Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-06-21
CHINESE SITUATION.
Members Of the Foreign Legations
in Pekin Virtually Prisoners.
ASTI.FORElCy HOBS IN STREETS.
The Matter Considered 1T Warrington
Secretary Root Declines to Discuss the
Military Aspect-Troops May Go
from Manila to China.

London, June 16.-This is the sit
uation in China as it appears to the
Shanghai correspondent of the Daily
Express, cabling last evening: 1T
is really a state of yelled war. The
members Of the foreign legations
in Pekin are virtually prisoners and
the Chinese troops are only restrained
from attacking them by fear of the
legation guards. Meanwhile the
ministers are altogether unable to
communicate with the commanders of
the relieving column, which is max
ing an enforced and isolated halt be-
tween Tien Tsin and Pekin. The walls
of the capital are guarded by 100000
imperial guards. The gates are heav-
lily defended with modern guns. Gen.
Tung, acting under orders from the
empress dowager says that no more
foreign troops have or shall enter
the sacred Guy.
"0n Monday the ministers sent a
demand to the Tsung-li-yamen that
the gates be opened, declaring that
otherwise the foreign troops would
enter forcibly To this no reply was
given. A second message went un-
answered, or had not been answered
when the latest news left Pekin.'
"1he streets of Pekin," continues
:he correspondent of the Daily Ex-
press, "are reported to be seething
with anti-foreign mobs, camoring
tor the destruction of the legations
and the death of the foreign minis
tiers. Even were the Tsung-li-yamen
disposed to restrain the violence of
the reactionaries, it is considered
highly improbable that they will be
able to hold them in check. For the
foreign ministers the crisis will arise
when the relief column comes in
sight of Pekin. 1t is still further
felt that the foreign force is wholly
inadequate to battle with the hordes
Of Chinese troops massed outside the
gates, which now include the imperial
troops from Saskatchewan"
From Tien Tsin it is reported that
the foreign forces in the harbor will
attack the Taku forts and, If neces-
sary, lombard them.
The international column appears
to be still at Lang Fan, engaged in
slowly repairing the railway, which,
according to dispatch from Tien
Tsn to the Daily Mail, dated June IA,
cannot be effected for weeks. The
force is short of provisions and, as IT
is without field transport, it must
stick to the railway.
The Matter Considered at Washington.
Washington, June Flowing to
their natural reluctance to employ
troops save as a last resort and the dis
inclination of the war department to
supply such troops except under pres
sure the officials yesterday afternoon
were considering an alternative prop |
ostion. This contemplated the put
ting out of commission of several of |
the big ships attached to Admiral
Remey's fleet, notably the Oregon, and
the addition of the sailors and ma
rines so released to Admiral Kempff's |
landing force. The big ships carry,
on an average, more than 300 men
apiece.
Secretary Root declines to discuss
the military aspect of the situation.
To the newspaper men yesterday aft
he admitted that the general
Chinese situation was discussed at the
of the cabinet yesterday and
that Secretary Hay furnished all the
he had on the subject.
The secretary was asked whether 1t
had been finally decided to send any
troops to China from the Philippines
and replied that it had not. To a
further question as to whether there
was any prospect of such action, he
said he would not undertake to talk
lbout it. He was willing, however, to
make the broad, general assertion that
-roops would be sent to China in case
t were found that there was greater
necessity for them there than in the
Should it be decided to send troops
rom Manila 10 China there are now
lvailable at Manila the big transports
logan and Warren, with a capacity
If about 5000 troops, the Sherman
$ due at Manila July 1, and the Penn
ylvania and Indiana and several other
mailer craft are available.