The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-19
DETAILS FROM PEKING.
Meanwhile the Administration In
Watching Events at Shanghai.


WASHINGTON, Aug. 1s-The govern
ment, now fully satisfied by the advices in
hand. that the international troops have
entered Peking and that the legations are
saved, is clamly awaiting detailed state
ments from its own officers on the ground.
Dispatches were received to-day from Gen.
eral Barry, at Che-Foo, and Consul Gen.
eral Goodnow, at Shanghai. repeating the
main fact of the capture and relief
Neither General Chaffee nor Admiral Re-
mey was heard from, however, and ii is
to them, particularly TO the American COM
mander at Peking. that the government
looks for advices, not only on what has
occurred, but on the local developments,
from which an intelligent determination can
be made of what still remains to be done.
The President, Secretary Root. Acting
Secretary of State Adee, Acting Secretary
of the Navy Hackett and other officials
were in conference during the afternoon.
1t was stated afterward that no additional
details had come concerning Peking, and
1t was understood that the conference had
to do particularly with the situation at
Shanghai. Word reached the Navy De-
partment during the afternoon that the
United States cruiser New Orleans had
reached Shanghai at which point British
warships and transports are already in
force, while the French, Russians and Ger
mans are hurrying their men to the same
destination. The American government so
far has kept out of this ENHANCEMENT and
In view of the reported landing of troops by
some of the powers, it was stated authori-
tatively that the landing of American
though the officials declined to give out
any specific information, it was understood
generally that the government was In
possession of the word that the landing
CT the British forces had occurred to-day
and it was probable that this would be
followed by the landing of German and
French forces. AS these several forces had
as the ostensible purpose of their landing
the maintenance of peace and order. 1t is
not assumed to be likely that any dis
order can arise from the course pursued
AS a result of the conferences held to-day,
it is believed that a dispatch was for
warded to the commander of the New
Orleans advising him of the course to be
pursued.
The general situation at Shanghai. caused
by the proposed landing of the British
troops, and the protests of Germany and
France. continues to be strained, although
the authorities are rather more hopeful of
satisfactory adjustment than heretofore.
The State Department does not treat the
| matter as at all grave and regards it
rather as a misunderstanding one side
holding that the British activity is confined
| to Shanghai. while the other insists that
| this activity Is designed to cover the whole
Yang-Tse region. One of the diplomatic Of
| ficials. who has been most active in the
| affairs, said that In any event there could
| be no serious rupture, for even If troops
| were landed, it would increase the security
| and order prevailing. 1t seems to be ac-
| cepted that il the British troops land Ger
man and French. and possibly Russian
| troops also, will land. About 1000 French
| troops have arrived at Hong-Kong destined
| for Shanghai and German ships are now on
| their way to the same point The German,
French and Russian charge d'affaires called
| separately at the State Department to-day
| The situation was discussed but no i'm
| portant changes developed.
| The general policy of the government
toward China heretofore has been made
known to both Chaffee and Minister Con-
Il
night that there no necessity of send
ing these officials additional instructions on
the subject. The fact is emphasized by
| administration officials that the policy of
the government is succintly stated III Sec
retary Hays note of July 8. and that Moth.
| ing can be added now to that document>ex-
| cept an elaboration Of the points therein
4 stated.
Il he cfo
! giving the details of the capture of Pek-
ing. was accepted by the War Department
officials as giving the most satisfactory
account thus far received. General Yama-
| guchi is in command of the Fifth Army
Corps. with the rank of major general, and
is regarded as one of the fighting generals
of the Japanese army. His report dis.
closes. for the first time, that the Amer
leans shared in the assault on the city
| and that they marched with the British
| troops to the south gate while the Japanese
ard Russians operated against the east
gate What was most noticeable in the
Japanese report was that the Japanese
killed are given at 100 and the Chinese
| killed at 4Go. This makes no account of the
| wounded. and indicates that when the de-
tailed casualty list is received ii will be
| a heavy one. as the wounded always far
| exceed the killed. Furthermore, the report
| states that the loss Of the allies has NOT
been ascerta,ned. This is the first init
nation that there were losses other than
those sustained by the Japanese The en-
tire tenor OF the report indicates that the
engagement was fierce fight lasting
throughout the day of Aug. Is. as the at
| tack began early in the morning and the
blowing up OF the gates did not occur until
nightfall.
Even with the Chinese capital occupied
by the allied forces IL is realized that there
is still serious business for the forces in
side the city. While they have preached
the outer walls which encircle the entire
city. yet there are walls within walls. and
IL remains 10 be seen whether an attenp,
will be made TO enter the imperial city,
forming distinct section OF Pekinf 2roper
The inner walls are comparative > light
however. not being above twenty feet high
and the military authorities say they can.
not withstand even light artillery IL there
was any disposition TO breach them. More.
over. the allied troops have preached
the great outer wall fifty feet high and far
more formidable than the inner walls they
would have comparatively little difficulty
In moving where the commanders desired
inside the city.
Aside from the question of the with.
drawai of troops from China there Is the