Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-12-07

strengthening the imperial government
and maintaining the integrity Of China.
in which We believed the whole West
ern world to be alike concerned To
. these ends l caused to be addressed TO
the several powers occupying territory
and maintaining spheres of influence IN
China the circular proposals OF 1899 in
wiling from them declarations of Their
intentions and views as to desira bility
of the adoption of measures insuring the
benefits of equality Of treatment of all
foreigners throughout China
With gratifying unanimity, the re-
sponses conceded in this common policy
enabling me to see In the successful ter
I mination OF these negotiations proof OF
the friendly spirit which animates the
various powers interested in the untram-
meled development of commerce and in
dustry in the Chinese Empire as a source
of vast benefit to the whole commercial
world.
Powers Acted in Concert.
In this conclusion. which i had the
qualification to announce as a completed
engagement to the interested powers
March 20. 1900. l hopefully discern a po-
tential factor for the abatement of tile
distrust of foreign purposes, which for
year past had appeared to inspire the
policy Of the imperial government. and
for the effective exertion by 1t of power
and authority to quell the critical and
foreign movement in the northern prov
inces most Immediately influenced by the
Manchu sentiment.
Seeking to testify confidence in the will
ingness and ability of the imperial ad-
ministration to redress the wrongs and
prevent the evils We suffered and feared,
the marine guard, which had been sen;
to Pekin in the Autumn of 1899 for the
protection Of the Legat ton, was with
drawn at the earliest practicable moment.
tod
as Tar as We were concerned. to the Or
binary resorts Of diplomatic intercourse.
The Chinese Government proved, how
ever. unable to check the rising strength
or the Boxers and appeared to be a prey
| 20 internal dissensions. In the unequal
contest, the anti-foreign influences soon
gained the ascendancy. under the leader
ship OF Prince Tuan. Organized armies of
Boxers. with which the imperial forces
animated, held the country between Pekin
and the coast, penetrated into Manchuria
up to the Russian border and through
their emissaries threatened a like rise
! throughout Northern China. Attacks upon
foreigners. destruction of property and
slaughter of native converts were re-
ported from all sides. The Tsung II
Yamun. already permeated with hostile
sympathies. could make no effective re-
Spouse to the appeals OF the Legations.
At this critical juncture. in the early
I
by the other powers that a combined
fleet be assembled in Chinese waters as
moral demonstration. under cover of
which to exact of the Chinese Govern
ment respect for foreign treaty rights and
the suppression of the Boxers. The
United States. while not participating in
the joint demonstration, promptly sent
from the Philippines all ships that could
be spared for service on the Chinese
| coast. A small force OF marines was
landed at Taku and sent to Pekin for the
protection of the American kegation.
Other powers took similar action until
some 400 men were assembled in the capt.
tai as legation guards.
Still the peril increased. The Legations
reported the development Of the seditious
movement In Pekin and the need OF In
creased provision for defense against It
Taking Of Taku Forts.
While preparations were in progress for
a larger expedition to strengthen the
rlegation guards and keep the railway
open. an attempt of the foreign ships to
make landing at Taku was met by
fire from the Chinese forts. The forts
were thereupon sh lied by the foreign YES
sells. the American Admiral taking no
part in the attack, on the ground that
we were not at war with China, and that
a hostile demonstration might consolidate
the anti-foreign elements and strengthen
the Boxers to oppose the relieving COL
umn Two days later. the Taku forts
were captured after a sanguinary Con-
hict Severance Of communication with
Pekin followed. and a combined force OF
additional guards. which was advancing
to Pekin by the Pei Ho. was checked at
I Lang Fang. The isolation of the Lega-
lions was complete.
| By June 8. the Legations were cut on.
An Identical note from the Yamun or
dered each Minister to leave Pekin, under
xtet~r
gain time. they replied asking prolonga-
tion Of the time. which was afterward
granted. and requesting an interview with
the Tsung II Yamun on the following
day. No reply being received. on the
morning Of the Goth the German Minister.
Baron Won Ketteler. set out for the va
mum to obtain a response, and on the
way was murdered. An attempt by the
legation guard to recover his body was
foiled by the Chinese.
Pekin Legation. Attacked.
Armed forces turned out against the
Legations. Their quarters were surround
| ed and attacked. The mission compounds
were abandoned their inmates taking
refuge in the British legation, where al,
the other Legations and guards gathered
for more effective defense. Four hundred
persons were crowded In Its narrow COM
pass. Two thousand native converts were
assembled In a nearby place under pro-
lection Of the foreigners. Lines of defense
were strengthened, trenches dug. barri-
cades raised and preparations made to
stand a siege. which at once began.
With the negotiation OF the partial
armistice Of July IA, a proceeding which
was dc ubtless promoted by the represent
tations of the Chinese envoy In Wash
ington. the way was opened for the con-
veyance to Mr.. Conger Of test message
sent by the Secretary of State through
A. III - Hsut-a nvs.x<~
Fang. Mr.. Congers reply. dispatched from
Pekin on July Is through the same chan
nel afforded to the outside world the
first tidings that the inmates Of the le-
cations were alive and hoping for succor.
This news stimulated the preparations for
a joint relief expedition. In numbers su'fi-
cient to overcome the resistance which
for a month had been organizing between
Taku and the capital. Reinfurcements
sent by all the cooperating governments
were constantly arriving. The United
States contingent. hastily assembled from
the Philippines or dispatched from this
country, amounted to some 5000 men. I'M
der the able command Of the lamented
Colonel Liscum and afterwards Of Gen
eral Chaffee.
! Rescue Of Eegati0ners.
Toward the end of July the movement
began. A severe conflict followed at Tien
Tsin, in which Colonel Liscum was killed.
The city was stormed and partly de-
I stroyed. Its capture afforded the base
OF operations from which to make the
final advance. which began in the first
days of August. the expedition being
made up Of Japanese. Russian. British
and American troops at the outset An
other battle was fought and won at
Yong Tsun. Thereafter, the disheartened
Chinese troops offered little show OF re-
sistance A few days later. the impor-
tant position Of To 81 Wo was taken. A
rapid march brought the united forces to
the populous City of Tung Chow, which
capitulated without a contest.
On August IA, the capital was reached
After a brief conflict beneath the walls
the relief column entered and the Lega-
lions were saved. The United States
soldiers. sailors and marines. officers and
men alike. in those distant climes and
unusual surroundings. showed the same
valor. discipline and good conduct and
gave proof of the same high degree of in
telligence and efficiency which have dis
tnguished them In every emergency.
The imperial family and the govern