Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-08-31

! occupied. The bulletin board was coy-
cred with significant notices. For in
stance:
g. AS there is likely to be a severe drop
ping lire today women and children are
forbidden to walk about the grounds
Here is another:
Owing to the small supply of vege-
tables and eggs the market will he open
only from to 10 hereafter. All horse
meat Is inspected by physician
The Bravery of the Women.
"The bravery of the women during the
siege was noteworthy. They became so
accustomed to fire that it was difficult to
restrain them from walking about the
grounds at all times.
When proposal was made to petition
the tsung-li-yamen for vegetables some
said they would rather starve than take
help from that quarter. The yamen's
food supply was a farce, only sufficient
for one day. When meat was asked for,
the reply was that this could not be fur
nished because n state of war existed in
Peking.
The tsung-li-yamen pacarded a proc
lamation exhorting the people to kill all
foreigners because the latter had made
war on China in attacking the forts at
Taku
The legations We're fiercely attacked
from July II to July %. AT the latter
date a nominal truce was agreed to and
extended to Aug. B, although the Chinese
repeatedly violated it. There was consid-
cradle rifle fire from Aug. 3 to Aug. II,
and then the Chinese mounted smooth
bores. The mainstay of the foreigners
was an old gun used by the British in
| lStO which fnpnI in
by Mitchell, the American gunner. This
was mounted on n Russian carriage
found by an Italian. Ammunition was
fitted to it, and it was christened the In
ternational Gum
Ihe foreigners remarked that relief
had been long delayed, but they insisted
that they had never despaired of the
outcome. The Chinese are said to admit
that they lost 5000 killed during the
siege The foreigners did not waste their
ammunition, shooting only when target
was in evidence. The Chinese method. on
the other hand, was II continuous, heavy
and indiscriminate fire. The enemy would
advance to the barrcades mt night, creep
ing up with their arms filed with bricks,
ana III the morning the foreigners would
ma a new wall few feet closer. Finally
the barricades came so close that talking
could be distinctly heard.
During the last two nights tbe Chi
nese officers urged their men to charge
the foreigners and exterminate them be.
lore lore the international forces could arrive.
Inc Chinese soldiery replied that they
couiu not stand the bayoncts On the
hiGht before the relief they fired several
thousahd rounds. the foreigners replying
WIN two shots only. The Chinese artil.
iery and soldiers in Peking were appar-
ehlly mnch inferior to those encountered
III the fighting at Tien-tsn.
Difficulties of the March.
lie relief of Peking was n notable
achieVehlent chiefly for the forced march
OF Tour almost independent armies over
single difficult road and in sickening
weather.
Ihe opposition offered by the Chinese
uwindled steadily each day until the re-
lleVing columns were in front of pckipp
Inc defense of the city. considering the
possibilities of the case, was exceedingly
weak. The japanese are still bammerino
away at the wall of the northeast see
tloh, which has not vet been entered
Probably the Chinese concentrated their
Iorces there, thus giving the Americans
anu hh2ilsh a comparatively easy path.
The Americans advanced along the left
- '''N '"h''i uiutI me cover, the EOur-
teenth infantry leading, with the Ninth
infantry and the marines following
From hill Captain Reilly shelled pa-
coda over the Chc-hua gate until the in
fantry got close in. The Fourteenth reg
iment was extended under cover before
the wall, about 300 yards away. when
Company E scaled the corner near the |
gate under the fire of sharpshootprs
Lieutenant Gohn planted the regimcnta
nag. lhe regiment then crowded with |
the Knsslnns through the gate unoppos-
ed. but every side of the streets lending
TO the Tartar wall along which the sol. |
dicrs passed was swept by rifle fire from
the wall
The companies dashed across the
streets in single file. The British. enter
ing Sha-ho gate, about the middle of the
east wall. were nearer the legations and
able to enter first
1.-The last five days marching was the
worst. 1t was a terrible strain The |
thermometer kept near 100 and was
sometimes above that figure. The conn
try was deep with sand, and the route
lay through shadcless fields of tall. thin |
corn. The Japanese possessed the ereat-
er endurance, and, being provided with |
the best transports, they made the pace.
The Russians held second place most of
the time. The Americans and English
were pushed to the utmost to keen up.
General Fukushima said the Japanese
might have reached Pekng two days he
fore. He probably spoke the truth
They seemed never to rest Their cayal-
ry and scouting parties were thrashjng
the country ahead and on their hanks.
and their outposts kept in constant con
tact with the enemy, pressing the latter
so closely that they threw away their
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