The age-herald., 1900-08-02
AUTHENTIC NEWS
 COMES FROM PEKIN
Correspondent of London Times
 Tells of Bombardment.
CHINESE ARE TREACHEROUS
After Saying They Would Protect the Legations They Opened Fire Dur ing the Night in Hopes of
 Surprising Defenders

London. August g. - pr. George Ernest Morrison, the Pefin correspondent of the Times, has been heard from direct. The Times this morning prints the following dispatch from him, dated July 21:
 There has been a cessation of hostili- ties here (Pekin) since July IS, but for fear of treachery there has been no relaxation of vigilance. The Chinese soldiers continue to strengthen the barricades around the besieged area, and also the batteries on top of the Imperial City wall but In the meantime they have discontinued firing, probably because they are short of ammu- nition-
 The main bodies of the imperial sol diers have left Pekin in order to meet the relief forces. Supplies are beginning to come in, and the condition of the besieged is improving. The wounded are doing we'll. Our hospital arrangements are admirable. and l5o cases have passed through the hos pitaL
 ''The Tsung Li Yamen forwarded to Sir Claude Macdonald a copy of a dispatch telegraphed by the Emperor to Queen Vic- toria, attributing all deeds of violence to bandits, and requesting Her Majesty's as- sistance to extricate the Chinese govern ment from it's difficulties. The Queens re- ply Is not stated, but the Chinese minister at Washington telegraphs that the United States government would gladly assist the Chinese authorities
 This dispatch to the Queen was sent to the Tsung-H- Yamen by the grand council on July 3, yet the day before an imperial edict had been issued calling on the Box CTS to continue to render loyal and patri- otic services in exterminating the Chris n6i ale Ja1 roys and Governors to expel all missiona- ries from China and to arrest all Chris tfans and compel them to renounce their faith. Other decrees applauding the Box CTS speak approvingly of their burning out and staying converts. Their leaders are stated in a decree to the princes and min- iSters.
 Anoil c Decree Issued
 "On July IS another decree made a com plete volte face, due to the victories of the foreign troops at Tien Tsin In this de- cree, for the first time and one month af- ter the occurrence, an allusion was made to the death of Baron Von Ketteler, the German Minister. which was attributed to the action of local brigands, although there is no doubt that 1t was premeditated. and that the assassination was committed by an imperial officer, as the survivor, Herr Cordes, can testify.
 '"Fhe force besieging the legation consists UT tIo 1f1pcTldl. lIOOpS Lung Lu and General Tung Flu Slang, whose gal lantry is applauded in Imperial decrees, al- though 1t has consisted in bombarding for one month defenseless women and children cooped up in the 1egation's compound, using shell shrapnel, round shot and expanding bullets. The Chinese throughout with characteristic treachery, posted proclama- tlons assuring us of protection, and the same night they made a general attack in the hope of surprising us.
 '"There is still no news of Pei Tang ca- thedral. The wounded number 13S includ- ing American Surgeon Lippitt, severely wounded and Captain Myers, who is doing well. Seven Americans have been killed.
 "All the Ministers and members of the legations and their families are in good health. The general health of the com munity is excellent, and we are contentedly awaiting relief"
 After enumerating the casualties already reported and giving the total of deaths, in- cluding Americans ifty-six, MT. Nor rison proceeds as follows:
 "The Chinese undermined the French le- gation, which is now a ruin, but the French minister (H. Pichon) was not pres- ent, having fled for protection to the British legation on the first day of the siege.
 The greatest peril we suffered during the siege was from fire, the Chinese in their determination to destroy the British lega- tion burning the adjoining Han Lin Yuen (National College) one of the most sacred buildings in China, sacrificing the unique library"