The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1900-08-24


BE n Prisoner in the Inner or Forbid
den" City.
Washington, Aug. 19.-From Gen.
Chaffee to-day the war department
received official confirmation of the
fall of Pekin, and the rescue of the
besieged legationers.
Breaks His Long silence.
The dispatch of the American cDm-
mander was not long, and contained
but few details, but the uncOncealcd
satisfaction with which il was re-
ceived by officials of the administra-
tiOn indicated clearly the anxiety that
had been engendered by his prolonged
silence. His last communication to
the government, prior to the receipr
of yesterdays advices, was dated Au-
gust IL, at Matow, almost thirty
miles from Pekin. The explanation OF
his silence is suggested in advices re-
ceived by the navy department to-day
from Admiral Remey, who, telegraph
ing from Taku on the 18th, says the
telegraph line between that point and
Pekin is interrupted.
Admiral Remey's Dispatch.
The cablegram from Admiral Remey
contains some important information
not mentioned by Gen. Chaffee. lie
makes the startling statement, on
Japanese authority, that the inner
city of Pekin was being bombarded
by the allied foFces. Admiral Remcy
says, also, that the dowager empress
is detained in the inner city by Prince
Yungedo.
Advices received last night from the
foreign office at Toxic, Japan, by the
Japanese legation in this city, confirm
and amplify previous accounts of the
capture of Pekin by the allied troops.
Dispatch from Gen. Chanee.
Following is the text of the dis
patch from Gen. Chaffee, as made
public by the war department.:
Che Foo, Aug. 10, 1900.
'To Adjutant General, Washington:
Pekin, August 18th.
1--WE entered legations grounds at
five o'clock last night with Four
teenth and light battery Eight
wounded during days fighting; other
wise all well.
[Signedl "CHAFFEE."
The President Gratihed.
The dispatch, which was received
during the morning, was transmitted
Immediately to the president at the
White House. He expressed his graft
fication at the news contained, par
ticularly at the small loss sustained
by the American troops.
A copy of the dispatch likewise was
sent 70 Adjt.-Gen. COrbin, who was in
New York.
An Error I'm Transmission.
It will be noted that the dispatch
indicates that the American troops
entered the legation grounds at FIVE
o'clock on the evening of the l4th
instant. BY the Washington officials
and by several legation officials 10
whom il was shown, the date of Gen.
Chaffee's communication is regarded
as an error of transmission. 1t is be-
heved that the word fifteenth"
should be sixteenth" All previous
advices, official and unofficial, have in
dicated that the legations were re-
lieved on the evening of the 18th,
Wednesday, after a day of sharp
minister, and Minister Takahiro. Of
Japan, were quite positive on this
point, all their official advice being
that the entrance to the city of Pelin
was effected early in the evening of
Wednesday, the 18th.
Divided His Forces.
The fact that only the Fourteenth
infantry and Riley's battery entered
the city, as shown by Gen. Chaffee's
dispatch. does not indicate that the
Ninth infantry and the marines. who
were so cOnspicuously gallant
throughout the advance upon the cap
ital, did not participate in the en-
gagement which resulted directly in
the rescue of the besieged legation
ers. 1t is pointed out as likely that
Gen. Chaffee, acting in consonancc
with the other commanders, divided
his forces, leaving the Ninth infantry
and the marines without the walls of
the city to act as a rear guard to pre-
vent the escape of Chinese TROOPS Ivy
other gates than those through which
the allies entered, or for some other
excellent reason. Only two battalions
of the Fourteenth regiment are with
Gen. Chaffee. They comprise about
eight hundred men.
Small American Losses.
This would indicate that only about
one-third of Gen. Chaffee's fore actu-
ally entered the city at the time he
sent his dispatch. The fact that only
eight of the American force were
wounded, none being killed, is regard
ed as notably fortunate.
Admiral Remey's dispatch, which
contains much interesting informa-
ton in few words, is:
Dispatch from Admiral Remey.
Che Foo, (no date).
ITO Bureau Navigation, Washing
ton: Taku, Eighteenth. Telegraph
line TO Pekin interrupted. informa-
tion, japanese sources. Empress
dowager detained by Prince Yunedo
in inner city, which is being bonn
barded by allies. Chaffee reports en-
tered legation grounds evening 14th.
Eight wounded during days fighting;
otherwise all well.
ISignedl 'REMEY"
Startling Feature of the Dispatch.
The startling feature of the dis
patch is that fighting within the citJ
Of Pskiu Wss continuing, according