The Portland daily press., 1900-06-25
Admit Seymour Surrounded Be-
tween Pekin and Tien Tsin.
Report Of the Defeat OF the Allied Forces
at Tien Tsin Confirmed.

London, June IS, 9 a. m.-Ths position
of the international forces in the section
of northern China where ten thousand
men are striving to keep footing and to
succor the Legations in Pekin, appears to
increase in peril with every fresh des-
patch. Pekin has not been heard from
direct for fourteen days. The last des-
patch was one imploring aid. Admiral
Seymour's column of 2000 was last heard
from IL days ago. At that time 1t was
surrounded midway between Pekin and
Tien Tsin. Possibly now 1t has reached
Pekin.
The 5000 internationals ut Tien Tsin
were hard pressed and fighting for their
lives on Thursday, and relieving force
of less than thousand had been beaten
back to Taku Friday. Observers on the
spot think that 100, 600 men would not be
too many to grasp China firmly.
The Admiralty has received the follow
ing from the British rear admiral at
L eku:
"Che Foo, June 23.-Only one runner
has got through from Tien Tsin for 1--we
days. No information could be obtained
except that the foreign settlement had
been almost entirely destroyed and tina
our people were lighting hard.
News Is received as this telegram Is
despatched, that an attempt to relieve
Tien Tsin on June ~, was repulsed, with
some loss.''
The telegram also said:
1.-The allied admirals are working in
perfect acc I'd, with the Russian vice
admiral as senior officer"
A press MESA &c from Shanghai, dated
yesterday at p. m, embodies some later
information. 1t says:
"Official japanese kilograms confirm
the reports OF defeat of the allied forces
at Tien Tsin. The foreigners there are
now placed in almost desperate situation.
The Russian admiral, Hillebrandt, yes
terday sent mixed force of 1000 from
Taku to attempt the relief Of Tien Tsin.
Nearly half Of the force consisted OF Japa-
nese. The remainder was made up Of
contingents representing the other ma
tions.
1.-THE guns of the Chinese around Tlen
Tsin are superior to anything the defend
ing European force has or Is likely to
have for some time.
"The bombardment OF Tien Tsin con-
tinued Friday. Bomb shelters were has
tily erected by the foreign troops, largely
constructed of wetted piece-goods. The
food supplies are insufficient, and the
continued Smelling is reported to be tell
ing terribly.
"Among these killed OF the relief force
Friday was the commander of II. NJ. s.
Barfieur. The foreign casualties were
300.
"Japan is making every effort. Her
troops are now arriving at Taku in large
numbers.
Chinese troops in the province OF Chi LII
include sixty thousand auxiliaries, who
have been drilled by Russian and German
officers
Captain Beatty and Lieut.. Wright,
British. have been severely wounded at
Tien, Tsin according to Shanghai des-
patch to the Daily Express, dated Sat
urlay. The Information was brought
here by the British cruiser Orlando from
Che Foo. The losses of the Russians have
been heavy.
1t was reported from Shanghai last
evening that the allied forces had blown
up the Taku forts and that every avail
able man had been sent to the relief of
Tien Tsin. Two thousand, three hundred
Chinese bodies are alleged to have been
cremated at Taku, and upwards of 1000
Chinese are said to have been killed at
Ten Tsin.
Chinese runners who have arrived ut
Taku report that foreign force was en-
gagged several days ago, with an over
whelming body of Chinese forty miles
west of Tien Tsin. At Shanghai 1t Is
assumed that this force was Admiral Sey-
mour's.
The Shanghai correspondent Of the
Daily Express says:
81 learn from a mandarin who stealth
lily left Pekin on June 10 and who sue
ceeded at great hazard In getting clear,
that the Boxers are massed around Pekin
and that more than half of the northern
and western portions OF the city, includ
ing the foreign settlement, were aflame
when the mandarin left. He told me
nothing as to the fate Of the foreigners
nor much as to the general situation; but
he had heard that the Empress Dowager