Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1900-07-12
COLONEL LISCUM.

were not used is that Prince Ching,
who is served by 10000. troops, seized
all the artillery ammunition. Sheng
likewise intimates that Yung Lu, COM
mander-in-chief of the northern army,
is associated with Prince Ching in op-
posing Prince Tuan's 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 communi-
cations, but takes excessive precau-
tiOns to prevent the Chinese from
thinking him friendly to the foreign
erS.
The feeling Of unrest in the southern
and center provinces continues. The
members of the official class in those
provinces strive to remain neutral,
with leaning toward the foreigners,
until they shall see whether the moder-
ate or extreme factions will win in
Pekin. Prince Ching seems to be
standing for the dynasty and the old
order against Prince Tuan's inordinate
ambition.
From a foreign point of view the
capture of Pekin is the key to the
situation, as there is a fear that delay
now means hundred recruits for the
Boxers for every soldier of the allies
in the land.
Two couriers arrived at Tien Tsin
on July l from Pekin. One brought
letter from Sir Claude Macdonald, the
British minister, to the same effect as
that previously received from Sir Rob-
ert Hart. The couriers confirm the re-
ports Of the death of Baron Won Ket-
teller. They say that Prince Ching is
doing his utmost to protect the for
eigners, but that the native feeling
against the whites is strong. Two
high officials opposed to the Boxers
are reported by the couriers to have
been assassinated.
A dispatch to a news agency here,
dated Tien Tsin, July 2, says:
"The empress dowager, so far from
being dead, is actively striving to pre-
vent the factions fighting. Prince
Ching has informed her that he would
rather lose his head than be constantly
obliged to warn her of the consequences
of the prolongation of the present an
archy. Prince Tuan is quite willing
that Ching should be decapitated. but
the empress dowager will not allow
this. Prince Tuan has decided that
he will take full responsibility. He
purposes to retake Tien Tsin and Taku.
Outside of Pekin, except in the Pe-Chi-
Ii and San Tung country, the people
are supremely Indifferent"
However all this may be- the allies
at Tien Tsin are having an exceedingly
unpleasant time. The last engagement
nf yrhi
Cured on July 6. The Chinese artil-
lery opened at dawn. Their fire was
more accurate and their ammunition
better, the shells exploding with pre-
cision and setting fire to several build
ings. H. NJ S. Terrible's guns again
quieted the Chinese, who, shifting their
artillery, reopened the attack in the
afternoon, but, thunder storm break
ing, the Chinese suddenly quit The al
lies Immediately attacked and drove the
Chinese from their works, but Iost 80
killed and wounded in so doing The
non-combatants are leaving Tien Tsin,
and the opinion Of minority favors
the military leaving also. Stories of
colossal Chinese armies gathering con-
tinue to worry not only the rank and
fire, but the commanders, who admit
the uncertainty of recOnnaisances and
the complete absence of an effective
intelligence department, Chinese in
formation is received with extreme dis
trust.
1t is obvious that, though there are
many thousands of Chinese camped
behind the guns, nothing can be done
at present except to wait the arrival
of reinforcements. The rainy season
has set in, and this makes going into
the interior most difficult The coun-
try between Pekin and Tien Tsin in
other years has been frequently fiood.
cd. River transportation is almost i'm
possible, and the railway is practically
nOn-existent and must be entirely re-
built.
Military opinion is unanimous that
il the legations did not need relief it
would be foolish to attempt to advance
before September.
The Daily Nails Shanghai CORE.
spOndent, under date of July 8, says
TT is certain that If the powers
make any movement elsewhere north
of Taku they must be prepared to meet
opposition. A Chinese official in high
favor with Viceroy Liu Kun VI in the
course of an interview, says the south
ern viceroys are only bound to neu-
trality as long as they are not inter
fered with. They have more war ma
terials than they can use, and the mil
itary forces all over the provinces are
increasing. The Yang Use Kiang is
mined with tOrpedoes, and the garrison
at the Shanghai arsenal has just been
reinforced by two newly recruited regi-
ments."
Baron Hayashi being asked by a
representative Of The Daily Chronicle:
'Do you unde' and that Japan has
now been allo a free hand to settle