Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-08-23

partment has received a cablegram
through Consul Fowler at ChefoO, |
from Consul RagsdaIe at Tientsin, say
ing the Chinese troops are surrounded |
by the allied army in the palace
grounds at Pekin.
Prominent Officials Beheaded.
Shanghai, Aug. 21.-Of1claI advices
from Pekin say Hau Tung and Vi Lien
Yuan, of the anti-foreign party, and
Ii Shan pro-foreigner, have been de-
capitated and that Yung Lu has been
imprisoned by Prince Ching. 1t isl
added the emperor and dowager EN-
press are sixty miles west of Pellin,
under constraint of Prince Tuan. Ii
Hung Chang goes north Immediately.
Hsu Tung was a member OF the Imper-
iaI Secretariate and president of the
ivil board. Ii Shan as member oil
the ministry Of the imperial household,
The identity Of Vi Lien Yuan cannot
be traced.
Situation in Pekin.
Washington, Aug. 21.-The war de-
partment has received the following
dispatch:
"Chefoo, Aug. IS, Pekin, Aug. Is,
We entered legation grounds at 5
o'clock last night with fourteenth reg
iment and light battery. Eight wound
ed during days fighting. Otherwise
ali we'll Chaffee"
The war department Office thinks
the date Pekin. Aug. Is, is an error in
transmission. They believe it should
be Aug. 16, and all previous reports
indicated that Pekin was captured
Aug. Is.
Gen. Chaffee's dispatch was received
with great qualification at the news
contained, particularly at the small
loss sustained by the American troops.
1t will be noted that the dispatch ill
Dictated that the American troops en-
tered the legation grounds at o'clock
on the evening of the 14th inst. Gen.
Chaffees communication is regarded
as an error of transmission. 1t is be-
lieved that the word Fifteenth" should
be sixteenth"
The fact that only the fourteenth in
fantry and Riley's battery entered the
city, as shown by Gen. Chaffee's dis
| patch, does not indicate that the ninth
infantry and the marines, who were so
conspicuOusly gallant throughout the
advance upon the capital, participated
in the engagement which resulted di-
rectly in the rescue Of the besieged le-
| gationers. 1t is pointed out as likely
that Gen. Chaffee, acting in cOnsO-
nance with the other commanders di-
vided his force, leaving the ninth in
| fantry and the marines without the
walls Of the city to act as a rear guard,
| to prevent the escape of Chinese troops
| by other gates than those through
which the allies entered, or for some
other excellent reason.
Only two battalions of the four
teenth regiment are with Gen. Chaffee.
They comprise about 500 men. This
would indicate that only about one
third of Gen. Chaffee's force actually
had entered the city at the time he
sent his dispatch. The fact that only
eight of being killed, is regarded as
notably fortunate.
Admiral Remeys dispatch which
contains much interesting information
in few words is as follows:
"Chefoo (no date, Bureau of Navi-
cation, Washington, Taku, 18.-Tele-
graph line to Pekin interrupted. In
formation Japanese sources, empress
dOwager detained by Prince Yung Edo,
inner city, which being bombarded by
allies. Chaffee reports entered lega-
ton grounds evening Aug. IA Eight
wounded during days fighting; other.
wise, all we'll. -Remey."
The startling feature OF the dispatch
is that fighting within the city of Pekin
was continuing, according to the ad-
vices OF Admiral Remey. The inner,
or as it is popularity known, the forbid
den city, evidently had not been taken.
1t is surrounded by a massive wall of
solid masonry, more than twenty feet
high, and it is not regarded as surpris-
ing that the Chinese should make their
final stand within its shadows. Prior
to the receipt Of the dispatch it was &C
cepted generally as a fact that the
dowager empress, in company with the
emperor and large suite, had left
Pekin. While nothing is said in Ad- |
miral Remeys advices as to the where |
abouts of the emperor, it is deemed |
scarcely probable that he left the city |
without the empress dowager. Some
doubt Of the accuracy of the informa-
ton received by Admiral Remey is ex-
pressed, particularly as the Chinese
minister, Mr.. WI, is very positive that
the emperor, empress dowager and the
entire Chinese court left Pekin before
the arrival at the gates Of the allies.
While no surprise was evinced at the
statement Of Admiral Remey that the
inner city was being bombarded, some
concern was evinced lest the final
stand Of the Chinese troops within
what they regard as the most sacred
precincts should prove very serious
affair. Pekin comprises possibly four
cities in one. In extent Of area it is
about the size of New York city. The
four segments of it are the Chinese
city, the Tartar city, the Imperial city
and the Forbidden city. The last is
the inner city mentioned in Admiral
Remey's dispatch and is the residence ,
Of the emperor and the seat Of the I'M
perial court Nobody is allowed with
in its massive walls, except by special
permission Of the emperor or empress
lowager. The foreigners who have en-
tered its gates are comparatively few
n number.