Evening star., 1900-08-01
PROBLEM OF PEKIN
II u
Allied Powers g d Fastening Prepara-
tions for Its Solution.
BOTH DlFFtCu1 AND DANGEROUS
Consideration Of d the Plan of Cam
paign to Be Followed.
T H E CHIN NESE FORCES

| LONDON. August 1, 4 a.m.-Important
| additional confirmation of the safety of the
! legations was received in London last even
| ing by Mr.. Duncan Campbell, representa-
| tive In Europe of the Chinese customs
| service from the commissioner of customs
| at Chefoo. in the shape of a Pekin dis
| patch, not dated, but believed to have
been written on July 21. signed by both
Sir Robert Hart, inspector general of Gus
| toms, and Mr.. Robert Bredon, deputy in
| spector general, to the following effect:
STAFF and family still safe
This has been confirmed by the commits
| sioner of customs in Shanghai, who tele-
graphed last evening:
Authentic; inspector general safe 22d"
A sensational Shanghai correspondent
| sun hints that the Chinese are juggling
with dates, but, in face of the constantly
accommodating evidence that the ministers
were safe on July %. and despite the omis-
| sion from all the dispatches of anxiousI-
| desired information regarding the real sit
| uat1on. political and otherwise, at Pekin,
| there are very few in London who do not
belleVe the dispatches genuine and relia-
BILE.
Anxious Future Ahead.
The allies now confront a most difficult
and dangerous problem. Without doubt
| the ministers are held by the Chinese as
| hostages; and the outcome of the advance
| on Pekin, which, in all probability, has al
| ready begun, will be awaited with intense
| anxiety.
dispatches show that the allies, notably
the japanese, have been pushing their
| preparations with feverish haste organic
ing a service of pack carts, trains and
| 1unks. 1t is reported from Berlin that
Lieutenant General Won Lessel, command
In htr,n -hov,
| Emperor William has just promoted to the
rank OF general commanding an army
| corps, has been selected as commander-in-
| chief of the allied forces.
The Chinese strongly entrenched at
Wang Tsun, from which position. however,
1t Is believed. they can be elected without
great difficulty. The danger is that if
| defeated there. the Chinese will retire on
Pekin and put the remainder of the Euro
peans to death.
1t is also possible that the advance Of
the allies will be the signal for the Chinese
authorities to compel all foreigners to quit
the capital. in which event they might be-
come the prey of the fanatical Boxers.
The feeling of the newspapers here is
that nothing whatever should now delay
the advance. and that negotiations of
any kind should be countenanced until the
allied troops reachTPekin and assure them
selves regarding the fate of the foreign
erS.
Expects to Capture Yang Tsun.
The latest adviees from Tien Tsin an
nounce that the Russians and Japanese are
scouting in the objection of Petang. The
Japanese commander, Yamachuchi, ex-
poets Yang Tsun to be taken within three
days.
The governbr of Shang Tung says the
British conslifs message was sent to Sir
Claude Macdonald, whose reply was handed
to the tsung Ii yamen on July %.
A special dispatch from Tien Tsin says
the missionaries report that all the Ameri-
cans in Pekini and Tung Chau are safe but
their property has been destroyed.
The Tokyo correspondent of the Daily
Telegraph, wiring yesterday, says:
kwang Su Is reported to have sent
second dispatch to Emperor Nicholas. ad-
mitting that a state of war exists at Tien
Tsin. but that the Russians are fully pro-
tected at open ports. The Chinese emperor
adds that the disturbances in Manchuria
were caused by rebellious general in
Amur: that he has instructed the Chinese
general to refrain from hostilitieS, and that
he desires the czar to reciprocate his ac-
ton
Tho Shanghai correspondent of the Times
says:
THE general aspect of the situation con-
firms the opinion that the Manchu party,
fearing the effect of further violent meas
ures. rely Ii Hung Chang's negotia-
tions to prevail upon the powers to forego
vengeance in return for the release of the
survivors"
1t is reported from an unofficial but usu-
ally reliable source that the Chinese min
lister at St. Petersburg wired to LII Hung
Chang intimating the possibility Of obtain
ing favorable terms of settlement from
Russia If China would adopt conciliatory
attitude and compel a cessation of the at
tacks on the legation. Thereupon, according
to this informant, Ii Hung Chang memo
rialized the throne. representing that he
was i'll and unable to come to Pekin. but
urging that every endeavor be made to
send the ministers to Tien Tsin and to in
sure the safety of foreigners and mission
aries.
Germany's Position.
A late Berlin dispat Itch says: Hope regard
ing the security Of the foreigners in Pekin
now runs high in Berlin. The German for
eign office no longer doubts the reports
from various quarters that the ministers.
with the exception of Baron Won Ketteler
are alive. The papers take the same view,
and urge that there should be no delay in
the advance upon Pekin. The foreign Office
is deeply mortified at the failure to agree
upon commander-in-chief of the allied
forces. A high official said Yesterday:
THE civilized world will look on with as
tonishment II the rescue of the members of
the legation Is delayed, or perhaps frus-
trated, by such trihtng matter. Germany
Is ready to march her troops under any
commander acceptable to the powers
Chafee for Commander.
The Munich Aligemeine Zeitung prints a
Washington special claiming that the
United States government is endeavorIng
to enforce the appointment of Major Gen
eral Chaffee as commander-in-chief, but
that Germany and Japan oppose. The Asso-
ciated Press is authorized to say that, so
far as Germany Is concerned, this state
ment is absolutely untrue. The foreign
office confirms the report that the advance
to Pekin has been postponed by the ad-
mirals for military and climatic reasons
The Chinese minister, Lu Hal Huan, re-
ceived yesterday dispatch, purporting to
that the foreign legations would be sent to
Tien Tsin whenever the preparations for
their safe escort were completed and open
hostilities ceased. Meanwhile permission
would be given them to communicate freely
with their governments.
This dispatch was Immediately transmit
ted to the German foreign office
Communication between Chefoo and
no tai has been licl,