New-York tribune., 1900-08-19
THE TAKING OF PEKING.
AMERICAN FORCES PROMINENT PART
IN CAPTURE.
GBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE ]


IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSEl
Washington. Aug. 1S.-This has been another
day OF waiting, but not so anxious a yes
terday. when hope and confidence were 80 deeply
tinged with anxiety and doubt. The evidence
that Minister COnger and his companions were
safe at last was conclusive. but everybody was
eager TO know how many lives the rescue had
cost, and what the international commanders
thought Of the military situation for 1t was con-
sdered that that must be the dominating ques-
tion for some time TO come.
II was known that the international forces af-
ter hard fighting. had seized and held COM
manding position IN the heart of the Imperial
capital. but how strong were the Chinese mill
tary forces still within the walls Of the Tartar
City with its inner citadel, known as the For
hidden City. nobody could estimate Again it
could not be known until the International COM
manders had had a conference. or council of
war. and its decision had been received, whether
the expeditionary force would continue TO hold
the position It occupied on Wednesday night or
would withdraw outside the walls where. with
in a short distance. camping grounds could be
found which were probably more suitable than
the somewhat restricted area in the legation
quarter.
The latter position appears TO be a strong
one, in a military sense, for the small detach-
than three hundred men. had held it for weeks
against repeated assaults by ten times their
number That they we're able to do SO was appar-
emily due in a large measure TO the fine strategy
and indomitable pluck Of the Americans who
early in the confict seized a portion of the
southern wall OF the Tartar City which over
looked and commanded not only the legations.
but also a considerable portion Of both the Tar
tar and Forbidden City as well as important
gateway OF the former. with the strong towers
and breastworks which fanked and sur
mounted it.
COMMANDING POSITION SEIZED.
II fortunately happened that one of the stair
ways or approaches to the top OF the wall and
gateway lay behind the United States legation
and the American marines lost no time in MAX
ing Of 81. If they had not done so the Chi
nese would have occupied the position and could
have picked off the guards and other foreigners
at their leisure for the legation buildings are
situated not more than two hundred and fifty
feet from that portion of the wall.
# the reports are true that the Emperor and
Empress Dowager and their retainers have fed
from Peking toward the Province Of Shen-Se
under escort OF Yuan Shih Kais army. the most
formidable body OF Chinese troops has been re-
moved from the vicinity OF Peking. and that will
to some extent lessen the immediate difficulties
of the international commanders. Yuan Shih
Kai is a loyal and devoted adherent Of the reign
ing dynasty. and his army which is well drilled
and armed ana in q high state Of discipline. is
devotedly attached to him. In his work. THE
Breakup of China" Lord Charles Beresford. who
inspected this army in 1898. says: This army
IS the only army complete in all details, accord
ing 10 European ideas, that found in China"
Elsewhere the author remarks that the army
was about seventy-four hundred strong. and
was the only one in China that was regularly
paid fed and clothed out of the funds provided
for that purpose.
REINFoRCEMENTS ARRIVING.
The expeditionary force is constantly receiving
reinforcements from Taku and Tien-Tsin, and Is
even strong enough 10 move where and when
It chooses. The 9th Cavalry, which was detained
al Taku awaiting the arrival Of its mounts.
has since received them, end, according TO press
dispatches. is its way to the front.
dispatch received at the War Department to-
day announced the arrival at Taku of the trans
port Indiana, having on board Brigadier-General
T. H Barry who viii be assigned to duty
General Chanee's chief Of staff and the 1st
Battalion Of the 18th Infantry which will be
Immediately sent TO the front Additional rein
forcements viii reach General Chaffee's COM
rnand within a fortnight. No orders have yet
been issued by the War Department to divert
from their destination any Of the troops on
their way or under orders to China.
One Of TIE comments which was heard on the
Picking campaign to-day was in substance that
the necessity of having supreme commander
in-chief OF the international forces did not ap-
pear TO have been fully demonstrated by events
It was pointed out that, spite Of the lack Of
single head, the expeditionary force IN the
short space OF one month and one day marched
eighty miles through hostile country. fought
the battles Of Tien-Tsin, Pei-Tsang, Yang-Tsun
and Peking. and captured and held three forti-
fed or walled cities.