Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-08-23
THE CHINESE SITUATION
The Taking of Pekin and the Relief
of the Legations is Fully
Confirmed.
ONLY THE DETAILS ARE NOW LACKING.
Only Eight Americans Wounded During
the Misunderstanding Continues at
Pekin-The Empress Dowager Said to
Be q Prisoner in the Inner or Forbid
den" City.

10 n PRISONER In tine inner OF "E OEB10~
den" City.
Washington, Aug. 19.-From Gen.
Chafee to-day the val department
received official confirmation of the
fall of Pekin, and the rescue of the
besieged legationers.
Breaks His Long Silence.
The dispatch of the American conn.,
mander was not long, and contained
but few details, but the unconcealed
satisfaction with which it was re-
ceiyed by officials of the administra-
ton indicated clearly the anxiety that
had been engendered by his prolonged
silence. His last communication to
the government, prior to the receipt
of yesterdays advices, was dated Au-
gust IL, at Matow, almost thirty
miles from Pekin. The explanation of
his silence is suggested in advices re-
ceived by the navy department to-day
from Admiral Remey, who, telegraph
ing from Taku on the 18th, says the
telegraph line between that point and
Pekin is interrupted.
Admiral Remey's Dispatch.
The ~cablegram from Admiral Remey
contains some important information
not mentioned by Gen. Chaffee. He
makes the startling statement, on
japanese authority, that the inner
city of Pekin was being bombarded
by the allied forces. Admiral Remey
says, also, that the dowager empress
is detained in the inner city by Prince
Yungedo-
Advices received last night from the
foreign Office at Toxic, Japan, by the
Japanese legation in this city, confirm
and amplify previous accounts of the
capture of Pekin by the allied troops.
Dispatch from Gen. ChaRee.
Following is the lex of the dis
patch from Gen. Chaffee, as made
public by the war department.:
Che Foo, Aug. 10, 1900.
"To Adjutant General, Washington:
Pekin, August 18th.
1--WE catered legations grounds at
five o'clock last night with Four
teenth and light battery. Eight
wounded during days fighting; other
wise all well.
[Signedl "CHAFFEE."
The President Gratihed.
The dispatch, which was received
during the morning, was transmitted
Immediately to the president at the
White House. He expressed his graft
ication at the news contained, par
ticularly at the small loss sustained
by the American troops.
A copy of the dispatch likewise was
sent to Adjt.-Gen. Corbin, who was in
New York.
An Error i'm Transmission.
It will be noted hat the dispatch
indicates that the American troops
entered the legation grounds at five
o'clock on the evening of the l4th
instant. By the Washington officials
and by several legation officials to
whom it was shown, the date of Gen.
Chaffee's communication is regarded
as an error of transmission. It is be-
lieved that the word fifteenth"
should be sixteenth" All previous
advices, official and unofficial, have iu-
Dictated that the legations were re-
lieved on the evening of the 18th,
Wednesday,, after a day of sharp
fighting. Minister WI, the Chinese
minister, and Minister Takahiro. Of
Japan, e quite positive on this
point, all their official advice being
that the entrance to the city of Pekin
was effected early in the evening of
Wednesday,, the 18th.
Divided His Forces.
The fact that only the Fourteenth
infantry and Riley's battery entered
the city, as shown by Gen. Chatfee's
dispatch, does not indicate hat the
Ninth infantry and the marines. who
YER so conspicuously gallant
throughout the advance upon the cap
ital, did not participate in the en-
gagement which resulted directly in
the rescue of the besieged legation
ers. 1t is pointed out as likely that
Gen. Chaffee, acting in consonance
with the other commanders, divided
his forces, leaving the Ninth infantry
and the marines without the walls of
the city to act as a real guard to pre-
vent the escape of Chinese troops Ivy
other gates than those through which
the allies entered, or for some other
excellent reason. Only two battalions
of the Fourteenth regiment are with
Gen. Chaffee. They comprise about
eight hundred men.
Small American Losses.
This would indicate that only about
one-third of Gen. Chaffee's fore actu-
ally entered the city at the time he
sent his dispatch. The fact that only
eight of the American force we're
wounded, none being killed, is regard
ed as notably fortunate.
Admiral Remey's dispatch, which
contains much interesting informa-
ton in few words, is:
Dispatch from Admiral Remey.
Che Foo, (no date).
"To Bureau Navigation, Washing
ton: Taku, Eighteenth. Telegraph
line to Pekin interrupted. Informa-
ton, japanese sources. Empress
dowager detained by Prince Yunedo
in inner city, which is being bonn
barded by allies. Chaffee reports Ell
| tered legation grounds evening 18th.
Eight wounded during days fighting;
otherwise all well.
(Signedl "REMEY"
Startling Feature of the Dispatch.
The startling feature of the dis
| patch is that fighting within the city
of Pekin was continuing, according
to the advices of Admiral Remey. The
inner, OF as it is popularity known, the
| Forbidden City, evidently had not
been taken. It is surrounded ny q
| massive wall OF solid masonry, more
than twenty feet high, and It is not
regarded as surprising that the Chi
nese should make their final stand
within its shadows.