The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-08-27
FAMINE THREATENED.
Food Supply at Tien Tsin Is Not
Sufficient to Supply the
Refugees.

London, Aug. q, a. m.-The latest
news from Pekin indicates that the
situation there is unchanged. The i'm
perial city is still invested. but has
not yet been occupied. The allied
forces, when the last message left.
were still refralning from aggressive
action pending instructions from their
governments. An attack from 10000
Boxers was anticipated, and to meet
this the whole American force and the
British artillery, according to a dis
patch to the Morning Post from Pekn,
dated Aug is, were moved to the outer
wall. The Boxers were reported com.
ing from the south.
General Dorward, In his report of
the engagement outside Tien Tsin,
Aug. 10, when the Americans, British
and japanese signally defeated large
force of Boxers, killing over 300, says
in dispatch dated Aug. 25
The lines of communication near
Tien Tsin are now free from danger.
The enemy had been treating the viii
layers badly. Several decapitated
bodies were found near their camp.
Many of the villagers are now flocking
to Tien Tsin at the rate of about a
thousand a day. AS there Is not more
than a months food supply, there is
every prospect of a famine shortly"
This declaration that a famine Is
evident in consequence of the inade-
quacy of provisions for the hordes Of
refugees at Tien Tsln adds a new ele-
ment of peril to the situation.
Shanghai advices say that the re-
port OF the capture of Emperor Kwang
Su by the japanese was erroneous. 1t
was a case of mistaken identity.
The Pekin correspondent of the
Daily Telegraph, wiring Aug. 10, re-
asserts that the empress dowager had
fled westward and adds:
She has a body guard of 1,500; and,
as the mountainous character of the
country would prevent n force follow
ing, it is believed that she will not be
pursued.
This correspondent reports every
thing quiet on the date of his dis
patch, but a telegram to the same pa
per from Tien Tsin, dated Aug "a, as
serts that a thousand Russians, Ger
mans and japanese had pushed for
ward from Pekin with the intention,
| it was assumed, of pursuing the flee
ing empress dowager.
Fate of Forbidden City.
At n conference OF ministers and
generals held at Taku Friday it was
decided, according to the Daily Tele-
| graph to refer the fate of the for
| hidden city to Europe.
Tien Tsin dispatches to Berlin, dated
August 23 says:
"The japanese troops are in pos
session of the wall around the inner
most part of the forbidden city, but
have not yet made their way to the
imperial palace, owing to lack of gov
ernment instructions"
Lieutenant General Linevitch, COM
mander of the first Siberian army
corps, cabling to st. Petersburg, under
date Of August 16, says:
There are no longer any Boxers
in Pekin. They were driven out today
by the French and Russians, whose
flags are hoisted over the imperia
city. The empress dowager, the EN-
peror, the heir apparent and the Who'll,
court have fled to the province o.
Shen 81.
Ii Hung Chang, according to {
Shanghai dispatch dated yesterday
has once more postponed his depar
ture for the north.
THE japanese have landed NOR
blue Jackets at Annoy, where order 4
maintained in spite of the grea
excitement. Conspicuous gallantr,
was displayed by Captain Gaussen, o
the Bengal cavalry" says the Shan
ghai correspondent of the Standard
while under heavy fire in the recen
fight at Tien Tsin, Captain Gaussel
stopped and picked up an American
trooper, lifted him into the saddle
and rode off in safety"