The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-06-20
NO ESCAPE FROM WAR
RUSSIAN RELIEF FORCE ALREADY
ATTACKING PEKIN.
LEGATIONS DESPAIRED OF.
ALL FOREIGNERS IN PEKIN RE-
PORTED MAssACRED.

Legations Were Attacked by the
Chinese Troops-French and Ger
man Ministers Both Reported MUIR
dered-Relief Column Is Surround
ed by Hostile Forces and without
Food and Water-There Were 700
Chinese Killed in Attack on Forts.
Japan to Send Troops.
London, June 20, a. m.-"The Russian
relieving force arrived outside of Pekin
this morning" says the Shanghai corre-
spondent of the Daily Express land i'm
mediately began to attack the city on two
sides. employing numerous artillery.
THE force apparently arrived in the
nick of time, for the Chinese assert that
the attack upon the legations had been
successfully renewed. On the night of
June 16 the Chinese troops under Gems.
Tung Fuh Slang and Tung Ching attack
ed the legations and set on fire five Euro
pean buildings.
Nothing definite is known as to the
result, except that the Chinese were dis
appointed, although other reports, utter
ly discredited by foreigners here, are that
the Chinese, infuriated by the destruction
of Taku, have since ma ssacred all the
foreigners in Pekin."
A modified version of these rumors re-
ceIved at Berlin is that the French, as
well as the German minister, has been
killed.
Had Foreign Advice.
The English at Shanghai think the Chi
nese had foreign advice in organizing
the defenses at Taku. because of the pre-
cision with which their attack was de-
livered.
The wires connecting with the harbor
mines were cut by the boats of. the war
ships the night before the bombardment.
1t is now reported at Shanghai that it
was on board the Russian cruiser Korietz
and not the Mandschur, that the explo
sion occurred, killing and wounding more
than fifty. 1t is reported that no fewer
than 700 Chinese were killed in the forts
The Shanghai correspondent of the
Daily Express says he is officially in
formed that Japan is mobilizng 5000 men
for immediate transport. The whole fleet
of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha Japanese
merchant shipping company. has been
chartered.
The British cruiser Undaunted arrived
at Shanghai yesterday, cleared for action
and took up a position Commanding the
Chinese forts There are three Chinese
cruisers in the harbor.
The new Chinese cruiser Hal Yang, built
by the Armstrong;, has been taken into
custody at Taku by the British and Rus
SLAMS.
More Christians Massacred.
At Yum Nan Flu, where the rising has
been gathering for several days, $50 Chris
tans have been attacked at the French
mission settlement, many being put TO
death. The French consul and three mis-
sionaries are still in prison.
The. disorderly elements have secured
che upper hand at WI EIu and Szechuan,
where the native Christians have been
massacred.
A thousand Boxers have gathered on the
outskirts of Tien Tsin.
The Shanghai correspondent of the Daily
News. telegraphing yesterday, says:
THE Chinese officials here assert that
they have news from Pekin up to June
II. The situation was then very serious.
nothing, but they deny that dispatches
have been withheld.
Although I am not willing to adopt
the alarmist reports, my impression, gath
cred from the consuls and the Chinese au-
thorities, is that the worst is to be fear
ed in Pekin.
Admiral Seymour's column is now in
the middle of an arid plain, with no food
and no good water and surrounded by
hostile forces
American Troops to Go.
dispatch from Shanghai announces
that the United States transport Thomas
with troops for Manila, was diverted at
Nagasaki, and has arrived at Taku with
1900 men.
The Shanghai correspondent of the
Times, telegraphing yesterday. says:
The British flag is reported to have
been flying yesterday over the south gate
of Pekin. This is presumed to Indicate
the arrival of Admiral Seymour"
AMERICANS TOOK NO PART.