The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-03
OF chinese bullets were gathered in an


fought OF, although the Austrian Belgian,
| Italian. and Dutch Legations were then
and subsequently, burned With the aid
| of the native converts, directed by the
missionaries. to whose helpful co-opera-
| ton Mr. Conger awards unstinted praise,
the British Legation vas made verita-
| bic fortress. The British Minister, Sir
/ Claude Mcdonald. was chosen general
/ commander Of the defence with the See
/ rotary of the American Legation, Mr. z. G.
! Squiers, as chief of staff.
To save life and ammunition the be-
! sieged sparingly returned the incessant
J fire Of the Chinese soldiery, fighting only
/ 10 repel attack or make an occasional sue
/ cessfuI sortie fer strategic advantage,
1 such as that of hfty-fve American. Brit
! ish, and Russian marines led by Captain
Myers, of the United States Marine Corps,
which resulted in the capture of fornid-
able barricade on the wall that gfavely
menaced the American position. It was
! held TO the last, and proved an invaluable
| acquisition, because commanding the wa
Ssr gate through which the relief column
entered.
During the siege the defenders lost So
killed, I35 wounded, and by disease-the
! last all children
Overtures From the Tsung-If-Yamen.
/ On July II the besieged had their first
: communication with the Tsung- IL Yamen,
/ from whom a message came inviting to a
/ conference, which was declined. Core
/ spondence, however, ensued and a sort OF
armistice was agreed upon, which stopped
! the bombardment and Iessened the rife
fire for time Even then no protection
! whatever was afforded, nor any aid given,
save to send to the legations a small sup
ply OF fruit and three sacks of -four.
Indeed, the only communication had
with the Chinese Government related to
the occasional delivery or despatch OF a
telegram or to the demands Of the Tsung-
/ If-Yamen for the withdrawal of the lega-
tions to the coast under escort. Not
only are the protestations OF the Chinese
Government that it protected and suceoT-
ed the legations positively contradicted,
but irresistible proof accumulates that the
attacks upon them were made by imperial
troops, regularly uniformed, armed, and
Offered, belonging to the command OF
| Jung In, the imperial commander in chief
/ DEGREES encouraging the Boxers, organ
izing them under prominent imperial Off
GERS, provisioning them, and even grant
ing them large sums in the name OF the
Empress Dowagel, are known to exist
Members of thS Tsung-ii-Yamen who
counseled protee, son of the foreigners
were beheaded- Even in the distant pro-
yinces men suspected of foreign sympathy
were put TO death, prominent among these
being Chang Yen-hoon. formerly Chinese
Minister IN Washington.
With the negotiation of the partial
aTmistice of July Il, a proceeding which
was doubtless promoted by the represen-
tations of the Chinese Envoy IN Washing
ton. the way was opened for the convey
ancC 10 Mr.. Conger of a test message sent
by the Secretary OF State through the kind
Offices of Minister WI Ting-fang- Mr..
Conger's reply, despatched from Fekin on
July IS, through the same channel, afford
ed TO the outside world the first tiGings
that the inmates of the legations were
still alive and hoping for succoT.
This news stimulated the preparations
for a joint relief expedition in numbers
sufficient 10 overcome the resistance
which for month had been organizing be-
tween Taku and the capital. Re-enfOrce-
ments sent by all the cooperating Gov
ernments were constantly arriving The
United States contingent hastSy as
sembled from the Philippines or despatch
ed from this country, amounted to some
5000 men. under the able command first
Of the lamented Colonel Liscum and after
ward Of General Chaffee-
Operations of the Allies.
Toward the end of July the movement
began. a severe conflict followed at Ten
tsin, in which Colonel Ldscum was killed.
The city was storrned and partly destroyed
It's capture afforded the base OF operations
from which to make the final advance,
which began in the first days OF August,
the expedition being made up of japanese,
Russian, British, and American troops a.
the outset
Another battle was fought and won at
Yangtsun- Thereafter the disheartened
Chinese troops offered little show of re-
sistance. few days later the important
position of He-si-woo was taken. 4 rapid
march brought the united forces to the
populOus city of Tung Chow, which cspi-
tulated without contest.
On August i the capital was reached.
After a brief conflict beneath the walls the
relief column entered and the legations
we're saved. The United States soldiers,
sailors. and marines, officers and men alike,
in those distant chimes and uni suaI sur
roundings, showed the same valor. dis
cipline, and good conduct, and gave proof
Of the same high degree Of intelligence
and efficiency which have distinguished
them in every emergency.
The imperial family and the Government
had fed few days before. The city was
without visible control The remaining I'M
perial soldiery had made, on the night of
the 18th, a last attempt 20 exterminate
the besieged, which was calamity repealed
It fell to the occupying forces to restore
order and organize provisional admins
tratiou.
Happily the acute disturbances were
confined to the northern provinces II is
a relief to recall and a pleasure to record
the loyal conduct OF the Viceroys and local
authorities of the southern and eastern
provinces Their efforts were continuous
" directed TO the pacific control of the
vast populations under their rule and to
the scTupulous observance of foreign treaty.
rights. At critical moments they did not
hesitate TO memorialize the throne. urging
the protection of the legations, the restora-
ton Of Communication, and the assertion
Of the imperial authority against the sub
versive elements. They maintained excel
lent relations with the official representa-
tiveS of foreign Powers. To their kindly
disposition is largely due the success of the
eonsuls in removing many Of the mission
aries from the interior to places Of safety.
In this relation tho action of the consy1Is
should be highly commended. In Shan
tung and eastern Chill the task was diff
cult, but. thanks to their energy and the
cooperation Of American and foreign naval
commanders, hundreds of foreigners. in
Guiding those of other nationalities than
ours, were rescued from imminent peril.
The American Policy
The policy of the United States through
all this trying period was clearly an
nounced and scrupulously carried out. A
circular note TO the Powers, dated July
3, proclaimed our attitude Treating the
condition in the north as one Of virtual
anarchy, in which the great provinces of
the south and southeast had no share, we