Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-27
REPORTS NOT DENIED
Members of the Diplomatic Corps Said
to Have Left Pekin.
FRICTION BETWEEN Ii AND CONSULS
Scepticism as to Genuineness OIL
Letter From British Minister.
WON BY PRIN TUNG

the diplomatic corps have already left Pc
kin on their way to Tien Tsin. and add
that the foreigners are being escorted by
troops of Jurg-,u, commander-in-chief OF
tie Chinese forces.
This move is stated to be the outcome of
very stormy interviews between Lii Hung
Chang and the foreign consuls. and to have
been taken in the hope of abating he
wrath OF the powers and delaying the aG-
vance OF the allies toward Pekin.
Advices received from the same sources
state that half the foreigners in Pekin
have been killed or wounded or have 1ied
Gs the result of privations they had under
gene.
Chinese Plot Suspected.
The alleged departure of the ministers
from Pckin has led 10 reassertion of the
belief that the story is part of deep laid
Pan by China to conceal the date of the
massacre at Pekin. the suggestion being
that Chinese officials will claim that the
ministers left Pekin under a strong escort,
but were ambuShed and massacred by
'.Boxers' en- route to Tien Tsin. However
although it is still believed a massacre has
occurred of the foreign colony at Pekin. the
disposition now is to think the ministers
were sruie how rescued from tragic fate.
The Advance on PeLfn.
The only information regarding China
that the parliamentary secretary of the
foreign office. Mr.. William St. John Brod-
rick. was able to impart to the house of
commons today was that preparations for
the advance on Pekin seemed to be ap-
Preaching completion.
Letter From the british Minister.
Simultaneous comes the cable dispatch to
the Daily Mail from Shanghai announcing
that a letter had been received from Sir
Claude Macdonald, the British minister 10
China. under date of Pekin. July 6. saying
the legations were under constant fire and
that three were still standing, but that the
foreigners were receiving no assistance
from the authorities Owing TO the cow
ariice of the Chinese. Sir Claude wrote. it
was hoped the icEaticners would be able to
fo.d ont for a fortnight. but if they were
pressed their resistance could not last more
than four days at the utmost
The text of the Shanghai dispatch to the
Daily Mail follows:
SHANGHAI. ruly IA letter just re-
ceived here from Sir Claude Macdonald,
dated Pekin. July 6. follows:
We are receiving no assistance from
the authorities. Three legations are still
standing, including the British. We also
held part of the city walls. The Chinese
are sheiling US from the city with three
inch gun and some smaller ones and are
sniping US We can be annihilated any day
The ammunition and food are short
We would have perished by this time.
only the Chinese are towards and have no
organized plan of attack. If we are not
pressed We may hold out fortnight longer,
otherwise four days at the utmost.
I anticipate only slight resistance to the
relief force
Sir Claude concludes by advising the re-
lief force to approach by the eastern gate
or by way Of the river
The losses Of the foreigners in Pekin up
TO July 6 were forty killed and eighty
wounded.
Similar to n Former Letter.
Some of the statements above are strik-
ingiy similar to the published version Of Sir
Claude Macdonalds letter of July 4. If not
the same letters. the Chinese artillery would
appear to be strangely ineffective as the
casualties were the same according to the
letters Of both dates. As lending color to
the suggestion that the communications
are identical. it may be stated that the Bel
gian foreign office this morning received 4
dispatch from Shanghai under today's date
mentioning the receipt Of letter from Sir
Claude Macdonald dated July T. in which it
was stated that the beSieged foreigners IN
Pekin were reduced TO horse flesh The
Belgian consul at Shanghai also reports :
that a servant of the German minister who
left Pekin July states that the British
legation was only attacked at night. and if
It>upI!+ti ne DelleNtu could mold out.
Slaughter of Missionaries
In missionary circles at Shanghai, accord
ing to dispatch received here today, it
has been learned that all the missionaries
al Paotng. in the province of Pe-chili. have
: been murdered. All of the people Of the
mission a; Annoy. province Of Fookien, are
reported well.
Defeat for Prince Ching.
BERLIN. July PA dispatch received
here today, dated Tien Tsin, Tuesday. July
"a, says:
"A messenger who left Pekin Sunday,
July II. brough; today TO the customs off,
Ger here news that Prince Ching's soldiers
had been fighting Prince Tung's troops and
had been defeated, The foreigners were de-
lending themselves in the northern cathe-
dral near the Forbidden City"
German Expedition Starts
BREMERRAVEN. July 2T.-Part Of the
German expeditionary force for China sailed
today on board three transports. Emperor
William, who was accompanied by two of
his sons and the imperial chancellor Prince
Hoheu!ohe. witnessed the embarkation of
The expedition. and delivered a farewell ad-
dress 10 the troops
Another Straw of Evidence.
BOSTON. July 2I.-The American board
OF commissioners for the foreign missions
bo'-iS ItNtiNtN u CdDlegr3m from Rev
Henry b. Porter, missionary of the
board. dated Chefoo. July %. containing
the words. ''Pekin alive" Rev Mr.. Porter,
who was stationed at Pang Chuang. PROV
incc Of Shantung. north China. ESCAPED 10
thefoo after the Boxer uprising The cable
gram contained only the two words "Pekin
alive no intination being given as to the
evidence on which the conviction which ap-
pareutly prevailed at Chefoo was based
To Raise
NEW YORK. July 2I.-At meeting held
In this city today of the executive board
Of the Russ!an-American Democratic
League resolutions Were adopted favoring
the raising of regiment for service In
China. a copy OF the resolutions was for
warded to Secretary Root. The league has
membership In New York of 5000. and
sent Gao men TO fight Spain during the re-
cent war Elias Rosenthal was elected as
colonel of the regiment to be raised. He
has brother IN Shanghai.
PHILADELPHIA, July 2I.-Hurry orders
were received today by Major Heath. COM
Handing the government arsenal at Frank
fort, suburb of this city. to begin work