The evening times., 1900-06-19
4 Gloomy Outlook in chinn.


1t cannot be said in connection with the
fate Of our Minister and other Americans
in Pekin, that no news is good news. We
know that anarchy reigned in that city
last Wednesday night. 2nd we have heard
that the legations were attacked in force
aftCrward. and that the assaiiants were
moved down with machine guns. Later.
il was reported that the legations had been
stormed and destroyed, and the German
Minister murdered. Considering the ad-
mitted conditions in Pekin last Thursday
morning. when the last telegraphic de-
spatch was received from that place. there
appears to be no well-defned ground for a
belief that any Of the foreigners there
have escaped massacre. At best the de-
Tenders Of the legations could not have
numbered more than four or five hundred
souls. and it is frightful to think that
there were helpless women and children
with them. If We assume the attack,
which has been Pe-sistenly reported from
Chinese sources. the conclusion is inevi-
table that IL must have end d in the
butchery Of all the Americans. Europeans.
and japanese in the diplomatic colony. The
legations were not defensible. They we're
all commanded from the city wall
There is the usual diplomatic hair-spIft-
ting as to whether or not the action Of
the Chinese general commanding the
Taku forts. in firing on the international
feet. establishes a state Of war with China.
It is said that If he had reyoIted and
Joined the Boxers. his act would not be
the act Of the Pekin Government, and,
therefore. could be atoned for without re-
sort to war. All this is true enough as
an academic proposition. But it is known
that the Empress Dowager ten days or
two weeks ago summoned troops from all
possible quarters to prevent an invasion
of the imperial city by the foreign
devils" and il is firmly believed that she
ordered the attack upon the legations. by
way Of response to the ultimatum sent
her on Wednesday by the corps diplo-
matique. in which she was notified that
unless she allowed foreign troops to enter
Pekin for the protection of the legations
troops would be sent to force an entrance.
There is not the least room for doubt that
officially as well as practically China has
plunged into a state Of war with civiIiza-
ton, and our policy as well as the policies
Of other states Will have to be constructed
in view of that condition
We are glad to learn that the President
has developed the nerve to send three regf-
ments instead of one to Taku. 1t is to be
regretted that he could not spare a divi-
sion instead Of a small brigade; but we
cd To h
in view of the fact that the Philippine sit
uation is known to be totally different TO
what the declarations Of the Administra-
tion and the verbal inaccuracies Of Otis
would make it appear. More American
troops are certain to be needed before long;
it may be even an army. Mr.. Mckinley
We trust, hes this contingency in mind
and is planning his course accordingly. He
should pay close attention to the fact that
China is long WY OF, and that it would
take time to get Congress together. and to
organize new Pacific expedition. What
ever the future may compel this country
to do will have 10 be done quickly when
the emergency crises. The hour for ac-
tion on broad lines might strike with off,
cial news of the massacre Of our people in
Pekin
Some doubt seems to cloud the report
that Vice Admiral Seymour has returned
to Tientsin, as it is possible that the Brit
ish Admiral referred to in the despatch
was Rear Admiral Bruce. Seymour's sec
ond il command. We do not give much
value to the doubt. It is highly probable
that the relief column found it impossible
to get beyond Lang Fang, and retreated
in order to escape being cut of in the rear.
1t may not take many days to organize a
new movement from Tientsin. but that |
will depend upon the ability of the Rus |
SLAMS and japanese to land troops at Taku. |
Under the conditions as they ale reported
it is not likely that an international force |
Of less than fifteen or twenty thousand |
and well supplied with artillery and trans
port, would stand much chance OF getting
to Pekin. Even such a column would /
need ample support from the rea-. to re-
pair and hold the railway as it advanced.