Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-08-09
ACTUAL WAR NOW ON
PIETSANG FIGHT HAS PRECIPI-
TATED CONFLICT.
CHINESE WELL EQUIPPED
Strength Of Allied Forces Trifing in
Comparison With Chinas Millions
Iii Ping lungs Ominous En-
trance Into Chinese Politics-More
Artillery Shipped to Taku.

Washington, Aug. The announce
ment received through Admiral Remey
and Commander Taussig, Of the report
ed heavy firing on the road beyond
Eientsin, was the news Of interest in
the chinese situation yesterday. Little
doubt is expressed at the navy depart
ment that the news is substantially
correct. 1t is probable that a later re-
pert may reduce the list of casualties
among the international forces, but it
is evideLu the move upon Pekin is at
last fairly under way, and that strong
opposition has been encountered. War
department officials who have been ex-
ceedingly reticent for several days as
to news from the seat of war, admitted
yesterday, when the naval dispatches
we're received. that the announcement
of the battle was not unexpected.
Opinion among the various officials
now in Washington are somewhat di-
vided as to just what is presaged by
yesterdays events. The more optim-
istic are inclined to think that such
seEere blow as tic Chinese must have
received at Pietsang would result in
the speedy disintegration Of the forces
now opposing the march of the inter-
national column. In line with this
prediction it was plUphesied
that the Chinese government
would find means to send
the ministers from Pekin under an es
cort and thus stave off the advance
upon the capital On the other hand
there are number of officers IN posi-
ton to judge equally we'll who held
that the fight at Pietsang was only the
beginning Of strenuous resistance that
would be continued to the gates of Pc
kin. or beyond. 1t was urged in sup
port of this view that the C.4nese had
a hundred men to lose against one of
the allies; that they were well armed
with modern guns, and had apparently
abundance of ammunition.
It is stated that considerable appre-
hension exists among those cOnversant
with oriental affairs at the reapDear-
ance in Pekin politics of that rabid,
anti-foreign fanatic, Ii Ping Hung. It
is understood that his appearance in
Pekin affairs may have something to
do with the Shanghai rumOrs Of LII
Hung Changes suicide. It is believed
that with Ii Ping Hung and Prince
Tuan in control OF the de factO gov
eminent in China, a religious war OF
dervish-Iike fanaticism will probably
be waged against all anti-foreigners,
and friends Of the more liberal Chi
nese statesmen are exceedingly anxious
as to their fate under the Tuan-Li re-
gime.
The department is in receipt of L
dispatch from Gen. Macarthur. an
nouncing that he has shipped addi-
tional artillery supplies to Taku for use
in the Chinese campaign. These sup
plies include several gatling guns, and
the remainder of the rife and hOWitzer
siege train now in Manila, which up 10
date has remained useless in mat
country on account Of the bad roads.
How much better General Chaffee may
be able to handle these monster guns
through the almost impossible rice
sWamps of China. no one at the war
department was willing to guess, but
his recent disptach contained an ur-
gent appeal for more artillery. and he
is getting it. Ordnance experts at the
war department say that if it comes to
a bombardment of Pekin these fve-inch
rifles end scven-ilch hOWitZo~s. with
Their enormous bursting charges Ct
high explosives, will be the most effec-
tive batter1ng weapons Of the intern2-
, tfonal column. Minister Wa left Wash
ington Saturday, for Cape May, and re-
manned away from Washington yes
| terday. although he had been expected
/ to return Sunday night. All interrOga-
| tons at the embassy met with the re-
Spouse that there was no news nor eX-
DectatiOns of any.