Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-09-25
PETANG FORTS CAPTURED
Boxers Evacuate the Place and
the Flag of Europeans
Is Hoisted.
ALLIES cHAGRIAED BY EAEny's ESCAPE
Thought They HAD the Place Com
pletely ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Germans and Russians Reported
blown Up by Mine-Von Valdez
see Reviews Troops ut Shanghai.

u
Washington, Sept. 24.-The navy de-
partment has received the following
cablegram from Admiral Remey:
"Taku, Sept 21,-secretary of Navy,
Washington: Force of Russians, Germans
and Austrians advanced on Peitang forts
last night Fire opened by Chinese and
kept up all night at intervals. Forts eyao-
uated at nine this morning. Europeans
hoisted their colors over forts at II.
ported blown up by mine. Information
from Commander Wise, who followed
troops into forts, only five Chinese killed.
(Signed) ''REMEY."
The Taking of the Peitnng Forts.
Taku, Sept. 20.-Four thousand
Russian, 5000 German and 1000
French troops, with detachment of
Austrian marines began the attack
upon the Peitang forts at daylight.
The attack was answered briskly
from the forts, the bombardmenf con-
tinuing until noon, but it was noticed
that the forts did not reply after ten
o'clock.
The allies sent forward at noon to
discover the reason of the cessation
Of the firing from the forts and found
them deserted, there being only four
dead Cinnamon within the walls. The
allies were much chagrined, as they
believed they had the place complete
ly surrounded, making escape impos-
sible; yet over 1900 men got away in
broad daylight. The Russian artil-
lery fire had proved effective and the
forts were badly damaged.
The British and Italian command
ers had decided to join in the attack,
but their troops had not arrived in
time.
The entire line between Tientsin and
Taku shows reenforcements were
heading for the forts.
Three members Of the allied forces
were killed and so were wounded
through the explosion of mines laid
along their line of march.
Won Waldersee Reviews Troops.
Shanghai, Sept. s4.-Neld Marshal
Count Won Waldersee. commander in
chief of the allied forces, reviewed
5000 of the foreign troops Saturday.
The Bengal lancers furnished field
marshal's escort. The troops marched
past In the following order: Germans,
French, volunteers composed of
Americans, British. French. japanese
and Germans), Bengal lancers and
other Indian troops.
Missionaries Butchered.
London, Sept. 24.-The Times corre-
spondent In Picking reports that the
American missionaries at Fen-Chau-
Flu, south Of Tai-Yuen-Fu. including
Mr.. Atwater, his wife and two chill
dren and Mr.. Price, his wife and
child, were butchered by soldiers Of
Yu-Hsien as recently as August Is
in circumstances of revolving treach-
cry.
Make-Up Of the Commission.
Washington, Sept. 24.-The person.
mel OF the commission which is to rep
resent the United States in the final
negotiations with the Chinese au-
thorities has not yet been completed.
Beyond the fact that Mr.. Conger is
to be one of the commissioners, it is
q matter of conjecture who will form
the remainder Of the commission.
There Is reason to believe that Seth
Low, president of Columbia UNIVERSE
ty, New York, either has been OF will
be requested to serve as commissions
or. The intimation is conveyed, how
ever, that the body will not be finally
completed within the next week.
Ex-Secretary John w. Foster, who
has just returned to Washington from
his summer home in New York, has
been caller upon the president and
1t is believed he also has been in
communication with Chinese authori
ties, facts which have led to the con
olusion that he is likely to be in some
manner connected with the Chinese
negotiations.
The place where the negotiation
are to be held has not yet been def
nitely settled upon. Isl Hung Chang
was by the terms of the edict ap
pointing him as envoy directed t.
proceed to Peking, but it is noted here
that the dispatch recording his ar
rival at Fentsin Friday stated thai
he had taken up his quarters will
a numerous guard in that town, un
der conditions that appeared to war
rant the belief that he expected t.
stay there for some time, thus fore
casting the conduct of negotiations q,
Tentsin.
Probably Lost in Flood.
st. Louis, Sept. PA special to tn
Post-Dispatch from Paris, Tex, say
that Judge G. w. Dukes, of Talihina
the governor-elect of the Choctaw ma
ton, left for Galveston on the Thurs
day preceding the storm and ha