Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-12-15

similar action, until some 400 men were
assembled In the capital as legation
guards.
The president tells OF the Taku forts
firing on the foreign fleet. the capture
OF the forts. the siege of the legationers
and the plans for their relief. He says;
During the siege the defenders lost
sixty-ive killed. 1S5 wounded n seven
by disease-the last all children.
On July IL the besieyed had their first
communication with the tsung-li-
yamen, from whom a message came in
wiling to "a conference, which was de-
clined. Correspondence, however, en-
sued and a sort of armistice was agreed
upon, which stopped the bombardment
and lessened the rife fire for a time.
Even then no protection whatever was
afforded, nor any aid given, save TO
send TO the legations a small supply of
fruit and three sacks OF Hour.
Guilt of the Government.
] Indeed, the only communication had
with the Chinese government related TO
the occasional delivery or dispatch OF a
telegram or 10 the demands OF the
tsung II yamen for the withdrawal OF
the legation to the coast Under escort.
Not only are the protestations OF the
Chinese government hat II protected
and succored the legations positively
contradlcted, but irresistible proof ac-
cumulateS that the attacks upon them
were made by imperial troops, regular
~ uniformed, armed and oflcered. be-
longing to the or Jung Lu,
the imperial commandments. De-
crees encouraging the Boxers, oFgaDiZ-
Ing them under prominent imperial Of
Il ers, provisioning them. and even
granting them large sums in the name
OF the empress dOWagcr. are known IL
exist. Members Of the tsung II yamen
who counseled protection OF the for
eigners were beheadcd. Even i'm the
distant provinces men suspected OF for
clgn sympathy were put to death.
prominent among these being Chang
Yen Hoon, formerly Chinese minister
I'm Washington.
With the negotiations OF the partial
armistice of July II, q proceeding which
was doubtless promoted by the repre-
sentations OF the Chinese envoy in
Washington, the way was opened for
the conveyance to Mr.. Conger Of n test
message sent by the secretary of state
through the kind offices Of Minister WI
T~ing-Fang. Mr.. Congcr s reply, dis
patched from Picking on July IS
through the same channel, afforded to
the outside world the nrst tidings that
the inmates OF the legations were still
alive and hoping for succor.
Revivos Hope.
This news stimulated the prepare
tlOlAO " ~ JUN ItlAtl tADEllllDn III
numbers sufficient TO overcome the re-
sistance which for a month had been
organizing between Taku n the cap
ital. Reinforcement3 sent by all the
cooperating governments were con-
stantly arriving. The United States
contingent, hastily assembled from the
Philippines or dispatched from <rhls
country, amounted to some 5.0CJ' men,
under the able command flrsL Of the
lamented Colonel Liscum and after
wards OF General Chaffee.
Toward the end Of IDLY the move
ment began. A severo~conlict followed
at Tien Tsin, in which Colonel Liscum
was killed. The fly was storrned and
partly destroyC~G It's capture afforded
the base OF NDerations from which TO
make the fhal advance, which began
In the first days Of August, the eXpedi-
ton being made up OF Japanese, Rus
sian, British and American troops at
the outset.
Another battle was fought and won
at Yangstung. Thereafter the disheart-
ened Chinese troops offered little show
Of resistance. A few days later the inn
portant position OF He 81 Woo was
taken. A rapid march brought the
united forces to the populous city OF
Tung Chow, which capitulated without
q contest.
rsntry 80 rvSSuE.
on August II the capital was reached.
After q brief conflict beneath the walls
the relief column entered and the Legal
lions were saved. The United States
soldiers, sailors and marines, officers
and men alike, In those distant Climes
and unusual surroundings, showed the
same valor, discipline and good con-
duet and gave proof OF the same high
degree Of intelligence and efficiency
which have distinguished them in eV-
cry emergency.
The imperial family and the govern
ment had fed a few days before. The
city was without visible control. Tho
remaining imperial soldiery had made
on the night of the 18th a last attempt
to eXterminate the besieged, which was
CALAMITY repealed. 1t fell TO the occu-
plying forces 10 restore order and Or
ganize a provisional administration.
Happily the acute disturbances were
10 the northern provinces. 1t
ii n relief - recall and q pleasure 10
the loyal conduct OF the yiceroys
and local authorities OF the southern
and eastern provinces. Their efforts
were continuously directed to the
control OF the vast populations
under their rule and to the scrupulous
observance of foreign treaty rights.
Policy of United states.
The policy Of the United States
all this trying period was
clearly al bounced and ~sCrupulously
out. A circular note to the
powers dated July 8 proclaimed our
Treating the condition in the
north as one OF virtual anarchy. I'm !
which the great provinces OF the south
ind southeast had no share. we re-
the local authorities in the lat
.er quarters as representing the Chi
lese people with whom we sought TO r,
in peace and friendship. Our
ieclared aims involved no war against
he Chinese nation. We adhered TO the
egitimate office of rescuing the inn
)eriled legation, obtaining redress for
wrongs already suffered, securing :
possible the safety of Amer :
al life and property in China, and :
preventing a spread of the disorders or '
heir recurrence. ,
AS was then said, "the policy Of the I.
government OF the United states Is to :
eek a solution which may bring about .
permanent safety and peace to Chi :
la, preserve Chinese territorial and adj =
illustrative entity, protect all rights F,
guaranteed TO friendly powers by !
reaty and international law, and safe {
for the world the principle OF
quail and impartial trade with all -,
Of the Chinese empire" 4.
Faithful to those professions which, l.
3 1t proved, reflected the views and =
imposes of the other cooperating /
overnments. all our efforts have been =
toward ending the anomalous .
tuation in China by negotiations for |
settlement at the earliest possible {
AS soon as the sacred duty |
( relieving our legation and its de- {
endents was accomplished we with u
rev from active hostilties, leaving |
ur legation under an adequate guard I
I Picking as n channel of negotiation a
settlement-a course adopted by |
Tiers of the interested powers. Over I
lres OF the empowered representatives
the Chinese emperor have been con-
aptorfaipN1