Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-14

| specific information 1t Is thought that he
may already have covered the twenty miles
| between Ho-si-wu and Tung Chow. The
| Pei-Ho river makes a great bend between
/ Ho-si-wu and Matow. the next town of i'm
| portance on the road. 1t is a low marshy
| country. where the river bends and doubles
I back on itself in it's effort to get forward.
! The road here cuts across country, reduc-
ing about twenty-five miles of boat travel
| to eleven miles of deep and almost impassa-
| BILE road, through swamps and quagmires.
| The country here presents no defensive
features, but about eight miles beyond Ma
| tow comes the important city of Ching Chai
Chow. That is a strong defensive point.
where the Chinese will make a stand If
| they make it az all this side of Pekin. From
Ching Chai Chow it is practically all a con-
| tinuous city for the next three miles, until
the walled town of Tung Chow is reached
| There are stored the immense supplies of
| grain on which Pekin would depend in case
of siege. The city would be almost as hard
| to carry as was Tien Tsin. probably more
| so. owing to the labyrinth of streets and
houses outside it's walls, where in case of
determined resistance mines and ambus-
cades of all sorts would naturally be en-
countered at every street corner. In case a
determined stand is made by the Chinese
at that point there is doubt the interna-
tional column will be forced to wait for all
the reserve force it can command. But the
| officials here are very much in hope that
| China will come to reasonable terms before
our forces are committed to the extremity
of forcing this strategic key to the gates of
Pekin.
The Journey Back From Pekin
| 1t is not to be forgotten that the journey
from Pekin back to Taku is not an easy
one under any circumstances unless the
railroad is in operation, and that in the
case of the ministers and other foreigners
it will be an exceedingly difficult and
tedious one. There are 500 of the foreign
ers. 2UO of whom are women and children
besides 5000 native Christians. The for
| eigners are exhausted by the privations
incident to a state of seige which has last
ed nearly two months, many of them are
wounded or sick and must be tenderly
cared for throughout the journey. Prob
ably the native Christians are in a better
condition physically than the foreigners,
and they may be able to shift for them
selves until the end of the journey is
reached. The losses of the American
marines-23 out of SO. or Il per cent-show
that the siege has been severe and indicate
that the total number of sick and wounded
to be transported may exceed 100.
The disposition to be made of the 5000
converted Chinese is problematical. They
will undoubtedly be also brought to Tien
Tsin to save them from massacre. but their
future is in doubt. 1t will be task of no
small magnitude to feed these people, even
for limited period The exclusion laws
will forbid their shipment to the United
States. to which destination they will
doubtless desire to be sent. They may
have to go to the Philippines.
Heavy Rains May Have Set In
One unpleasant statement in recent press
dispatches from Tien Tsin was that the
heavy rains had at last set in, which, If
they continue, as is altogether probable,
will convert the valley of the Pei-Ho into
a of mud, through which it will be ex-
tremely difficult for troops to force their
way with field transportation, even If their
advance is not resisted by the enemy. If,
as some of the authorities indicate, there Is
a low but continuous watershed to the
eastward of the Pei-Ho and extending
from the vicinity of Tien Tsn to Tung-
Chow, the international commanders will
be pretty sure to find and make use of It,
If they should do so the Chinese forces in
trenched beyond Ho-si-wu would be COM
PEELED to retire in the direction OF Pekin,
and they might make a stand and dispute
the passage of the Pei-Ho by the interna-
tional forces at Tung-Chow. If the inter-
national forces shall advance with 2OUO
men and 10 guns, as indicated they will
probably be able to do so in any direction
they may choose as far as armed resistance
Is concerned. OF course, if the Chinese gov
ernment should order the imperial troops
now between Yangtsun and Pekin to COM
municate and cooperate with the relief
force and the order should be obeyed the
only active armed resistance that would
remain would be that of the Boxers, which
the imperial troops would be bound to sup
press and prevent Such action by the Chi
nese government would not only simplify
and make easier the task Of the command
ers of the international forces. but would
be strong and probably satisfactory proof
that the imperial government is now acting
In perfect good faith.
Powers Approve Our Course
1t has developed that the reference to
the powers" employed in the American re-
ply to the Chinese peace overtures was not
without distinct meaning. Exchanges be-
tween the various powers have been going
on constantly, and a result the officials
have the satisfaction of knowing that the
position of the United States has the ap-
proval and support of all the great powers
While this had not been expressed in any
formal manner by all the parties. yet the
exchanges in the chancellories of Europe
and through the foreign representatives in
Washington had made it positive that the
powers were acting untedly In approval
of the course of this government.
Question of indemnity.
A nigh government official said today that
the indemnity which the United States
would demand for every American citizen
Killed or manned by the Chinese during the
present trouble would be sufficient com
fortabiy to support their families for the re-
mainder of their lives
This government does not want a prov
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