Evening journal., 1900-08-07
Edict Announcing Their Safety
August | Confirmed
Ii BLlMES WHOLE GOVERNMENT
Says But for Its Lack Of Energy the
Situation Would Not Have Become
10 Serious

London, Aug. THE advance OF
the allied forces commenced today"
cables the British consul at Tien Tsin,
under date of Aug T. This is the first
official information received here that
the attempt to relieve Pekin has be-
gun. 1t is accepted as correct.
The British consul does not mention
any fighting, but the Shanghai CORE
spondent of The Daily Mail, telegraph
ing Sunday says. THE Pekn relief
column is reported to have suffered q
check. The Chinese are said to have
adopted Tugela tactics and after sew
eral hours of fighting to have re-
treated"
This is the only message received in
London this morning bearing out the
reports of Admiral Remey and Com
mander Taussig regarding an engage
ment at Peitsang. The fact that the
advance did not begin until Saturday
is taken to strengthen the accounts of
a battle Sunday.
In the same cablegram, which was
read in the house of commons, the
consul at Tien Tsin says;
News from the Japanese legation
has been received up to Aug. e."
Therefore, the edicts announcing the
safety of the ministers on that date
Rre confirmed.
Yesterday the Chinese minister. Sir
Chih Chen Lo Feng Luh, commune
Gated to Lord Salisbury a message
from the tsung-li-yamen. dated July
30, reiterating the statement that the
ministers were safe on that day and
recounting the friendly relations ex-
fof ~.
as well as reporting the sending of
supplies to the legations by the yamen.
The message contains this important
statement:
"a successful termination Of the
conference with the ministers for their
conveyance under escort to Tien Tsin
is expected but, ON account of the re-
commencement of hostiities at Tien
Tsin, code kilograms for transmission
to the representatives are considered
undesirable"
This appears to confirm the state
ment that the Chinese government will
endeavor to stop the march to PelSin
b. using the ministers as hostages.
The Lokal Anzeiger, of Berlin, pub
fishing an interview with III Hung
Chang, quotes him as declaring em-
phatically that China must not, IN any
circumstances, cede any more territory
to any power. In reply to a question
why the rebellion was not put down,
Earl Ii is represented as having said:
Il blame Prince Tuan, the empress
dowager and the whole Pekin govern
ment. But for their lack of energy
the situation would never have become
so serious"
The St. Petersburg correspondent OF
The Daily Mail says:
Active negotiations are proceedings
between Russia and the United States,
the probable outcome of which will be
a resolution to uphold the integrity of
China unconditionally."
A Shanghai correspondent Of the
same paper. says that the Americans
there are urging the appointment OF
Gen. Macarthur as commander-in-
chief of the allied forces.
The Standards Shanghai representa-
tive, wiring Sunday, says:
1T is clear that the march to the
relief of Pekin will be anything but
walkover. Japanese scouts have dis
covered a large force Of Chinese soufh-
west of Tien Tsin and another large
force in the vicinity of Lu Tai, to the
eastward.
IT IS learned now that the members
of the tsung-li-yamen who were put TO
death for their alleged pro-foreign
proclivities We're not beheaded but
were cut in twain. this being the Sc
verest penalty under the Manchu code.
Sheng declares that the grand council
at Pekin was ignorant Of the orders for
the execution.
A Shanghai special, dated Aug. 6,
says; Lii Hung Chang has officially
informed the consuls that the minis
ters left Pekin for Tien Tsin last Fri
day Aug. 3, with Gen. Yung I.u In
command OF the escort. The consuls
are by no means disposed to credit
Earl LIS statement. All other reports
that have reached London up TO this
hour indicate that the ministers have
not left Pekin."