The Portland daily press., 1900-07-25
Col. Liscum's q Terrible
Mistake.
Took Wrong Road Which Re-
suited in Disaster to Ninth.

London, July 25-4 a. m.-Sir Claude
MaoDonald's message, dated July 4, APP
pealing for relief, is regarded in London
as only prelude to the absolute con-
fIrmation Of the massacre. This is the
opinion also OF the japanese minister
here. The newspapers suggest that the
British minister's despatch was held
back and released about the same time
as Mr.. Conger's undated message.
Although the American and British
forces are working harmoniously the
between Taku and Pekin give evidence
OF jealousies between the powers; and
other dispatches from Tien Tsin show
that the language difficulty has been
hampering the military operations. A
despatch to the Daily News from Tien
Tsin dated July "A, and describing the
fighting, said:
Col. Liscum mistook the road and
was nearly isolated. Gen. Dorward, on
premature report from the japanese
commander that the city had been en-
tered, ordered a general advance, which
proved a costly error. Much valuable /
time was lost and trouble oceasioned yes
terday afternoon because the messengers
between Gen. Fukishima and Gen. Dor
ward did not understand each others Ian
guage.
The Tlen Tsin correspondent of the
Daily Mail says that when the Chinese
regulars saw the Boxers who led the at
tack, being killed, they began to retire.
lie asserts that the admirals have decid
ed that it would be useless to move to-
ward Pekin without at least 69.0O0 men.
In an editorial referring to this state
ment, the Daily Mail comments upon
the American proposal to advance with
7C00 men, It says:
Eve have learned in Africa how dam
gerous it is to despise our enemies; and,
in the interest OF civilization, we do not
wish to see such lesson read to the
United States by the Heathen Chi
nese. .
A whole batch of Tlen TsIn dispatches
are published today. All praise the gal
lantry of the Americans and japanese.
The Standard correspondent says the
Americans at hrst made q mistake in IN
derestimating the lighting capacity of
the Chinese whose fire was really ter
rife. He expressed some doubt about the
ability of the allies to hold the positions
appears that large hauis Of silver We're
made by the allies, the metal being car
ried away IN buckets, and the Chinese
calmly assisting.
Requests for mediation addressed to
foreign powers are Interpreted here to
be a preparation for the acceptance of
foreign aid to repress the rebellion; and
Ii Hung Chang statement that he
could restore order with 20, 600 white
troops, is looked upon as a subtle argu-
ment in favor of appointing him to the
command of the allied forces to the ex-
clusion of japanese.
The Shanghai correspondent of the
Times telegraphing Monday, says;
In an interview today LII Hung Chang
reiterated his statement that, ii the
Manchu party had been guilty of the
horrible treachery involved in q massa-
ere of the members OF the legations, he
would absolutely refuse to attempt to ne
gOtiate, He said the present intention
of the Tsung Ii Yamen was to memort- |
alize the Empress Dowager to revictual
the legations and then to arrange to send
them TO lien Isin under tho escort OF
Gen. Sun Wad Lin. He declared that the
fighting had ceased and that the foreign
troops were holding position south of
the Yu Ho bridge while Gen. Iuang
Fuh Saing forces were on the north.
Earl Iii expressed the intention to
walt for Enews OF the movement of the
foreign legations before proceeding north
ward, On receiving this he viii be es-
corted by 10, 000 troops who are now mus
tering in this province.
Regarding the negotiations he said he
believed Chinas finances would debar
her from paying Indemnity and that the
people would never submit to further
annexations of territory. He thinks the
powers ought to accept assurances of q
reformed administration and of the re
moval OF the officials responsible for the
crisis Obviously III Hing Chang has
not changed his views or his methods, /
while the puerility OF his arguments is +
increasing with age The impression is
gaining ground here that the Manchus
are temporizing while preparing to re- I
treat to Hisian Flu. A confidential mem
Der of his staff says that Earl Iii Will not
go north until hs is convinced that the
Empress Dowager has seen the folly OF
her present policy
The Hong Kong correspondent of ths
Times says that before leaving LII Hung
Chang counteTmanded his order for the
Blacks flag" to march on Pekin and
that they are now encamped outside Of
Canton
The Shanghai correspondent OF the