New-York tribune., 1900-08-20

rasy be prisoner to-day IN IL. hands Of the
international commanders. If so. the restora-
ton of order in North China may not prove so
difficult tedious task has been antici-
pated. II is somewhat doubtful however.
whether that would tighten to any great ex-
tent the burden that she aud her advisers have
laid on the shoulders OF the venerable Chinese
statesman. Ii Hung Chang. The name OF
Prince Fung.' has not hetherto figured prom
inently in the Chinese dispatches and IT is sug-
gested that a mistake may have been made in
the transmission OF HIS name by telegraph.
yung Lu is prominent Imperial official, being
a member OF the Council OF State and Of the
Board OF Revenue and Finance. According to
Minister WI. Yung Lu is also general and
"commander-in-Chief Of the Imperial army" a
component OF which is what is called "a Peking
field force" consisting of ten thousand picked
men, which, according to Lord Charles Beres-
ford, is well armed. but indirerently drilled"
and he is also Commander from the Palace"
When Lord Charles was in China. two years
ago. this force was quartered in ''the Hunting
Park. in Peking."
Minister wu threw up his hands to-day when
the statement in Admiral Remey's dispatch in
relation to the detention OF the Empress was
repeated TO him, and declared that 1t was alb
surd He asserted that she and the Emperor
and all the Imperial officials departed from Pc
king some days ago
A SMALL FORCE MENTIONED.
In these dispatches week ago the suggestion
was made that a flying column might be de-
tached from the main body 10 make dash to
Picking for the relief of the legations, and that
It might act in cooperation with the Imperial
authorities TO effect that object. There is no
hint OF such cooperation in any of the offlelaI
DISPATCHES thus far received, but the dispatch
which came to-day from Major-General Chanee
furnishes an indication that flying column
may have been organized as suggested. Gen
ersl chaffee SAYS: I'VE entered the legations
last night with 18th and light battery" This
does not seeeunt for more than one-thiro or
one-fourth of General chafree's command.
which, including the marines. must have been
three thousand strong, after dedueting casual
ties ir battle and the sick. Only two battalions
OF the 14th about $50 officers and enlisted mem
are in China, and Reillys Battery was only Loo
strong when il left Manila for Taku- AS
neither the 9th Cavalry, the 9Th Infantry nor
the marine regiment is mentioned in the dis
PATCH they were evidently elsewhere.
If no larger proportions Of the Japanese Rus
slams and British than the Americans compose
the force that actually entered and occupied
Peking there must have been from 5000 to
10000 international troops somewhere else and
beyond Tang-Tnun. new base may have been
established at Tong Chow, which is at the head
of navigation Of the Pei-Ho for craft drawing
not more than eighteen inches OF water, and the
main body OF the expeditionary force may have
halted there Or 1t may have been outside and
near the walls Of Peking, ready to support the
force that entered the city, and also 10 prevent
the flight of the Emperor ami Empress and their
official retinue. FOR the latter duty the 9Th
Cavalry would be admirably and peculiarly fit
ted. in case they had received their mounts in
good condition. as Is generally supposed TO be
the case the transports which conveyed them
20 China having arrived at Taku about ten days
ago