The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-07-10
MESSAGES FROM PEKIN BYCOURIER
Late Arrivals from the Chinese Capital APP
hai that severe Fighting Between the
Forces Under Prince Tuan and Prince
Between Allies and Natives at Tientsin.


II has been for month past
1t appears from the cautious statement
given out by Taotai Sheng in Shanghai
/ that the reason the heavy guns bearing
on the legations at Pekln were not used
is that Prince Ching. who is served by
10000 troops, seized all the artillery am
munition. Sheng likewise intimates that
fung Lu. commander-in-chief Of the
northern army. is associated with Prince
Ching in opposing Prince Tuans ferocious
designs and dictatorial ambition. Sheng,
who appears to be the sole Shanghai con-
duit OF Pekin news, cheers the foreign
consuls by these confidential communica-
tons, but takes excessive prscaution "a
prevent the Chinese from thinking him
friendly 10 the foreigners.
Ihe Times this morning says: Some
Chinese officials are evidently desirous Ia
have it believed in Europe that the Iega-
tons In Pekin are still under the protec-
ton Of one section Of the Chinese armv.
But that only makes IL more remarka bic
that they should not employ the only con-
Vlncing argument by allowing direct con-
municatiOn between the ministers and the
outer world. We do not wish to insist too
strongly upon this aspect but these cir
cumstantial rumOrs lack the confirmation
so easily supplied If they are true"
Importance Of Capture Of Pekin.
The feeling of unrest in the southern
and central provinces continues Tae
members of the official class in those
provinces strive to remain neutral, with a
leaning toward the foreigners. until they
shall see whether the moderate or ex-
trene factions will win in Pekn. Prince
Ching seems to be standing for the dy-
nasty and the old order against Primo
Tuan's inoTdinate ambition
From foreign view point. the capture
Of Pekin is the key to the situation. as
there Is a fear, according to the Daily
Mails Shanghai correspondent, that delay
now means 100 recruits for the Boxers
for every soldier OF the allies IN the land.
Two coUriers arrived at Tientsin on
July l from Pekin. One brought a letter
from Sir Claude Macdonald, the British
minister, to the same effect as that pre-
viously received from Sir Robert Hart.
The cOuriers confirm :he report Of the
death of Baron Won Ketteier They say
that Prince Ching is doing his utmost to
protect the foreigners, but that the ma
tive feeling against the whites is strong.
Two high officials opposed to the Boxers
are reported by the couriers to have been
assassinated. Sir CIauda MacDonald's
letter is dated four days earlier than that
of Sir Robert Hart's
Empress DOwaGer as Peacemaler.
dispatch to news agency here, dated
Tientsin. July ,. says:
The Empress DOWager. so far from be-
inE dead, is actively striving to prevent
the factions fighting. Prince Ching mas
informed her that he would rather lose
his head than be constantly obliged 10
warn her Of the consequences of the pro-
longation If the present anarchy. Prince
Tuan Is quite willing that Ching shoulI
be decapttated, but the Dowager Empress
VIII not allow this. Prince TUsH has de-
cided that he will take fun responsible
ity. He purposes to retake Tientsjn and
Taku. Outside Of Pekin, except in the
Pc-Chi-L and Chanting country. fb-.
people are supremely Indifferent"
However all this may be. the allies at
Tientsin are having an exceedingly un-
pleasant time. The last engag cement of
which news has come through. occurred
on July 8. The Chinese artillery o9ened
at dawn. Their fire was more accurate
and their ammunition better the shells
exploding with precision and setting fire
TO several buildings. II. NJ S. Terrible's
guns again quieted the Chinese. who
shifting their artillery. again reopened
the attack in the afternoon. but. A thun-
derstorm breaking, the Chinese suddenly
quit. the allies Immediately attacked
and drove the Chinese from their works
but lost thirty killed or wounded in 50
doing. The nOn-cOmbatants are leaving
10 int ,F
fayOrs the military leaving also
Stories Of colossal Chinese armies
gathering continue to worry not only me
rank and file but the commanders. who
admit the uncertainty Of recOnnalssances
and the complete absence Of any effective
intelligence department. Chinese fnfor-
nation is received with extreme dstrust.
Waiting for Re-enforeements.
att is obvious that. though there are
many thousands Of Chinese camped by
the guns. nothing can be done at present
except 70 await the arrival Of re-enforce-
ments The rainy season has set in, and
this makes going into the interior most
difficult. The country between Pekin and
Tientsin in other years mas been FREQUENT
" flooded River transport is almost i'm
possible. and the railway Is practically
nOn-eXistent, and must be entirely rebuilt.
Military opinion is unanimous that n
the legations did not need relief il would
be foolish to attempt TO advance before
September
The Daily Mails Shanghai correspond
ert, under date Of July g. says: ct Is Ger
tain that f the powers make any more
ment elsewhere north Of Tsku they must
be prepared 10 meet opposition A Chinese
official in high favor with Viceroy La
Kun VI in the course OF an interview saws
the southern viceroys are only bound 20
neutrality as long as they are not inter
fered with They nave more war mate
rial than they can use, and the military
forces all over the provinces are fncreas-
ing. The Yangtse Kiang is mined wl.h
torpedoes. The garrison at Shanghai ar
senal has Just been REINFORCED BY tHo
neWly-Tecruited regiments"
Baron Hayashi being asked nv -l,-
reSentsr!ve OF the Daily Chronicle do
you understand that Japan has now bzsu
allowed a free hand 70 settle tba trog-
blet replied: i 90 not understand %.
but ] know that Japan ls quite willing 10
90 all IN her power 70 bring the rising 70
an end along with the other powers Ia
pzn y ready 10 put ZOO men into the
field"
II any government existed in Pekln the
settlement Of the trouble would ror r-s-
sent serious difficulties. but II anaF<by
prevailed the situation would b. s@rfol,s I
indeed.
Arms sold TO the chIuese.
George Wyndham. parliamentary sse-a-
tary of state Tor war. said In the Houss q,
Commons yesterday that since is5 Ene-
.lsh firms had sold the Chinese govern
nent Il guns Of position. 20 field guns
and ~ machine guns with arnnunjfgor
for each class Re also said that A C;e--
man firm in lsss sold China 1900 NaIse-
rifles
Rear Admiral Lord Charles Beresford
speaking al Malta. al the Naval ana NH
taTy Society on Monday evening. said the
trouble in China would be faT-reaehins ana