The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1900-07-28
MESSENGER FROM pEK1N.
Ching Defends Ministers-England II
Hopeful.

1AVRCAOAs
London, July 26-Another version of
the story which reached General Ii, COM
manding the Pei Tan forts, by . runner
from Pekin, who brought to him yester-
day a report Of anarchy in the Chinese
capital, says the British legation was bonn
barded when the messenger left Pekin.
July "A. Prince Ching, this report says,
was assisting the ministers, and his palace
was protected by 10000 Chinese troops.
Prince Ching, according to this report,
considered himself able to cope with the
situation.
According to , dispatch from Chefoo
received here today Admiral Seymour has
started for the Yang Tse river to arrange
for the protection Of the local ports, which
are threatened with attack.
The Austrian warships Kaiserin Eliza
beth and Aspern have sailed for China.
Hope II Revived.
London, July 26.-The tone Of the
European press with regard to the message
dated July 4, received here from the Brit
ish minister at Pekin, Sir Claude McDon-
aid, continues pessimistic, and the endless
and extraordinary succession Of Chinese
dispatches purporting to describe the sit
uation at Pekin only serves to bewilder.
However the earlier unquestioning belief
that massacre took place has to some
extent been shaken, and it is now admit
ted, despite the heavy load Of evidence
supporting the reports of the massacre,
that as Sir Claude McDonalds letter dis
posed Of the first story alleging that the
crime occurred June 30, 80 Minister Con-
gers dispatch and other stories reporting
tthe legations safe July 10, IA and Is, give
some ground for assuming the possibility
that the second reports were also un-
founded.
There is some fear in London that the
Russian claim TO control the railway from
Taku to Pekin will delay the proposed
advance of the allies to Pekin. 1t Is
thought that this claim is in pursuance
of Russia's alleged fixed principle to pre-
vent any power but herself from penetrat-
ing to Pekin, and to procure for herself
sole occupation, either as conqueror or
lpeacemaker.
Special dispatches received here today
from Berlin connteract the replies Of Pres
ident Mckinley and the German minister
OF foreign affairs, Count Won Buelow, ia
the Chinese emperor's appeal, from the
! standpoint Obtaining at Berlin, that the
object Of all Chinese assurances is to gair
time for military preparations and under
mine the unity Of the powers. The
Morning Posts Berlin correspondent as
serts that the attitude of the United
States government is regarded as q de
cided triumph for Chinese diplomacy
while the Daily News says the attitude
Of the Washington authorities is regarded
in Berlin as regrettable error. Similarly
the London morning papers regret "tha
the president of the United States has
taken a line that can hardly fail to en-
, courage the Chinese to further duplicity.
The British premier and minister Of for
! eign affairs, Lord Salisbury, today mott
, !, fed the United States ambassador here
Joseph H. Choate, that it was i'm
possible to accept the evidence 80 far Sub
mitted by the Chinese or transmitted By
the United States regarding the safety 0
: the foreign ministers at Pekin, and tina
until their safety was fully established
: the British government would be unabl
, to discuss any question Of mediation o
kindred matters.