Evening star., 1900-07-09
Report Sent by Director General
Sheng From Shanghai.
GOVERNMENT PROTECTS FOREIGNERS
"Rebe|Iious Troops and Rioters u
He Says, "Suffer Many Losses" ;"
HOPEFUL FEELING STRONGER

SeHeHcy SueHS, director general OF I'M
perial telegraphs. dated at ,Shangha July
8, 1879, and received by Minister Nvu on
the same day:
On I'd July two legations in Pekin still
preserved. All ministers safe Rebeilious
troops and rioters make attacks and suffer
many losses. Imperial government is pro-
tecting, but meets difficulty in doing So
1t is feared that food and ammunition are
exhausted. SHENG.."
Hopeful Feeling Encouraged
Though feaful of giving false encoura ge-
ment. the State Department officials were
bound to admit this morning that there is
reason for hope now respecting the welfare
OF the legationers at Pekin. Minister Wu's
cablegram from Sheng. taken In connection
WI with the report OF Admiral Bruce from
lien Ts!n. has done much to encourage
this hopeful feeling. Mr. WI brought his
telegram to the State Department this
morning in person and pointed out TO Sec
FeIary ffay what he regarded as some sig
hihcaht and gratifying features of his dis
patch. Such, for instance. was Sheng's de-
scrlptlon OF the Chinese who are attacking
IN" legations as 'rcbellious troops and
rioters and the positive statement that
the Chlnese government is opposing them
What Correspondent Says.
The Shanghai correspondent of the Lon
don Express, telegraphing yesterday. how
ever. throws doubt upon the report from
Shanghai. He says:
"Taoati Shens now admits that there
was an error in his communicat ton to Gen
Warren. The date of the courier's arrival
at Chinen Flu was July 3, which does not
apply to his departure from Pekin The
journey from Pelln to Chinen Flu occupies
iVe days. The courier. therefore, could not
have left Pekin later than June % The
date of the there as piN l,x
Chinese reports, was Junes:0 or July L.
Chinen is also spelled Gilman and is be-
heved to be the same as Tsnan.
Credf: Due to Minister WI.
Although the minister is modest In his
claims there is reason to believe that .
great deal of the credit for the awakening
of the Chinese government to a sense of,its
responsibility for the safety of the foreign
ministers is due to his personal efforts If
the outcome of the situation at Pekin is
the deliverance of the ministers in safety
then Minister WI will have earned the
gratitude. not only of the people of the
United States. but of Europe
1t is learned that at least three weeks
age. and as soon as it was realized that
the ministers were in peril Minister WI
set about their protection as far as lay in
his power He could not reach the gov
ernmeEt AT Pckin himself directly, owing
to the interruption in the telegraph. But
he was in constant communication by
cable not only with ShenG at Shanghai,
but with the great viceroys Of thessouthern
provinces, including Ii Hung Chang. He
cabed to these officials the most earnest
appeals for the exercise of their good Of
fl es with the Pekin government to secure
the safety of the legationers. He pointed
out the inevitable disaster to China that
would follow the destruction of these min
listers and he implored the viecroys to
avail themselves Of any means in their
power to insure the presentation at Pekin
If rom ont. I..1i tt.,t
these representations have reached the i'm
perial government and that thev have at
least contributed to the decision of that
government to protect to the extent of its
power the foreign minister's
Prince Chins's Force.
Mr.. WI says that Prince Ching, who, ac-
cording to Admiral Bruce, is attacking the
Boxers is not only the head of the Tsung
Ii Yamen, but is also com.nandant of one
of the Pekin garrisons There are several
garrisons in Pellin, each composed of a
separate nationality, and Ching commands
the Manchu force. Mr.. WI said that at
his last advice this force was composed of
perhaps 1oooo soldiers. They had been
drilled in foreign tactics at the military
school Of the north by instructors who had
themselves been taught the art of war by
German army officers, and would undoubt-
edly prove very effective against such an
unorSaniZed mob as the Boxers The MIN
lister noted that the Boxer movement had
dcgenerated into rioting and looting, all
principle having been lost, and 50 it was
reasonable to expect that the strongest
and best and most influential of the Chi
nese mandarins would find IL necessary to
combine to crush Them from an instinct of
self-preServation, and regardless of their
foreign or anti-foreign sentiments.
Rewards to He Paid.
Minister WI has cablea to Sheng, the di-
pf ri,J at
hal. and to the viceroy at Nankin, request
that they take steps to have 1t made known
in Pekin and vicinity that heavy rewards
will be paid by the. American people for
the salvation Of the people in the legations.
The minister did not make this representa-
ton upon the authorization of the United
States government, but upon many state
ments that had been made to him by
prominent American citizens. Even yester-
day he was approached by some ladies'.
friends and relatives of some of the people
who were with Minister Conger when the
outbreak occurred, beseechihg him to offer
rewards. which they would pay to any one
who would help the besieged The minis
ter has resorted to the emily means IN his
power to bring these offers to the attention
of the Chinese people.
RespOnse From Admiral KempR.
A cablegram has been received by the
Navy Department from Admiral Kempf.
dated at Taku. probably Saturday. The
admirars communication relates to the
number Of troops and the character Of the
force that should be supplied to participate
in the campaign against Pekin. The for
eign admirals at Taku have been consulting
on this point Admiral Keulpf was ad-
dressed directly by the Navy Department,
at the instance of the President, with an
inquiry as to what force was needed in his
judgment, thus receiving a very plain IN
timation of the earnest desire of the gov
ernment that something bel done speedily
toward the relief movement. His cable
gram was discussed today by Secretary,
Hay and Secretary Long, and 1t was de-
cided that 1t was not proper to make the
communication public because 1t would not
be well to have the Information conveyed
by the admiral as to his needs sift back
to the rebellious Chinese.
A Forward Movement.
The State Department, though at a dis
tanee from the scene. is satisfied that the
foreign admirals at Taku are overestimat-
ing the strength Of the Chinese opposi-
ton. and consequently Of the force required
by them for the march on Pekin. 1t is
not possible to learn all Of the facts upon
which the department bases this opinion.