In line with this prediction, 1t
was prophesied that the Chinese gov
eminent would find means to send the
ministers from Pekin under escort
and thus stave off the advance upon
the capital. On the other hand there
was u number of officers in posi-
ton to Judge equally well who held
that the fight at Pei Tsang was only
the beginning of strenuous resist
ance that would be continued to the
gates of Pekin or beyond. 1t was
urged in support of this view that the
Chinese had hundred men to lose
against one of the allies; that they
were well armed with modern guns
and had apparently an abundance of
ammunition. 1t is stated that con-
siderable apprehension exists among
those conversant with Oriental affairs
at the temperance in Pekin politics
of that rabid anti-foreign fanatic, Ii
Ping Hung. 1t is understood that his
appearance in Pekin affairs may have
had something to do with the Shang-
hal rumors of Ii Hung Changes sui
eide. 1t is certain that with Ii Ping
Hung and Prince Tuan in control of
the de facto government in China, a
religious war of dervish-like fanati-
cism probably will be waged against
all foreigners and friends of the more
liberal Chinese statesmen are ex-
ceedingly anxious as to their fate
under the Tuan-Li regime.
The war department is in receipt
of dispatch from Gen. Macarthur
announcing that he has shipped adj
ditional artillery supplies to Taku
for use in the Chinese campaign.
These supplies include several Cat
ling guns and the remainder of the
rife and Howitzer siege train now
In Manila, which up to date has re-
NAMED useless in that country on ac-
count Of the bad roads. How much
better Gen. Chaffee may be able to
handle these monster guns through
the almost impossible rice swamps OF
China no one at the war department
was willing to guess, but his recent
dispatch contained an urgent appeal
for more artillery, and he is getting
It. The ordnance experts at the war
department say that If it comes to a
bombardment of Pekin these FIVE
inch rifles and seven-inch Howitzers,
with their enormous bursting charges
of high explosives, will be the most
effective battering weapons in the
international column.