Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-23
AT WAR WITH EUROPE
This is the Practical Situation in
China N W.
new Grief OF CHINESE ARMY
He is in Sympathy With the
Revolutionary Movement.
FIGHTING AT TEN TSIN

LONDON, June 23.-Matters In China ap-
pear to have reached nearly the climax of
seriousness, judging from this mornings
news. The announcement that Prince Tuan
has assumed active command of the Chi
nese troops and the bombarding of Tien
Tsin seems conclusive evidence that the
Dowager Empress has declared war on the
combined European powers. and that the
whole military strength of China is to be
employed in behalf of the Boxers" 1t
is considered significant that the Chinese
merchants of Shanghai realizing on
their effects in specie and retiring into the
interior. Evidently they anticipate a spread
of the trouble. Consequently. it is urged
the forts at Woo-sung should be seized by
the international forces In view of possible
eventualities. Possibly preliminary to
some action of this kind the consuls at
Shanghai today addressed note to the
Chinese admiral, asking him to remove his
fleet from Shanghai. In compliance with
this request two Chinese warships are to
sail today and the rest tomorrow.
Situation is Very Grave.
In the meanwhile the gravity of the sit
uation at Ten Tsin can hardly be over
estimated. The critical state of affairs
seems plain from the haste with which the
small force of 1900 men was dispatched
from Taku to the relief of the Tien Tsin
garrison force 1t is doubtless conveying
ammunition. the absence of which adds
SO SenSibly to the straits of the garrison.
A late message from Tien Tsin warns the
relieving force to beware of Chinese ambus-
cades outside the town.
If the assurance of the Chinese minister
at Berlin relative to the safety of Baron
ketteler, the German minister at
Pekin. be credited, it will tend materi-
ally to brighten the situation at the Chi
nese capital. as 1t leads to the inference
IA ha nj har
1t appears from telegram sent by the
German consul at Chefoo that Commander
Lans of the Hits was really wounded at the
Taku fight, together with fourteen other
Germans, while seven were killed, includ-
ing Lieutenant Hellmann. Probably Com
nander Lans' telegram to his relatives at
Vessel meant that his condition was salts
factory.
Yokohama reports that another division
of troops is proceeding to China.
A dispatch received here announcing the
burning of Wei-Hai-Wei is evidently mis-
take. as there are foreign settlements
there. Apparently 1t refers to Ten Tsin.
Bomba rdment of Tien Tsin.
Special dispatches from Shanghai. dated
at TO pm yesterday, give additional de-
tails of the bombardment of Tien Tsin. 1t
Is reported that Tien Tsin has been tnces-
sanity bombarded for the last three days.
The entire British and French settlements
have been destroyed. Heavy casualties are
reported. The Chinese number AT least
1J00O inside the city. while their emiSSar1es
crowd the foreign quarters, setting fire to
the buildings. The Chinese guns are being
worked steadily from the walls of the
tive city. The consulates all being de-
stroyed, the foreigners flock to the town
hall. The assistance of reinforcements Is
implored. The Russians are now intrench-
&C In the depot. They are resisting the adj
vance which the enemy IS making In over
whelming numbers.
No word has been received from Admiral
Seymour. and it is feared that the relief
column Jared badly. There is an exodus
of foreigners from the Yang-Tse-Kiang
ports to Shanghai and Japan Many con-
slider Shanghai unsafe, owing to the alb
sence of foreign troops
LIVERPOOL, Juno 23.-Among the pas
sengers the Cunard line steamer Etru
ria. which sailed from this port today for
New York. was Reginald Thomas Tower,
secretary of the British embassy at Wash
irgton. who Is on his way to Pekin.