The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-06-20
IN CHINA,

TEN TsIN, June 13.--W lille work.
ing parties, accompanied by q patrol of
sixteen British marines commanded
by M jor Johnson, were repsi'iug the
line, eight miles beyond Lola, they en-.
counteied small parties OF Boxers WHO
were destroying the line. The Boxers
moved away from the advanced ma
rines and apparently disrereed into the
country, leaving the rails moved end
and the sleepers burning. The ma
rnes, when two miles in advance of
the first train, near Laing Fang, su =
denly perceived Boxers streaming from
village on their left. 1t was estlm-
mated that they nun oered two thou
sand, some OF them being mounted,
end they were trying to get between
the marines and the train. Most OF
them were armed with spears and
swords. A few had fire arms which
they handled awkwardly.
The marines retreated keeping no
running fight for over a mile. The
Boxers pursued the British for some
distance. Then, seeing more marines
from the train coming to their ssist-
apce, Major JohUson's sixteen halted
and poured heavy, continuous fire
into the crowd driving them across the
front of the reinforcing bueiackete,
who punished the Boxers severely with
Maxims. The Boxers fed and the
Europeans, following up their success,
cleared out two villages. Tho total
loss of the Boxers is estimated at forty
killed and wounded. Seven of their
wounded men we're attended by British
surgeons. The Bdtsh LOSE was moth
ing.
UGless their loss causes the Boxers
to lose heart the international column
will have much trouble before it reach
es Pekin The railway is so much dam
aged that the column only covered thir
~ four miles Sunday aud Monday; and
there is reason to fear that the road be-
yond is more badly damaged. EViden-
ces OF Gen. Nein's operations were
found in headiess bodies. The whole
country presents desoate aspect, en-.
tire villages having been deserted.
WASHINGTON, June IA dispatch
received at the state department from
Minister Conger in Pekin states that
Tuan, fatner of the heir apparent, has
been appointed president of the TsuDg
Ii Yamen; al.o that three other new
ministers have been appointed, all af1ili-
eted with the party opposed TO the for
eigners. On the whole, Mr.. Conger
reports the situation as not material Y
| improved. Guards are repairing the
railway and will soon arrive at Pakin.
l. is Mr.. Conger's belief that the safety
OF the foreigners in that capital will be
assured
Measures are being taken at the
navy department to send battalion of
marines to the Philippines. These
men are wanted for service a. certain
naval stations in the Philippines and tc
replace about so marines who have
been sent into Chinese waters. Ii is
figured at the department that there
are now about 1000 marines in the
Philippines and at Guam.
PEKIN, June 15.-The position of the
legation here is still extremely critical
Outside the gates of the city 10000
Chinese troops are drawn up to oppos,
the relief force. Guns are trained OF
the American, British and JAPANESE
legations. The American, Russian an(
Japanese ministers have sent courierI
to Tien Tsin asking for TWO Thousand
troops OF each natio atty. The United
States gunboats Yorktown aud Castine
left yesterday for Tong Ku. There il
no foreign warship here now.
Appearances at Shanghai and TieI
Tsin Indicate that there is great des
more trouble ahead for the concert 0
powers than merely reaching Pekir
with 2044 men. Serious disturbance
are taking place at Yum Nan Flu ant
Meng TIE, as we'll as at other points a
a considerable distance from the CAPT
tai. The whole Chinese empire seem
to be in ferment.
The intentions of the Empress Dow.
ager are still equivocal and vacillatine
with an apparent determination to ex
pei the appropriations OF a part of he
country, or lose her dynasty in tn
attempt. 1t is related of her that o.
Monday following the murder of tn
chancellor OF the japanese legati on
she was rou.ed to sense of DANCE
and went personally to the Yung Tin
Gate of PekiD, where she advised tn
rioters to dispense, But she took u
steps to apply force and the appearar C
of things is more threatening than be
fore.
A dispatch from Yokohama says il
} pan is to send a mixed regiment t
China. The government press declare
that japan alone could suppress the RI
volt, but she must first win the conf
} dence of the powers and avoid any aci
: likely to awaken suspicion.
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