The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-07-05
BIG FORCE IS IDLE.
Is Making No Advance for Relief
Of Peking.

mons by William st. John Brodrick,
under secretary of state of foreign af-
fairs, was received with exclamations
of astonishment and dismay. Sir Elles
Ashmed Bartlett inquired If any in
formation had been received from the
legations at Peking or as to the com
position and command of the relieving
force and its present position. Mr..
Brodrick read the dispatches received,
and said the total allied force available
is now about $4,000, as troops have
been rapidly arriving, adding:
1--WE do not know what arrangements
have been made locally regarding the
command of an expedition, but 1t has not
yet been thought possible to attempt
| further advance. The consuls have been
\ In communication with the viceroys in
the Yangtse region, and they are quite
well aware that support will be given
them by her majestys government in
| preserving order. 1t is obviously impos-
sible that the representatives of the pow
ers at Peldng should be consulted, as no
| communications are passing with them"
Haste Is Urged.
"The situation is desperate. Hasten"
These words from the message of Won
Bergen, member of the German lega-
ton at Peking, countersigned by Sir
Robert Hart, inspector general of GUS
toms, and dated nine days ago, are the
theme of all private comment. They are
preparing for news of frightful trag-
edy. Nine days ago the ammunition of
the little garrison defending the for
eigners was running low, and their
food was nearly exhausted, while
around them was a horde of KanISu
braves, having at their service Krupp
guns and repeating rifles. Peking was
in the hands of the revolutionaries.
Breaking Away.
While nothing but sinister news
comes &rom northern China, southern
China is seemingly breaking away
from the empire. All the provinces
south of the Yellow river, whose vice
roys and governors maintain friendly
relations with the powers through the
consuls, have been informally consti-
tuted into confederacy, with Nankin
as the capital. According to an Ex-
press cable from Shanghai, dated July
2, the southern viceroys wholly disavow
Prince Tuan's government. They have
practically constituted an independent
state, extending from the Hoang-Ho to
British and French frontiers. Little
else to illuminate the profound obscur'
ity of the situation reaches cable
points.
Surprised at Delay.
Washington, July 3.--Some surprise
is expressed here in weil-informed cir,
cles over the apparently inexplicable
DELAY of the combined forces to move
forward. 1t is felt that if move is ia
be made toward the capital it should
De done promptly. The note of alarm
mas been sounded, said well-knowI
diplomat, and something should bt
done Immediately. The force at hanG
at Tientsin Is quite large, and, while
a large number of Chinese imperia
troops are located in and about the city
it is said that most of them are loya
to the government. Although Picking
is surrounded by the great wall, yet il
is said the city could be approached
without difficulty. An official wei
versed in Chinese affairs said that some
hurried action should be resorted to in
an effort to dispose of the uncertainty
which now exists regarding the fate O.
the foreigners in Peking.
In Desperate Straits.
Washington, July 3.-The navy de
partment has received the following
cablegram from Admiral Kempff
without date:
"Chefoo, Secretary of Navy, Washing
ton: Runner from Peking reports lega
, tons are besieged; provisions nearly ex
hausted; situation desperate. German
minister going to tsung-li-yamen mur
dered by Chinese soldiers. American
italian, Duty ~ legations burned. Twen
ty thousand Chinese soldiers inside
, $1,000 outside Peking; 5000 reported
, bound Tientsin; still fighting at Tientsin
Communication Tientsin by rail ant
river insecure.
, (Signed) 'KEMPFF."
t The word Duty in Admiral Kempff'
. dispatch is taken to mean Dutch" IL
reference to that legation.
t Not In Dangerous Position.
= "Chefoo, July 1.-Secretary of Navy
, Washington: Oregon has run aground; Il
Is not in a dangerous position; about 81
degrees north latitude 20 degrees a
minutes east longitude. Have sent to hel
assistance three naval vessels. 1t 4
Y lpartment. The commander of the Ore
gon did not request assistance, a Jap
, anese man-of-war having boarded yes
sci. .----.
q (signed) "KEMPFF."
A Feeling of DIsquiet.
Washington, July Bad news cam
Monday morning from Admiral Kempff
confirming the worst stories which
have emanated from China relative t
the conditions at Peking, and feelin!
, of disquiet was noticeable among ad
ministration officials and diplomats
The German embassy showed particu
lar anxiety for information respectin!
: the sad end of Baron Won Ketteler, ant
in the course of the afternoon Secre
tary Hermann, of the embassy, paid
special visit to the state department t
inquire. NJ. Thiebaut, the charge o
:, the French embassy, also called i
quest of ofinformation, 1t was said. Thes
visits revived rumors that an effort
L afoot to reach an international agree
ment respecting the conduct of tn
4 forces of the powers in China.
welcome Japan'H Oner.
1t was said in the afternoon at tn
state department that the only new
was that there seemed to be unan
nous agreement on the part Of tn
3 powers to welcome with the utmo.
! cordiality Japan's offer to furnish n
endorsements to the forces now opera
ing along the Pei-Ho river in the effol
10 reach Peking, as Japan, alone of th
y powers, is prepared to throw into Chin