The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-08-22

ing the Chinese outside of Tien Tsin,
August 19, SO Real Admiral Bruce
wires to the British admiralty from
Taku under date Of August 20, adding
that the engagement was reported to
have occurred six miles south of Tien
Tsin.
Admiral Bruce also sent a dispatch
dated Pekin, August II, from the gen
eral officer commanding there, in which
nothing is said as to the situation at
PeAin.
1t gives a partial list of the British
casualties during the siege of the lega-
tions, the death of Capt. Bernard
Strouts. and regrets that owing to the
heavy roads and forced march, the ma
val brigade was unable to participate
in the entry, adding that the way
they brought their guns by boat and
road from Tien Tsin is an achievement
of which they may be proud"
An official dispatch from Tien Tsin
dated August 90 and received at Toxic
reports that the Japanese occupied the
imperial palace at Pekin August 16, and
says that about August II the dowager
empress and the emperor and ministers
left Pekin with three thousand troops.
their destination, it is supposed, being
Sian Flu. Pekin, being in great confu-
sion was divided into several districts.
Half the Tartar City was placed un-
der the control of the Japanese and COM
mittees of japanese, American, British,
Russian and French officers were ap-
pointed to maintain order A detachment
missionaries and Chinese Christian con-
verts who had been imprisoned in the
palace. Two hundred Japanese were kill
ed or wounded.
LONDON IN DOUBTFUL MOOD.
New York, Aug PA dispatch to the
Tribune from London says:
There is again a revival Of something
like pessimism in official and political
circles here, or in the scanty remnants
of them left in London by the ravages
- LII 1o-- -
hilaration caused by the first news of
the entry of the allies into Pekin there
has come a rebound. The cessation of
direct communication with the allied
commanders at the front is not at all
liked, nor does Admiral Bruce's tele-
gram stating that the forbidden city
was entered on the 18th do much to con-
sole the doubters- In the first place it
is pointed out that the admiral does
not profess to have heard his news Off
cially from General Gaselee, but only
gives it on the authority of reports cur
rent at Taku, and we know by this
time what reports in Chinese towns are
worth. Secondly, even if the authentic
news if four days old-and much. may
have happened since then-the silence
of the generals lends color to a Shang-
hal statement that the wires to Tien
Tsin are cut and may help to explain
the hurried march of the German and
Italian reinforcements to Pekin.
Assuming that even the sacred city
and the palace are captured, the diff
culties of the allies are by no means at
an end. Their force Is of course more
than sufficient to repel any attack
which might be made on them, whether
by boxers or by imperial troops, but
when it is remembered that they have
to police the great struggling city of
Pekin, with its million inhabitants and
to keep open the line of communication
to the coast, their strength is by no
means excessive even if it is sufficient
for the work in hands
Besides, the allied generals like Lord
Roberts in South Africa, may have ad-
the country behind them. The speed
of their march was rendered necessary
by the position of the legations, for if
the relief column had taken three or
four days longer on the journey it
might have come too late, Still, if the
Chinese troops defeated at Pie Tsang
and Yank Tsun should form up again be-
tween the capital and Tien Tsin the
allies will either have to march back to
performed by reinforcements from the
coast and meanwhile may find them
selves virtually besieged in Pe1xin.
The pessimists, too. are additionally
depressed by Minister COnger'S testi-
mony as to the conduct of the Chinese
government, and his opinion that the
whole movement was got up by the i'm
periaI authorities and that the boxers
were a mere pretense. On the other
hand it is admitted that if the empress
and the Manchu princes, and particu-
larly Tuan, have been captured, the
outlook is much more hopeful, since it
will be possible to find responsible Chi
Continued on Sixth Page.)