New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-20
LONDON MORE HOPEFUL.
THE DAYS DEVELOPMENTS DISCRED-
TIED ALARNIST REPORTS,
copyright: 1900: BY The New-York Trbune.l
[BY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.l

[BY CABLE TO TRIBUNE.l
London June 20, l a. Unofficial explanations
made by Mr.. Brodrck IN the House of Commons
and by the Secretary of the Admiralty nave
tended to discredit the alarming reports respect
ing an attack upon the foreign legations in
Picking and the retreat Of the marines TO Ilen-
Tsin When the cruiser Endymon left Taku. at
o'clock on Sunday afternoon, the Rear Admiral
had not heard of Admiral Seymour's return to
Tien-Tsfn and a japanese torpedo boat had
sailed from the mainland nine hours before the
British dispatch boat The forts had been bonn
barded and occupied by the forces from the Euro
pean fleets and the casualties had been light
but there was no direct or authentic evidence
that a catastrophe had occurred in Picking. Inc
Admiralty has not received any information re-
specting the sinking of British vessels in the
engagement with the Taku forts and discred1ts
the reports. There has clearly been some reck-
less teIegraphing from German consulates and
agents.
The press agencies say that Chinese officials
at Shanghai have received messages from Pc
king late Sunday, in which the situation
is described as serious but there are no refer
ences to the legations.
Communications are again interrupted with
Tien-Tsin, but Shanghai reports that the city
has been burned by Chinese soldiers are not
believed in official circles here.
The only fresh detail respecting the capture
of the Talu forts is that a brilliant charge was
made by the marines after they had landed.
The British Government has ordered strong
reinforcements for the Yang-tse Valley, and ad-
ditional Indian regiments will be sent to Hong
Kong. The Russian Government is reported to
have landed four thousand troops in China and
the Japanese Government to be sending three
thousand and Offering to employ twenty thou
sand.
Probably the most hopeful sign of improve
ment is the announcement that Ii Hung Chang
is starting for Picking to consult with the EN-
press. He understands the conditions of Euro
pean opinion better than any other adviser who
can be summoned by the Empress.
The situation had not cleared and the fate Of
the legations was still enshrouded with mys-
terry, but there easier feeling in the
best Informed circles at midnight, and the dis
patches from Berlin and other European capt
tails seemed to justify it.
Lord Salisbury made a characteristic speech
at Exeter Hall yesterday on mission work. in
which he asserted that other nation was so
Indifferent to the subject Of religion as the
Chinese. I. N F.
TO STORM YANG-TSE-KIANG FORTS.
London, June 19.-Mr. Brodrick, Under Secre-
tary for Foreign Affairs, Informed the House
Of Commons this afternoon that the latest
cable dispatches from China told Of British
ships capturing four Chinese torpedo boat de-
stroyers
Arrangements had also been perfected for
storming the forts by force established at the
Yang tse-Kiang.
According to a Shanghai dispatch, a large
number Of the Chinese garrison at Taku had
been killed in a bayonet charge Of marines from
the allied forces, the forts being completely
destroyed.
COMFORT FOR Won KETTELER'S MOTHER
Berlin, June 19.-The mother OF the German
Minister at Picking, Baron Ketteler, in
Minister. has received a telegram from China
saying thar the news Of her sons death not
true.