Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-22
MORE WORK AHEAD
Heavy Fighting Yet to Be Done
Around Pekin.
GEN. CHAFFEE'S CASUALTY LIST
Brisk Engagements Since City's
Capture.
END NOT IN SIG HI T

was made public about noon. 1t was
learned however, that the Chaffee dispatch
contained considerable amount Of mat
ter besides the list of killed and wounded.
and 1t was the subject of extended
White House conference between the Pres
ident Secretary Root and Acting Secretary
of State Adee.
1t was hoped by the officials that the re-
ceipt of detailed news from Gen. Chaffee
would simplify the situation considerably
and enable this government to map out In
a large degree It's future line of action in
China. This was not the case, however.
Gen. Chaffee's telegram indicated that there
may be considerable heavy fighting yet to
be done around Pekin and between that
and the coast.
1t was impossible to make any prediction
as to the date of pacificaton on the infoT-
nation thus furnished and the administra-
tion will not be able yet to fix even an
approximate date for the withdrawal Df
our troops from Chinese territory. 1t IS
considered more than probable that there IS
a winter campaign ahead for the American
expeditonary force, or at least that 1t will
be required to remain in China as guard
against further disorder.
Bloody Work in Pekfn.
according to a dispatch received today by
the Navy Department from Admiral
Remey. dated Taku, the Goth. and Pekin,
the 18th. The message shows that the
American forces We're then fighting. along
with the allies. and that progress had been
made which could only have been accom-
plished after military efforts of severe
character. Admiral Renley's dispatch is
as follows:
Bureau Of Navigation. Washington:
''Taku, Goth. Dickens command landing
today. Pekin. 10th All except imperial
city cleared of Chinese troops. American
troops first to enter imperial city; have
penetrated to gates of palace. Capt. Reil-
ly, 5th Artillery, killed on 18th Morning
18th 9th Cavalry and about 400 English
and japanese dispersed about LOCO Boxers
eight miles outside Tien Tsin. About 100
Chinese killed; five Americans wounded.
Chaffee's losses-sx killed, thirty wounded; ;
two days fighting.
(Signed) 'REMEY."
Officials of the War Department who are
familiar with the physical conditions of
the defenses of Pekin say that the fact
that all but the imperial city had been
cleared Of Chinese troops is evidence
enough of the severe fighting which must
have occurred. In order for the American
troops to penetrate to the gates of the
palace they must have stormed a wall
about thirty feet high, which no doubt
was stubbornly defended
1t is source of satisfaction to the mil
itary officials here that the allied com
manders succeeded in clearing the Chinese
troops from the region outside of the i'm
periai city thereby the danger Of at
tacks in the flank and the rear while the
invaders were storming the imperial city
would be obviated. Every one is glad of
course, that the Americans were the first
to enter the imperial city. another testi-
monial to the gallantry Of the American
forces.
Brisk Engagements Since.
The dispatch, in stating that all but the
imperial city had been cleared of Chinese
soldiery, left the impression that a force
Of defenders was still intrenched in that
section of Pekin and would have to be
routed out. Undoubtedly there have been
brisk engag gements since the receipt by Ad-
miraI Remey of the news of August 49, but
the officials of the department here are in
no way concerned about the result of the
fighting. 1t is thought that the imperial
city itself has doubtless been taken by this
time by the allies and that the Americans
were engaged in the fight.
Gen. Chaffee entered the legation grounds
at o'clock on the evening of the 14th and
eight of his men were wounded in the day S
fighting. Admiral Remeys dispatch shows
that within the next two days Gen. Chaffee
lost six men killed, including Capt. Reilly
of the 9Th Artillery, and thirty men
wounded.
To all appearances. therefore, the fighting
in Pekin was more severe after the entry
into the city than during the movements
which brought the Americans to the lega-
tions' gates.
This may be explained by the evident
fact that the rescuing parties were engaged
in clearing the outer city of the Chinese
soldery. Such task could not have been
light one, owing to the presence of large
bodies Of Chinese troops in the city. and
the means at hand Of fortifying themselves
in the narrow streets of the main city, and
behind the wall Of the imperial city. The
taking the imperial city by the allies, In
which the Americans seem to have taken
the lead, as they were the first to enter,
will prove, when the reports are IN, 1t is
thought. to have been a military feat wor-
thy of the arms engaged in 1t.
Boxers Have Not Been Dispersed.
there Is further fighting outside of Pekin
and that the Boxers have not been dis
persed. The 9th United States Cavalry
and about four hundred English and Jap
anese, according to the accounts, tackled a
force of 900 Boxers near Tien Tsin on the
morning of the 10th and put them to rout,
five Americans being wounded. The sig
nificance of this engagement lies in the
fact that it shows that the Boxers have
not been subdued by the reverses which
they have suffered thus far, but are still
inclined to hang the tanks of the in
vaders and harass them as much as pos
sible.
1t would also seem to presage more fight
ing for the allies IL they should attempt to
return from Pekin, and for the reinforce
ments which will be sent forward to Tien
Ts;n and Pekin. Evidently. according
to the military authorities. the country
about Tien Tsin and between that city and
Pekin still harbors hostile forces which
win have to be overcome by the allies be-
fore the road can be opened from Pekin to
the sea-