The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1900-07-07
FOREIGN LEGATIONS IN CHINA
WERE GIVEN TIME TO LEAVE
Probably Would Have Been Killed
by the Boxers-Messages Received
DO Not TeII-Aid Will BE Sent to-
Them.

Washington, July Although no less.
than three messages have come to the state
and navy departments respecting the con-
dition of the foreign ministers at Picking,
not one of the messages gives the slightest
intimation of why the ministers failed to
leave the Chinese capital when given a
days time to do so. One assumption is
that the ministers declined because they
would have gone out of Peking to certain
massacre by the hordes of Boxers outside
Another is that they declined to leave un-
til the foreigners were safely removed.
Kempff's Dispatches.
Washington, July 1.-The navy depart
from Admiral Kempff:
"Chefoo, July Secretary of the Navy,
Washington, ID. c.: The ministers at Pc
king were given "a hours to leave on the.
10th. They refused and are still there.
''The Peking relief force got half way
They were attacked by imperial troops on
the 18th. McCalla and Ensign Taussig
were wounded, but not seriously. Now
over 1900 troops are ashore. Commander
Wise commands at Tong Ku, in charge of
transportation by mail and river. The
combined nationaities find it necessary to-
make use of some civilians to operate the
railway. KEMfrF."
From RagsdaIe.
The following cablegram is from Consul
Ragsdale at Tientsin, dated June 27, be-
ing the first communication received from,
that officer in nearly two months
"The siege of Tientsin has been raised
The troops sent to the relief of the lega-
tions have returned, their efforts being
in vain. There was fighting of seven sep
arate battles. The American loss was six
killed and SO wounded. On the 10th the
ministers were given "a hours to leave
Peking. They refused and are still there
"RAGSDALE."
From Choate.
A cablegram received today from Am
bassador Choate at London states that
the foreign ministers were safe at Picking
on the 25th inst. The Chinese minister,
Mr.. WI, has private advices to the same
effect, which he has brought to the at
tention of the state department.
In the absence of facts concerning the
safety of legations, the government has de-
termined to proceed upon the line already
laid down, namely, that the ministers are
in Peking in need of help. The navy and
the war department will continue the plans
set afoot for the dispatch to Picking of an
expedition to bring away the ministers. A
cabinet council today decided this point
and did so with all the official dispatches.
before them, as also with the contents of
the Associated Press cablegrams from
China in their possession. The decision
amounts to a practical declaration that as
yet there is nothing officially that will war
rant the assumption that the Chinese gov
eminent itself directed the uprising and
attack.
Secretary Hay gave his personal atten-
ton to the situation, though far from re-
covered from his attack of illness yester-
day He is still hopeful that there will be-
found a satisfactory and honorable outcome
of the present difficulties. Apparently the
Chinese minister, Mr.. WI, holds to this
same belief, and this with his personal
knowledge of the actual sentiments of the
tsung Ii yamen.