Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-06
STUBBORN RESISTANCE
REPORT OF ENGAGEMENT AT
PEITsANG INDICATES THAT.
Believed That Loss of Chinese Must
Have Been Very
Great.

The report of the engagement between
the allied forces and the Chinese at PETIT
sang was not unexpected at the War De-
partment. but the extent of the losses sus-
tanned by the allies, unless very greatly ex-
agserated. shows a stubbornness of resist
ance which was perhaps not expected.
Peitsang is at the head of tidewater Of
the Pei-Ho, and the charts OF the War De
partment indicate IT as not fortified
town. nor, as far as the department knows,
is 1t point of particular strategic advan-
tage such as might have been chosen by
the Chinese as the main point Of resistance
Of the advance toward Pekin. The troops
encountered there. 1t is inferred. are those
which retreated from T1en Tsin after their
defeat at that place. probably very greatly
augmented by the addition Of regular and
irregular troops.
Resistance All Along the Route.
Unless such a crushing defeat has been
administered them at Peitsang as viii
throw them into utter Decentralization. they
will probably give resistance all along the
route to Pelxin, making q stand at every
advantageous point. and falling back when
compelled to. This undoubtedly is the plan
of the Chinese officers In command, out II
is not improbable, and army officers mere
think 1t very likely, that the Chinese troops
will be so demoralized by defeat that their
resistance of the advance of the allies Will
speedily become very feeble, ana that iohs
before the relief column reaches Pekln tne
Chinese government will have become sum-
GENTLY alarmed to be very eager to make
terms of peace. The greater apprehension
Is lest the work of butchery shall be com
pleted at Pekin. hostilities being In progress
before the Chinese repentance peslns-
Chinese Los. Must Have Been Great.
It is suggested that IL the allied losses by
killed and wounded at Peitsang. amounted
to 200 the loss on the part OF the chinese
who were defeated, must have been terri
Bile 1t Is regarded as entirely likely that
such punishment was inflicted upon them
as to throw them into a position OF democrat
that the fighting lasted seven hours and a
half at a point where 1t must have been
practically in the Open indicates that the
Chinese must have been in great force. Inc
defeat therefore, indicated by the an
nouncement that the Chinese are retreating
is a defeat Of the main army. which was
probably better organized for That nght
than 1t can be for another engagement.
Greater Difficulty of Settlement.
The renewal of fighting is regarded as
rendering more difficult the settlement OF
the trouble with China by diplomacy, and
there is naturally feeling of keen appre-
hension as to the safety Of the foreign min
listers in Pekin. Every possible effort Will
be made by this government to tacIntate
the advance of the relief column, but the
difficulties of equipment and transportation
pressed that the situation with respect to
the landing of troops and supplies at Ten
Tsin presents a parallel to that at Santiago
where much of the supplies and equipment
of which the army stood in need was left on
shipboard by reason Of the lack of lighter
facilities.