The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1900-06-29

THE CRISIS IN CHINA.

Not little anxiety must be felt for the
safety of foreigners resident in Pekin and
Tientsin, in view of the fact that both
cities seem to be in the hands of the Box
ers or their sympthizers and all efforts
hitherto made to rescue the Christians APP
pear to have failed Nothing is heard as
to the fate Of the joint force of $500, led
by Admiral Seymour, which left the coast
several weeks ago for Pekin. 1t has been
stated that Admiral Seymour force reach
ed Pekin without mishap and that the
various legations are safe, but this account
if true, needs to be brought down to date.
Twelve days, in fact, have elapsed since
the Admiral has been heard from. There
is much reason TO fear that the attack by
the Taku forts on the ships of the powers
at the mouth of the Peiho river was not
an isolated event, but that it was second
ed by attacks on the foreign element at
both Ticntsin and rekin. We know that
at attacks have been made at Tientsin,
with the result of destroying much prop
ertv of foreigners at that place. Relief is
loudly called for, as the Chinese are can
nonading the foreign concessions, casual
ties are heavy and the ammunition of the
Americans, Europeans and japanese is
running short a joint force of $50 Ameri-
can marines and 400 Russians attempted
Thursday last to break through the
Chinese lines about Tientsin, but failed
and had to withdraw. A larger 'lnter-
NATIONAL force is preparing to renew the
effort, and there is reason to hope that
the foreigners in Ticntsin at least will be
shortly relieved.
The magnitude Of the crisis is only be-
ginning to be fully Appreciated 1t is per-
ceiyed that the Boxers, enjoying apparent
" the appreciation of the authorities, have
at len nth succeeded in organizing for
midablc movement, which throughout
wide area renders the life of every mis-
sionary, merchant and railroad builder
insecure The immediate task of the
powers whose citizens arc thus threaten
| ed is to assist them to withdraw to the
coast The ambassadors, attaches, etc,
at Pekin require protection. The refugees
gathered at that place and at Tientsin
cannot escape the Gordon of Boxers that
cncircles the cities of Pechili. With a
view to the rescue OF the American an
American force of 4,500 men commanded
by General Hall, and fleet of 16 war
ships with 500 marine under Rear Admiral
Kempff, will be sent, it is stated, from the
Philippines to participate in a relief ex
petition to Tientsin and Pckin. The
other powers are sending contingents of
corresponding size, so that within 10
DAYS a very considerable international
| army will be assembled at the mouth of
the Peiho.
Its objects, it is stated will be solely the
| relief of foreigners now penned up by the
Boxers, with or without the assent of the
imperial authorities, at Pekin and adj
jaccnt cities. According to the proclama-
| ton put forth by the officers in command
of the contingents of the various powers,
| they will make war, not upon the Chinese
| Government, but upon the Boxers, who
| are conveniently classed as rebels against
the imperial authority. No political
object is confessed Politics will be play
ed later, after the imperied diplomats,
missionaries and traders have been rescu-
| ed. When that phase of the affair has
been reached, the troops of the United
States, Italy, Germany, England and
France will perhaps be withdrawn, leav-
| ing only those of Russia and Japan to
watch each other and if need he fight for
office of receiver of the assets of the mort
bund Chinese Empire China will, it is
feared, pay dearly for the hospitality
hitherto accorded to her uitlanders =
Baltimore SIM