The Washington weekly post., 1900-08-21

From Gen. Chalee yesterday the War
Department received official confirmation
brSieged Iegatloners.
The dispatch Of the American command
- was not long. and contained few de-
tails, but the uncOncealed satisfaction
with which Il was received by officials OF
the administration indicated clearly the
anxiety that had been engendered by his
prolonged silence. His last communIca-
ton 10 the government, prior 10 the re
ceipt Of yesterdays advices, was dated
August II. - MatOw, about thirty miles
from PeAn. The explanation of his ST.
lence is suggested in adyices received by
the Navy Department yesterday from Ad-
m!ral Remey, who. telegraphing from
raku on the 18Th, says the telegraph line
between that point and Pekin is inter
.upted.
The cablegram from Admiral Remey
contains some important information not
mentioned by Gen. Chaffee He makes
the startling statement, on japanese au-
thorlty, that the inner city Of Pekin was
being bombarded by The allied forces. Ad-
miral Renty says, also, that the Dowager
Empress is detained in the inner city by
Prince Yungedo.
AdVices received from the foreign office
al Tokyo, Japan, by the japanese Leca-
tion in this city, confirm and amplify pre-
vloCs accounts of the capture Of Pekin by
the allied troops.
Gen. Chafee's Dispatch
Following is the text of the dispatch
from Gen. ChafIee, as made public by the
War Department:
Chefoo, Aug. l9, 1900.
Adjutsnt General, Washington:
Pekin, Aug. l5.-We entered lega-
uons' grounds ct o'clock last night
with Fourteenth and light battery.
Eight wounded during days fighting;
otherwise all well CHAFFEE.
The dispatch, which was received dur
ing the morning, was transmitted imme-
diately TO the President at the White
House. He expressed his qualification al
the news it contained particularly at the
smalf loss sustained by the American
troops. copy of the dispatch likewise
was sent to Adjt Gen. Corbin, who is in
New York.
II VIII be noted that the dispatch indi-
Gates hat the American troops entered the
legation grounds at o'clock on the even
ing Of the 18th instant. BY the Washing.
ton officials and by the several legation
officials 10 whom ii was shown the date
OF Gen. Chafee's communication is re-
Earded as an error OF transmission. II is
believed that the word fifteen should be
sixteen" All previous advices, official
and unofficial. have indicated that the le-
cations were relieved on the evening of
the 18th. Wednesday, after day Of sharp
nghtins. Minister Wa. the Chinese repre-
sentative. and Minister Takahira, OF ia
pan, were quite positive on this point, all
their official advices being that entrance
10 the city Of Pekin was effected early in
The evening of Wednesday, the 18th in
slant.
American Attacking Force.
The fact that only the Fourteenth In
fantry and Rileys Battery entered the
city, as shown by Gen. Chaffee's dispatch.
does not indicate that the Ninth Infantry
and the marines, who were so cOnspicu-
ously gallant throughout the advance
upon the capital. did lot participate i'm
the engagement which resulted directly
iu The rescue or the besieged legationers
II IS pointed out as likely that Gen Chat
lee, acting In consonance with the other
commanders, divided his force, leaving The
Ninth Infantry and the marines without
The walls OF the city, TO act a. a rear
guarI 10 prevent the escape of Chinese
troops by O,her gates than those thr0ugh
which the allies entered, OF for some 9th
~ ->.~li-ut rrdSou.
Only -rWO DatJaiOns OF the Fourteenth
Regiment are with Gen. ChafIee They
comprise about so men. This would in
dictate that only about one-third OF Gen.
Chatiees force actually had entered t4r
city Z the time he sent his dispatch. Tho
tact that only eight OF the American
force We're wounded, none being killed. Is
regarded as notably fortunate.
From Admiral Remey.
Admiral Remey's dispatch which con-
iaiHs much INTERESTING information in Few
words. 10 Is follows:
Chefoo GO dateJ.
Bureau OF Navigation. Washington:
T4ku 18Th. Telegraph line 10 PykiU
interrupted. Information. Japanese
sources, Empress D0Wager detained
by Prince iunsedo inner city, which
being B0mbaried bv allies Chaffee
reports entered legation grounds even
iag IfJk. Eight wounded during days
iSh,iug; otherwise all we'll
REMEY.
TH- startling feature of the dispatch f.
that fighting Within the city Of Pckln Mas
continuing according 10 tbs advires OF
Admiral EcMcy. The inner, or, 80 % is
pOpuarlg known, the Forbidden City, ,yi-
deEuy had not been usksn, u l. sur
9ysuteG by a massive wall Of solid ma
souTy more tLaD twenty feet high, and
III j. not regarded IS surprising that the
Chinese should make their hnal stand
within ita shadows. Prior 10 the receipt
II the dispatch Il was accepted generally
fact that The DOwager Empress. IN
company with the Emperor and large
rlite had lfft Peku. While nothing II
salc ln Admiral Remsy's adyices Is 90 lhe
Whereabouts VI the Emperor. il il deemed