Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-08-14
Jour SITUATION is DESPERATE"

London. Aug. 14-3.50 A. NTH
British consul at Canton. says the Dai
~ Telegraph's correspondent here, has
received the following message dated
August 8. from Sir Claude Mcdonald,
British minister in Pekin:
our situation here is des-
perate. In 10 days our food
supply will be at an end. Unless
we are relieved a general massacre is
probable.
The Chinese offer to escort US
Tien Tsin. but remembering Cawnpore.
We refuse the offer. There are over
200 European women and children in
this legation"
The Shanghai correspondent of the
Daily Express. wiring yesterday. says:
The allies at noon, Saturday, We're
within 20 miles Of Pekin."
AS Gen. Chaffee's report. which Is
the only authentic news received here
regarding the advance. located the in
tarnatioDal forces about 40 miles from
Pekin. Friday. it seems probable that
this Shanghai report is optimistic. II
Is scarcely likely that the allies could
advance 20 miles in as many hours.
a Yang Tsun dispatch dated Aug. {.
giving details of the capture of that
place, says:
The Russians and French had the
left, the British the left center. the
Americans the right center and the
japanese the extreme right. The Brit
iSh and Americans advanced on tile
village at a rapid rate for 5000 yards
under severe shell and rifle fire. The
Russians opened and the British
American advance became a race for
positions, eliminating in brilliant
charge.
The heaviest. loss of the day was
sustained by the Americans. the 14th
Infantry having 3 killed. 81 wounded
and several missing. The Bengal Ian
GERS unsuccessfully attempted to cut
off the Chinese retreat"
Another Yang Tsun special SAYS:
owing to mistake. British and
Russian guns shelled the 18th l.. s. In
fantry during the night. wounding 10
Commenting upon this occurrence
the Standard says: 1T is melancholy
to learn that the losses of the Ameri-
cans. who seem to have borne them
selves with conspicuous gaIlantry. were
increased by deplorable error, in con-
sequence of which one of their regi-
ments was pounded by Russian and
British cannon. The incident empha-
sizes the necessity of that close CO.
operation which is not easily obtain
able without a single commander and
a general staff.
Official advices from Yokohama, dat
ed yesterday, say that the allies pro-
posed to advance, Aug I, to Nan Isl
Tsun, between Yang Tsun and WI
Sing. The japanese suffered no cas-
ualties at Yang Tsun, but the official
reports say they had 800 at Pei Tsang.
The Daily Mails st. Petersburg cor
declares that the taking Of
Aigun has sealed the fate of the rising
in northeastern Manchuria.
He adds: mo prisoners We're taken
by the Russians Wholesale massacre
was the order of the day and when the
battle was over, the Cossacks rode over
the field, killing all the wounded with
the butt ends OF their muskets.'
Once more the press of England re-
marks upon the ability Of the Ameri-
can government TO secure news ahead
of the rest of the world. 1T is to Gen
Chaffee,' says the Daily News, that
we are again indebted for news from
the front. Not a single dispatch from
Sir Alfred Gaslee has thus far been
issued by the war office.
Acting under his directors advice. Lord
Salisbury. the premier, Monday night.
started for Sehlucht. a health resort in
the Vosges. where he will stay month.
He will retain the conduct Of foreign al
fairs By means OF the telegraph and mes
sengers.
New York Has a Cold Wave.