The Somerset reporter., 1900-06-21
In China.

In China.
On Saturday a rumor prevailed that
the German Minister, Baron Kothler,
had been murdered and the legations at
Pekin destroyed, and later that there
was fighting between the British and
Chinese.
Sunday at London it was reported
that this rumor lacked confirmation. 1t
was further stated that dispatches from
Shanghai dated the evening before state
that Admiral Seymour's force was in a
tight place between Lang Fang and
Yung Sun, with enormous masses of
soldiers in front while the Boxers with
more soldiery are cutting the railway in
the rear. The column is reported short
of provisions and water. Kiang Nun
arsenal, outside of Shanghai, is sending
vast quantities of munitions north. All
is quite at Shanghai, but trade has been
disrupted. 1t is stated that seven thous.
and Americans are going from Manila
and that large forces of Japanese are
enroute. The wires south of Tien rsin
have been cut and the ci y telegraph
isolated
According to Che Foo special the
18th inst, II forts at Taku opened fire
upon the warships whereupon the fleet
replied in kind and silenced the hinese
guns and the international forces sub
sequently landed and seized the forts
The news of this engagement is stated
to have been brought to Che Foo by a
Japanese warship, but the date of the
occurrence is not given.
An official dispatch from the German
consul at Che Foo received in Berlin
confirms the arrival of a Japanese tor
pedo boat with the following message:
"The Japanese torpedo boat reports
that the legations at Pekin have been
taken Whether taken by the Boxers
or the Chinese troops or the mob is APP
parently not stated
A later dispatch from the same consul
received in Berlin states that an engage.
ment il proceeding in Taku between the
Chinese forts and the foreign warships
Berlin also has official notification
from Shanghai that owing to the inter
ruption of the telegraph lines no trus'-
worthy news whatever is obtainable Of
the events transpiring in PekiD.
" omen and children from Tien Tsin
are pouring into Shanghai The chief
danger here is the fact that the native
town, behind the European settlement,
I is full of bad characters, whose attitude
is becoming, every day, more insolent
and menacing.
Late news is that 1000 Russians, with
II machine guns and II field guns are
marching from lien Tsin to Pekin.
Last week, the foreign ministers warned
the Tsung LII Yamen that in the event
of an attack upon the legations, or of in
jury to any of the ministers or members
of the stats of the legations, the powers
in combination would declare war upon
China To this ultimatum the Tsung
Iii Yamen, as usual, returned no direct
reply. The answer of the Empress Dow
ager is no doubt, the attack on the
legations by, the Boxers and the troops
under Gen Tung Fuh Slang 1t has
transpired that, few days ago, the
viceroys of the southern provinces re-
ceived orders from Pekin to cooperate
with Gen. Tung in he defence of Pekin
against a threatened invasion by the
foreign devils.
Russia's decision is said to be to suse
Troops in China only to quell disturb.
ances.
No news had yet been received at
London Tuesday of the relief of the
legations at Pekin.
Berlin dispatches intimate that Ger
many will not object to Japan sending
5000 troops, while Great Britain will
endorse the plan with avidity, though
perhaps only secretly. The Japanese
legation in London has official intima-
tion of the dispatch of 5000 troops In
the meanwhile the British are dispatch
ing six native regiments besides artillery
from India.
A dispatch from Shanghai dated June
20, says: cater an arduous march and
frequent fighting with the Chinese, Vice
Admiral Seymour arrived ut Pekin sun
day afternoon On five occasions the
Chinese attacked the column in great
force There were many mounted men
among the Chinese, but most of the
natives were badly armed A times
they fought with admirable courage and
bravery. The losses of the Chinese
during the march are estimated at 500
killed The losses of the foreigners
were trfliug
"rhe exact state of affairs inside
Pekin it is impossible to describe in view
of the many conflicting reports, nothing
having been received from the legations
or foreigners there