Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-07-26
BELIEF STRONGER
At London that All the Mir
listers Have Perished.
Chinese Reports Sent Merely to Gain
Time in Preparing for War.
Earl Ii Repeats Promises But Powers Demand
Proof Of Ministers Safety.

London, July 26.-4 A. M.-Mr. Con-
gers letter. the substance of which
has been transmitted to the United
States secretary of the navy through
Capt. Thomas of the United States
cruiser Brooklyn, has increased the
belief in London that there is no hope
for the foreign legations in Pekin and
that the elaborate fabric of dispatches
which the Chinese are building to per-
suade the civilized world that the min
listers are still alive is only intended to
enable them to gain time to complete
preparations for warfare.
The Shanghai correspondent of the
Daily Mail asserts that a Chinaman
who was employed at the British lega-
ton as a writer ana Interpreter. has
escaped from Pckin to Niu Chwang
and that he declares that at the time
he left Pekin most of the members of
the legations were dead and the con
ditions of the others was hopeless. He
says that Sir Robert Hart, director of
Chinese imperial maritime customs.
died. July ..
The correspondent goes on to say:
NO other dates are given in the mes
sage from Niu Chwang. The leading
Chinese newspapers here published
yesterday. dispatch declaring that il
was all over with the members Of the
legations. The president of minor
board at Pckin wrote to a relative in
Shanghai, under date of July 3 say
ing:
The foreign legations are stu I'M
,s.lr NJ, Itrr a
ing. it is reported that only about 800
persons are left alive in the legations
and, if there is any delay in the ar
rival of the relief force. | fear tina;
none VIII be left TO receive it,
This letter is regarded in Shanghai
as authentic. Strange enough it says
nothing of any assistance To the lega-
tions by Prince Ching or general Lung
Lu"
While these brief side lights as t
the late of the Europeans leave little
ground for hope. Shanghai sends a
batch of reports indicative of prepa-
rations for hostilities on the part OF
the Chinese. 1t is alleged that the
Yang Use viceroys have sent deputies
to Shanghai to inquire as to the pros
pect Of raising foreign loan. ostensi-
bly, 10 pursue military operations
against the Boxers, whose movement
is extending rapidly southwark with
constantly growing strength and has
reached a point where the provinces
Of Shan Tung, Ho Nan and Shan s.
meet, leaving behind il trail of burn
ed missions and murdered Christians.
simultaneously there is movement
r,fA Ia
to join the main army gathered to OPP
pose the foreign advance on Pekin The
strength of this principal force is now
estimated at 100000 men.
1t is believed that another two ,,
three weeks must elapse before the
Chinese preparations are completed. II
is reported that 5000 Chinese troops and
more guns are being sent to reinforce
the garrison of the kianE Nj Yin forts
commanding the entrance to the Yang
Use kiang, 30 miles east of Nankin.
Chang Chi Tung. viceroy Of WI
Chang, on the Yang Use Kiang. tele-
graphs that he is apprehensive that he
will not be able To restrain his troops
for more than another 10 days. He says
that he has thrown the breech blocks
OF the guns commanding Han kow into
the river.
These signs of unrest in the south
ern provinces are co-incident with Ii
Hung Changes presence in Shanghai
They are supposed to be the beginning
of general declaration against the
foreigners. In this connection the Can
ton correspondent Of the Daily Tele-
graph. wiring. Tuesday, sends the fol-
lowing news:
'Niceroy Tax Su, today. publishes the
following mandate:
AN important royal decree was is
sued on the 23d day of the sixth moon.
II says: We have lost Tien Tsin and
great precautions are taken in Pckin
No peace can be obtained without go
ing through a war. In the time of
Chang an agreement was made that no
murder can be inflicted upon ministers
from abroad. 1t is a month since the
minister of Germany was assassinated
by Boxers. and strict orders have been
given for the arrest Of the murderers.
We ae trying our utmost to preserve
the lives of the other ministers and
they are still in Pekin. We fear tina {
the viceroys and governors may unde--
stand the intention of the decree. rely
ing upon the safety Of these ministers
as a ground of making peace and tax
ing no heed whatever to prepare for at
tack and defence. The neglect to fortl-
fy the districts under their Jurisdiction
will bring endless calamity. Viceroys
and governors are to pay attention to
and to urge on preparations for coast
attack and defence and they are to take
the consequences in case of any terri
tory being lost entirely through their
carelessness.
Europeans here thoroughly understand
the last part of the edict. which means
that the viceroys and governors are com
manded by the Empress Dowaker to pre-
pare for a Chinese war against the allied
powers. Niceroy TAX Su is bitterly anti
foreign, and he is increasing his army
and armament Of military and marine.
He has lodged an objection through the
project of * wang-Chou To four small gun
boats two French. one American and one
British. that are here to safeguard the
lives Of foreigners: and he asks that they
be moved beyond the Bogue forts.
His plans will be unmasked shortly
after the allied powers ascertain defi-
nitely the facts concerning the massacre
at pekin. Chinese gunbuats infest the
channel At the back If the Snameen and
II Chinese gunboatS lie awaiting orders
below the imperial government wharf,