The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-10-28
CAPTURE OF PEkIN.
Russians Tried to Get In First
by a Trick.
The CHINESE Fooled THEM.
Hot Fighting at the Walls Before
the Defenders Ran.

British First at the LeEations-Plucky struE-
gle OF the French missionaries in the North
Cathedral. which the Relief Column Only
y Reached Two Days Later-March OF Chat
e fees Men Through the Purple city stopped
Half wsy-Pokin Given Up to LootIns and
Totally wrecked-Queer Things In Siege.
From a stan Correspondent OF THE SUS.
PrKIS, Aug. 1s-By this time the news must
be out to the world that the beleaguered lega-
lions have been relieved and the people In
them are safe Here In the city those OF us
who came with the relief are "a perple1ed
by the amazing contradictions as are those
who have endured II all Inside the barbados
The combination Of savagery and simplicity
displayed by the Chinese Is astounding Now
that IL Ia over, and we have opportunity 10
take stock Of Chinese resources, It IL incon-
celvable almost that they ever really were
determined 10 destroy the legations, and vet
from the barbarity and forocity Of their at
tacks and their tactics II Ia lnconoetvable that
they had any desire except the complete eN-
tlnctlon Of the foreigners Men like Pethick
and Hart, who have devoted their lives 20
the service Of the Chinese. do not pretend
10 understand and saw that by-and-by. per-
hans the ex exclamation will be forthcoming.
The suspicion Of the good faith Of the Rus
SLAMS which has been In the minds Of every
one ever since their actions ut Tientsln in early
July WAS Justified at the last. They broke
faith, simply and directly. without any at
tenpt az exclamation just because there seemed
for n time 20 be n chance for them 10 get through
into the city. and so be- the first to relieve the
legations. and get the Russian nag hoisted
over anything good there might be in the
way Of property waiting to he seized. II re-
suited in the relief Of the legations a day sooner
than had been planned. and in so far was a
good thing Also il exposed clearly the WORTH
lessness of Russian promises
The plan agreed upon by the command
Ing officers in their conference at Tung-chow
on the afternoon Of the 18th provided for re-
connaisances in force on four roads toward
ieAin on ~ o." amp va, W ue ,u"u'
chow and contact established with the other
forces. There was also 20 be the regular re-
connaisance work for the protection Of each
front. The next day. the i4th. the entire forces
were TO be concentrated along the line Of these
hllIl anu lfA'lllllA~Aul - NflF - IL NfIA
out about the city. probably even encircling
1t was expected that there would be a
hard fight before we could get in. ON Wednes-
day, the 18th. at daylight. the general attack
was to be made on the gates Of the east wall.
All went according 10 plan on the 18th. rs
far as the establishment Of the four camps
on the roads about seven miles from Tung-
chou and the establishment 81 contact between
the camps The japanese. with their two
battaliona of infantry and their battery. we're
on the stone road from Tung-ohou. the old
Imperial road that leads 20 the Chi-hua gate
which they were to attack The Russians
were on the road Just south Of the stone road
and just north Of the canal The Americans
were on the road just south Of the canal and
the British on the first road south Of rs All
the roads are parallel. All the troops left
Tung-chou not especially early on the morning
Of the 18th, and marched easily, the Americans
and British going into camp before 10 O'Clock
In the morning
RUSSIAN INV" '"N' FAILED
II was the afternoon reconnaissance Tint
DEVELOPED the Russian trick. A. soon rs their
camp WIS established they moved ON forward
with nearly all their infantry. all their Cos-ack-.
and their battery. Practically the vhoIe
strength Of their reconnaissance in force went
on to make the look la front. II happcued
TINT they went almost up 10 tho wall Of tho
city. just exactly what occurred probably
never will he known for Il haupcucd that thor.
was no correspondent with the Russians that
afternoon. and bv the time two or thrce ~
us got around To them tic ucyt morning 81,
much had occurred tbnt tho Russian, had ul.pty
Of stories 20 tell They tell n very smooth story
Of that afternoon They say that tbcv wont
forward meeting no opuos,tioo. uutil tbov
xere in cosv viay oC IA. wall and ,bav couId
400 no Cbinsse pronornd IN do,npd tho c,to
mr. the wall They wont To within To-. tb,n
. hundred ,ords ~ m. ,r,Il and dreu, ma cro
and concluded that tho Chinese had hoar -,
hodlr ohasod an tho r,,rcL NJ, ,h,, no. h,A
,nr ovor fr,r paLin also and moan, IN ,,,to
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a. tho s,ro,r,n - hout. -,a ua
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