The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-07
troops probably reached there ia sman

troops probably reached there IN small
boats. towed by the naval launches.
The country along the river between Pc
ing and Tientsin Is low aIluvfsl plain,
almost impossible for wheeled vehicles in
the wet season, and under quite high
state OF cultivation. II presents no nat
ural defensive features. and the war de-
partment knows no strategic reason Why
the Chinese should have made stand
there. rather than at. any other Of the
dozen villages east Of the walled town Of
Tungchow. where Is stored an immense
amount OF provisions upon which the city
OF Pektng would have 10 depend IN case Of
Siege
From the fact that the engagement
lasted seven and half hours. II Is argued
In the department that either the Chinese
must have been heavily fntrenched. or
that there was an immense horde Of
them to 80 stubborniy contest the nd
vance Of the 1900 internationais. It Is
figured by military experts that a loss
Of 100 killed and wounded on the part
Of the allies probably means a loss OF
from three 10 six times as many by the
Chinese.
Believed In Washington.
latte doubt was expressed at the navy
department that the news was substant-
tally correct. II is probable later report
may reduce the list OF casualties among
the international forces. but II is evident
that the move on Picking is at last fairly
under way, and that strong opposition
has been encountered. The war depart
ment OFFICIALS, who have been reticent for
several days as to news from the seat
Of war. admitted today. when the naval
dispatches were received. that the an
nouncement Of the battle was not unex-
perted.
Opinion among the various officials now
IN Washington is somewhat divided as TO
Just what Is presaged by today's events.
The more optimistic are inclined to think
that such a severe blow as the Chinese
must have received at Pietsang viii re-
suit In the speedy disintcgration OF the
forces now opposing the march OF the
international column.
p1nann ,lns WIN I'm this gr,sdietion: 4 was
would md means 10 send the ministers
rom Picking under escort and thus stayc
81 the advance upon the capital. On
a position to judge equally well held
that the fight at pietsang was only the
oeGinning Of strenuous resistance that
king or beyond. II was urged In sup-
port Of this view that the Chinese had a
hundred men to lose against one to the
snsm sr.r aimed WIN moaarn guns and had
Religious War Feared.
.. Il Ia stated that much apprehension ex-
lists among those conyersant with ORR
ental AFFAIRS at the temperance In Pc
king politics % that rahd and anti-for-
efgn fanatic, II Ping Hen. II II I'M
defstood that hts appearance In Peking
AFFAIRS may have had something to do
With the shanghai rumors Of II Hung
u Ping Hen and Prince Tman ia control
OF the dc facto government In China a
religious war OF dcrvish-like fanaticlsm
etgners and friends OF the more liberal
Chinese statesmen are exceedingly anx-
ious A. to their fate under the Tuang Ia
AvtiIlery for GeH. chaae~.
The war department h IN receipt Of a
dispatch from Gen. Macarthur announcing
that he has shipped additional artillery
supplies 20 Taku. for use In the Chinese
campeikn These supplies include sew.
the rine and howitxer Siege train from
Manila. which up 10 date. has remained
. in the Philippines on account Of
How much better Gen. chafYce may be
apIe 10 handle the Siege guns through the
Utmost tmpassible rice swamps Of China.
no one at the war department was will
ing 20 guess. but his recent dispatch con-
tanned nm urgent appeal for more nrtil-
lsry, and he II getting a. The experts at
the war department say that II II comes
70 a hombardment Of Picking these 5-inch
rifles and Finch howitxers. with their
enormous bursting charges Of high expio-
etves. Will be the most effective batter
Ing weapons IN the international column.
Minister WI left Washington on Satur-
day for Cape May, and remained away
from Washington today, although he had
q tad
The Chinese legation wore an air of desc
iatinn and deseriion throughout the dav.
and all iufcrrogations OF the Chinese In
chAfgr were met with the response that
there was no news. nor any sign OF any
ADVANCE ON pEKING