Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1900-12-06

the Chinese coast. A small force or ma
rines was landed at Taku and sent to
Pekin for the protection of the American
legation Other powers took similar &C
ton, until some 400 men were assembled
in the capital as legation guards. Still
the peril increased and an attempt of the
foreign ships to make a landing at Taku
was met by fire from the Chinese forts.
The forts were thereupon shelled by the
foreign vessels, the American admiral
taking no part in the attack, on the
ground that we were not at war with
China. Two days later the Taku forts
were captured after a sanguinary conflict.
Severance Of communication with Pekin
followed, and the isolation of the legation
was complete.
Heroisn of the Legations.
By June 10 the legations were cut off.
An Identical note from the yamen ordered
each minister to leave Pekin, under a
promised escort, within twenty four
hours To gain time they replied, asking
prolongaton of the time, which was af-
forwards granted, and requesting an in
terview with the tsung-li-yamen on the
following day. No reply being received,
on the morning of the Goth the German
minister, Baron Won Ketteler, set out for
the yamen to obtain response, and on
the way was murdered.
"A
recover his body was foiled by the Chi
nese Armed forces turned out against
the legations. Their quarters were sur
rounded and attacked. The mission COM
pounds were abandoned, their inmates
taking refuge in the British legation,
where all the other legations and guards
gathered for more effective defense. -Four
| hundred persons were crowded into its
narrow compass. Two thousand native
1oIf ny l.
/; ace under protection Of the foreigners.
Lines of defense were strengthened,
| trenches dug, barbados raised and prep
arations made to stand a siege, which at
| once began.
From June 20 until July IT," writes
Minister Conger, ''there was scarcely an
hour during which there was not firing
upon some part of our lines and into some
| of the legations, varying from single
along the whole line" Artillery was
placed around the legations and on the
overlooking palace walls, and thousands
of 3-inch shot and shell were fired, de-
stroying some buildings and damaging
all.
Attempts were made to burn the lega-
| tons by setting neighboring houses on
| fire, but the flames were successfully
fought off, although the Austrian, Bel
gan, IIdlldu anu OutCu leSdLlOuS were
then and subsequently burned. With the
aid of the native converts, directed by the
missionaries, to whose helpful co-opera-
| ton Mr.. Conger awards unstinted praise,
| the British legation was made yeritable
fortress. 1t was held to the last, and
proved an invaluable acquisition, because
it commanded the water gate through
which the relief column entered. During
the siege the defenders lost sixty five
| i'll 11I 4 ~
the last being all children.
Not only are the protestations of the
Chinese government that it protected and
succored the legations positively contra
dicted, but irresistible proof accumulates
that the attacks upon them were made by
imperial troops, regularly uniformed,
armed and differed, belonging to the
command of Jung Lu, the imperial COM
mander-in- chief.
mistice of July IA, proceeding which
was doubtless promoted by the represent
ations Of the Chinese envoy in Washing
ton, the way was opened for the convey
ance to Mr.. Conger of a test message sent
! by the Secretary of State through the
kind offices of Minister WI Ting Fang.
Mr.. Conger's reply, dispatched from Pc
kin July Is through the same channel,
afforded to the outside world the first
were still alive and hoping for succor.
Joint Relief Expedition.
This news stimulated the preparations
! for a joint relief expedition in numbers
sufficient to overcome the resistance
which for month had been organizing
between Taku and the capital. Re-en-
forcements sent by all the cooperating
governments were constantly arriving.
The United States contingent, hastily as
sembled from the Philippines or dispatch
ed from this country, amounted to some
5000 men, under the able command first
of the lamented Col Liscum and after
ward of Gen. Chaffee
Toward the end the July the movement
began. A severe conflict followed at Tien-
tsin, in which Col. Liscum was killed.
The city was stormed and partly destroy
ed. Another battle was fought and won
at Yang-tsun. Thereafter the dishearten-
ed Chinese troops offered little show of
resistance. A few days later the impor-
tant position of Ho-Si-Woo was taken.
A rapid march brought the united forces
to the populous city of Tung Chow, which
capitulated without a contest. Aug. IA
the capital was reached After brief
conflict beneath the walls the relief col
umn entered and tie legations were saw
ed.
The United States soldiers, sailors and
marines. officers and men alike, in those
distant chimes and unusual surroundings,
showed the same valor, discipline and
good conduct and gave proof of the same
high degree of intelligence and efficiency
which have distinguished them in every
emergency.
The imperial family and the govern
ment had fed few days before. The
city was without visible control The
remaining imperial seldiery had made on
the night of the 18th last attempt to
exterminate the hesieged, which was gall
lantly repealed. 1t fell to the occupying
forces to restore order and organize
provisional administration.
The policy of the United States through
all this trying period was clearly AN
nounced and scrupulously carried on. A
circular note to the powers dated July 3
proclaimed our attitude. Treating the
conditions in the North as one of virtual
anarchy, in which the great provinces of
the South and Southwest had no share,
we regarded the local authorities in the
latter quarters as representing the Chi
nese people with whom we sought to re-
main in peace and friendship. Our de-
clared aims involved no ws- against the
Chinese nation We adhered to the legit-