The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-27
Foreign Ministers Reported En-
Route to Tien TSin
Under an Escort of Jung LUIS
Soldiers.
LIHUNG CHANGES WORK
Action Taken to Prevent an Ad.
vance ON Pekin.
Only Half of the Foreigners
Now Said to Be Dead.

LONDON. July Zl.-l1.3O a. m--1nlS
mornings reports from Shanghai re-
iterate the allegation that the surviving
members of the diplomatic corps have
already left Pekin on their way to Tien
Tsin and add that the foreigners are
being escorted by troops of Jung Lu.
commander-in-chie OF the Chinese
forces.
This move is stated to be the outcome
of very stormy interviews between Ii
Hung Chang and the foreign consuls
and to have been taken in the hope of
abating the wrath of the powers and
delaying the advance of the allies
toward Pekin.
Advices received from the same
sources state that half the foreigners
in Pekin have been killed or wounded
or have died as the result of the priva-
tions they had undergone. Simultan-
eOusIy comes a. cable dispatch to the
Daily Mail from Shanghai announcing
that a letter had been received from Sir
Claude Macdonald the British minister
to China. under date of Pekin. July 6,
saying the legations were under con-
stant fire and that three were still stand
ing, but that the foreigners were receiv-
ing no assistance from the authorities.
Sir Claude wrote, it was hoped the
legationers would be able to hold out
for fortnight, but if they We're press
ed their resistance could not last more
The text of the Shanghai dispatch to
the Daily Mail follows:
Shanghai. July PA letter just re-
ceiyed here from Sir Claude Macdonald,
dated Pelxin, July 6, follows:
"' We are receiving no assistance from
the authorities. Three legations are
still standing, including the British. We
also hold part of the city walls. The
Chinese are shelling US from the city
with a three-inch gun and some smaller
ones and are sniping US. We may be
hi Cd doU mi nit
and food are short.
I'VE would have perished by this
time only the Chinese are towards anu
have no organized plan or attack IL
we are not pressed we may hold out a
fortnight longer; otherwise four days
at the utmost.
Z" I anticipate only slight resistance
to the relief force
''Sir Claude concludes by advising the
relief force to approach by the eastern
gate or by way of the river
THE losses of the foreigners in Pekin
up to July were forty killed and
eighty wounded
Some of the statements above are
strikingly similar to the published
version of Sir Claude MacDonald's let
ter of July 4. If not the same letters,
the Chinese artillery would appear to be
strangely ineffective, as the casualties
were the same according to the letters
of both dates. AS lending color to the
suggestion that the communications are
identical, it may be stated that the
ceived a dispatch from Shanghai under
today's date, mentioning the receipt of
a letter from Sir Claude Macdonald,
dated July f. in which it was stated
that the besieged foreigners in Pekin
were reduced to horse flesh. The Belgian
consul at Shanghai also reports that a
servant of the German minister who left
Pekin July 9. states that the British
legation was only attacked at night and
if resupplied he believed could hold out.
PROBABLY STARVED TO DEATH.
New York, July pa dispatch to the
| Herald from Canton. July "a, says:
Special couriers who have just arrived
at the Yamen of Viceroy TAX Su bring
reports which, if true, confirm the pre-
viouS messages asserting that the for
eign ministers are safe in Pekin. The
viceroy will tomorrow issue a prOclama-
tion to the foreign residents and conSuls,
WOrded as follows:
Il have the honor to inform you that
I have just received a message dated the
22nd instant a Pekin. saying that of
General Yung LUIS imperial soldiers ar
rested runner with a message from the
British legation and that Young Lu i'm
mediately informed the throne of the
fact and ordered the runner back to the
legation to inquire after the health of
the ministers.
THE British minister replied that all
were well and hoped for peace as early
as possible On the following day a dep
uty from the Tsung Ii Yamen was sent
to visit the legations. He met all the
hurt It is believed the danger is now
over in Pekin and all the ministers and
foreigners are safe.
'I was glad when I read this message
and hasten to inform you to keep you
satisfied. TAX SUI
1t is imminently proper to say that all
parts of the proclamation must be ta-
ken cum grano sails. for it is the height of
folly to trust Chinese officials They re-
gard successful duplicity as the highest
attribute a viceroy can possess Many
Chinese frankly declare that the tele-
grams about the safety of the foreign
ministers in Pekin received by the two
viceroyS, Lii Hung and TAX Su from
Yuan Shi Kai and Sheng are misleading
Some persons in the viceregal yamen az
died of hunger.
Rumors, indeed, are as numerous as
they are conflicting. Large sums of
money have been almost fruitlessly ex-
pended in trying to confirm previous dis
patches concerning the foreigners safe
ty.
A NEW ELEMENT OF TROUBLE.
Hong Kong. July 27.-The signs of
menacing activity on the part of the
secret society known as the s"Triads''
are causing alarm. The boxers are be-
lieVed to be offShOot of the s.Trf-
ads" whose ramifications are wide
spread throughout the southern prov
inces of China The organization is dis
tirctly anti-foreign and anti Manehu
and numbers of Canton troops are en-
rolled in its ranks.
A report is current in Canton that
the Triads are preparing for a night at
tack on the Shameen, and that the first
sign will be the abSconding OF native
servants. The greatest apprehension
prevails, although at present Canton is
quiet.
Many Triads have been arrested in