Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1900-09-01
NUMBER 43.
FAMINE IMMINENT.
Villagers Flocking to Tien Tsin and Pre-
visions Are Scarce.

visions Are Scarce.
LONDON, Aug. 27.-The latest news
from Pekin indicates that the situation
there is unchanged. The Imperial City
is still invested but has not yet been
occupied The allies, when the last
message left, were still refraning from
aggressive action, pending instructions
from their government.
An attack from 30, 900 Boxers was an-
ticipated; and to meet this the whole
American force and the British artil-
lery, according to a dispatch to the
Morning Post from Pekin, dated Au.
gust 18th, were moved to the outer city
wall.
The Boxers were reported coming
from the south.
Gen. Dorward in his report OF the en-
gagement outside Tien Tsin, August
10th, when the American, British and
japanese signally defeated a large
force OF Boxers, killing over 300, says,
in dispatch dated August 25th:
THE lines of communication near
Tien Tsin are now free from danger.
The enemJ had been treating the vii
layers badly. Several decapltated bodies
were near their camp.
"The villagers are now focking to
Tien Tsin at the rate of about a thou
sand day. Ac there is not more than
a months food supply, there is every
prospect of famine shortly"
This declaration that famine is inn
minent in consequence Of the made
quacy of provisions for the hordes of
refugees at Tien Tsin adds new ele-
ment Of peril TO the situation.
Shanghai advices say that the report
of the capture of Emperor Kwang Hsu
by the Japenese was erroneous. 1t was
a case of mistaken identity.
The Pekin correspondent Of the Daily
Telegraph, wiring August 10, reasserts
that the empress dowager fed west
ward, and adds:
"She had body guard of l,50O, and
as the mountainous character of the
country would prevent artillery follow
ing, it is believed that she will not be
pursued"
Pursuing Empress Dowager.
The correspondent reports every
thing quiet on the date of his dispatch,
but telegram to the same paper from
Tien Tsin, dated August "a, asserts that
thousand Russians, Germans and
japanese had pushed forward from
Pekin, with the intention, it was as
sumed, of pursuing the fleeing empress
dowager.
At conference of ministers and gen
erals held at Taku Friday, it was de-
cided, according to the Daily Telegraph,
to refer the fate of the Forbidden City
to Europe.
Tien Tsin dispatches to Berlin, dated
August 23d, says:
The japanese troops are in possess
sion of the wall around the innermost
part Of the Forbidden City, but have
not yet made their way to the imperial
palace, owing to the lack of govern
ment instructions.
Lieut. Gen. Linevitch commander of
to st, Petersburg under uate VI hu-
gust 18th, says;
There are no longer any Boxers in
Pekin. They were driven out today by
the French and Russians, whose flags
are hoisted over the Imperial City. The
empress dowager, the emperor, the
heir apparent, and the whole court
have fed to the province of Shen ST"
Ii Hung Chang, according to a Shang-
hal dispatch, dated yesterday, has once
more postponed his departure for the
north.
The japanese have landed more blue
jackets at Annoy, where order is main
tanned in spite of great excitement.
Conspicuous gallantry was displayed
by Capt. Gaussen, of the Bengal cav
airy, says the Shanghai correspondent
of the Standard, while under heavy
fire in the recent fight at Tien Tsin.
Capt. Gaussen stopped and picked up
an American trooper, lifted him into
the saddle and rode off in safety"