The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-08-20
FORBIDDEN CITY
Is UNDER ATTACK
Allied Troops Bombarding
1.-THE Empress Dow
ager Detained There
by Prince Yung.
GEN. CHAFFEE HEARD FROM

THE CASUALTIES OF THE AMERI
CANS REMARKABLY LIGHT.
But Eight Wounded During the Fight
Ing, August Is, When the Legation,
Were snved-The Forbidden City Cap.
able of Heavy Resistance Surround ed
by Massive Solid Wall of Masonry
Twenty Feet High Emperor Probably
Also Seeking Refuge There.
Chaffee to-day the war department re-
ceived further official confirmation of
the fall of Pekin and the rescue of the
besieged legationers. This dispatch of
the American commander was not long
and contained few details, but the un-
concealed satisfaction with which it
was received by officials of the admins
tration indicated clearly the anxiety
that had been engendered by his pro-
to the government, prior to the receipt
of to-day's advices, was dated August
ILL., at Matow, almost thirty miles from
Pekin. The explanation of his silence is
suggested in advices received by the
navy department to-day from Admiral
Remey who, telegraphng from Ta1u on
the eighteenth, says the telegraph line
between that point and Pekin is inter-
rupted.
The cablegram from Admiral Remey
contains some important information
not mentioned by Admiral Chaffee He
makes the startling statement, on Jap
anese authority, that the Inner City of
Pekin was being bombarded by the al
lied forces. Admiral Remey says also
that the dowager empress is detained in
the inner city by Prince (Yung) Yunge-
do
The following is the text of the dir-
patch from General Chaffee, as made
public by the war department.:
Che Foo, Aug. I9-Pekin, Aug. IS
Weentered legation grounds at 5 O'Clock
last night with I4th and Light Battery.
Eight wounded days fighting. Other
wise nIl well. (Signed) CIAFFEE.
1t will be noted that the dispatch indi-
Gates that the American troops entered
the legation grounds at o'clock on the
evening of the 14th instant. BY the
Washington officials and by the several
legation officials to whom it was shown
the date of General Chaffees communi-
cation is regarded as an error of trans
mission. 1t is believed the word Eff
teenth" should be 'Sixteenth." All pre-
Vyin dt-{o taJ
have indicated that the legations were
relieved on the evening of the 18th,
Wednesday, after a day of sharp fight
ing.
Minister WI, the Chinese representa-
tive, and Minister Takahira of Japan.
were quite positive on this point all
their official advices being that entrance
to the city of Pekin was effected early
in the evening of Wednesday, the 18th
instant
The fact that only the Fourteenth in
fantry and Riley's battery entered the
city, as shown by General Chaffee's dis
patch, does not indicate that the Ninth
infantry and the marines, who were so
conspicuously gallant through the ad-
vance upon the capital, did not partici-
pate in the engagement which resulted
directly in the rescue Of the besieged le-
gationers. 1t is pointed out as likely
that General Chaffee, acting in conso-
nance with the other commanders, di-
vided his force, leaving the Ninth infan- |
try and the marines without the walls |
of the city to act as rear guard. to !
prevent the escape of Chinese troops by
other gates than those through which |
the allies entered or for some other ex-
cellent reason. Only two battalions of |
the Fourteenth infantry are with Gem
eral Chaffea They comprise about 800 |
men. This would indicate that only
one third of General Chaffee's force act
ually had entered the city at the time
he sent his dispatch. The fact that
only eight of the American forces were
wounded, none being killed, is regarded
as notably fortunate.
The admirals dispatch which con-
tains much interesting information in
few words, is as follows:
Che Foo.
Bureau of Navigation, Washington.
Taku, 1s Telegraph line to Pclkin
Information Japanese
sources, empress dowager detained by
Prince Yungedo, INNER city, which being
entered Iega ton grounds evening 18th.
Eight wounded during days fight
Otherwise all well. (signed)
REMEY.
The startling feature of the despatch
is that fighting within the city of Pefin
was continuing, according to the ad-
vices Of Admiral Remey. The Inner or
as it is popularity known, the Forbidden
City, evidently had not been taken. 1t
is surrounded by massive wall OF {
solid masonry, more than two hundred {
feet high and it is not regarded as sur {
prising that the Chinese should make {
their final stand within it's shadows.
Prior to the receipt of the despatch it
was accepted generally as a fact that I
the dowager empress, in company with =,
the emperor and large suite had left :
Pekin while nothing is said in Admiral {
Remey's advices as to the where I
abouts of the emperor, it is deemed It