The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-08-04
THE SITUATION IN CHINA.
China is Offering recruits extra pa

Onluh 10 Ou6IluB ioOtul1e oA'i" pay
There are continued reports Of perse-
cution Of Christians.
Eighteen persons of the Methodist
colony are believed TO be in Pekin.
It is reported that 80 missionaries
have been massacred Ia Shan-Si Prov
ince.
1t Is estimated that 20. 900 men with
40 oannons are taking part In the ad.
vance Of the allied troops from Tientsin
toward Pekin.
The allied troops have begun the
march from Tientsin 60 Pekin. and the
Japanese are reported TO have met re.
verse. losing 100 killed and wounded,
The Chinese fort at Hunghun was
bombarded by the Russian general
Ajgustoff The situation Of the Russians
at New Ohwang is said TO be critical
The Chinese undermined the French
Legation, which is now a ruin but
the French Minister. NJ Pichon, was
not present having fed for protection
to the British Legation.
II is stated that Japan, If needed,
could throw half Of her army Of 40 600
men into China. According to last ad.
vices Japan purposed sending %, 600
men as her quota of the international
force to China.
1t is said that If the Ministers in Pc
kin are saved 1t Will be chiefly due 10
Iii Hung Chang He has memorializsd
the throne 10 have the Ministers es-
corted Gus Of Pekin 20 a place Of safety
or that they be allowed 90 communicate
freely with their governments.
The following American troops en-
barked for China: Company K, Bat.
talon Of Engineers, under Capt. Zlnn
b .ttaliou OF the Fifteenth Infantry
composed of Companies J. X, Il and M
in command Of Msjor George A Cor.
nish. Squadron Of the Third Cavalry,
made up Of troops b, G., II and Loom
manded by Capt. Macdonald.
Secretary Hay has sent the Chinese
government the ultimatum Of the
United States and the tone Of the docu-
ment indicates that the government is
prepared 90 follow up its statement by
formal declaration Of war. The docu.
ment says in part This government
will not enter into any arrangement
regarding disposition or treatment Of
legartions without first having free
communication with Minister OODger.
Responsibility for their protection rests
upon the Chinese government. Power
TO believer at Tien Tsin presuppOses
power to protect and to optn com
munication.
A cablegram from Ohefu to the Chica-
90 news says: Baron Won Ketteler. the
German Minister, WAS murdered by
Chinese troops aud his secretary was
wounded. The foreign residents are be-
sieged in the British Legation and have
been under a daily fire from artillery
and rifles The cowardice Of the Chinese
fortunately prevented the legation
from being successfully rushed. Our
losses are 80 killed and 20 wound
ed The Chinese losses exceed 200.
We hope that. having defeated the Chi
nese, relief is nearing as We are oil
guard. fighting, building barbados
and digging trenches both night and
day. All the legations except the
British are utterly wrecked by shot and
she'll. The Austrian, Italian, Belgian
and Dutch buildings are burned TO the
ground The British Legation Is also
much shattered. The United States
marines hold a vital position on the
Pekin wall commanding the legations.
After a brilliant sortie OBTAIN Myers
succeeded in driving back the Kansuh
mounted troops Capt Myers was slight.
ly wounded. Secretary Squiers, Of the
Uuited States legation des9rres the
greatest credit for his services through
out the siege. His military experience
and energy are invaluable. Many flags
and rifles were captured by Captain
Myers We fear that treaoherY is pos.
sible when the defeated Chinese troops
enter the city Mean while we are
living in intense anxiety and hoping
for early relief.
An alliance between Russia aud the
United States for the settlement Of the
Chinese crisis is urged in long article
in the Novoe Vremya, which frequently
echoes the news Of the st. Petersburg
Foreign Office. This journal says that
just as the Franco. Russian alliance
neutrslized the warlike menace Of the
Triple Alliance, so would reapproach
ment between the northern empire and
the United States consolidate the peace
of Eastern Asia. The NOvOe Vremya
points out that the attitude taken by
the United States on the Chinese ques-
ton meets the fullest approval Of Rus
sian society Both nations, it coDtin-
ues. are sufferers by the competition Of
Chinese cheap labor, out they do not
seek retaliatory measures. Russia in
the Old World and the United States in
the New World are, by the force Of cir
cumstances, the fret to enter into the
historic struggle with the yellow race,
but. Just as in America, we look upon
this trouble net so much as a rivalry
between races ss q rivalry between civ.
ilization and the yellow danger. In
short, It affects Russians and Ameri
cans most. This naturally creates like
interests In the same question and i'm
pels them TO view events in Eastern
Asia from the same matter. Of fact, his.
toriosl and humanitarian standpoint. |
IL is highly important for us TO have
the co operation Of an ally who values
peace as much as we do and is sufficient
~ powerful in those regions. No Eu.
ropean power can be such an ally. The
only power that can be Is the United |
States
THE TUG OF WAR.
T. l., tLok (Ian Dokba kbo De,