The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-06-20
IN CHINA.

SHANGHAI, June 16.-A state Of veil
ed war already prevails. The men,
bers of the foreign legations in Pekin
are virtually prisoners and the Chinese
troops are only restrained from attack
ing them by fear of the legation guards.
Meanwhile the ministers are alto
gether unable to communicate with the
officers commanding the relief column
which is making an enforced and iso-
lated halt between Tien Tsin and Pc
guarded by 100000 imperial troops.
The gates are heavily defended with
modern guns. Gen. Tung, acting I'M
der orders from the Empress Dowager,
says that no more foreign troops shall
enter the Sacred City.
Notwithstanding assurances to the
contrary, Russia sides with China. An
excellent understanding exists between
these two powers. Some foreign troops
are already reported to be in the en-
virons of Pekin, and the attitude of the
Chinese troops is increasingly menace
ing.
The streets of Pekin are reported to
be seething with anti-foreign mobs,
clamoring for the destruction of the le-
cations and the death of the foreign
ministers. Even were the Tsung-Li-
Ya-men disposed to restrain the vio-
lence of the reactionaries, it is consider
ed highly improbable that they will be
able to hold them in check. For the
foreign ministers the crisis will arise
when the relief column comes in sight
of Pekin.
1t is still felt that the foreign force is
wholly inadequate to battle with the
hordes of Chinese troops massed out
side the gates, which now include the
imperial troops from Shan-Hai-Kwan.
A disquieting element in the situa-
ton is the fact that, although the
Russo. Chinese telegraph line from
Pekin, via Kiakhta eastern Siberia)
is working again, the transmission Of
English messages is rigidly refused.
The French government has ordered
warship to be sent to Taku to rein
force the French naval force now there.
WASHINGTON, June 18.-A despatch
has been received at the navy depart
ment from Rear Admiral Kempff at
Taku confirming the report from
Shanghai that the forts at Taku open
ed fire upon the foreign warships and
afterward surrendered.
LONDON, June 1S.-Europe has not
known what has been transpiring in
Pekin for five days, or in Tien Tsin for
three days. The German foreign office
upon learning the report of the murder
of Baron Won Ketteler, the German
minister at Pekin, telegraphed to st.
Petersburg, because its wires TO
Mauchuria are in better position than
the other governments to obtain direct
news. The German foreign office was
informed that nothing whatever was
known on the subject as communica-
ton with Pekin was interrupted.
CHEZ Foo, Jul e. 19.-The forts at
Taku opened fire on the international
fleet in obedience to orders from Pekin,
convened in personal edict OF the EN-
press Dowager, by advice of Kang-Yi
president of the ministry OF war.)
Several warships were struck by shells
from the twelve inch guns OF the forts.
The heavy Russian losses were due 10
the blowing up of the magazine at
Mandshur. Four hundred Chinese are
reported to have been killed. The Chi
nese, when retreating fell into the
hands of the Russian land force.
The losses among the international
fleet is as follows: British l, German
3, French l, Russians 16.