Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1900-08-23
CHINA war NEWS.

ETY. the department Of state on the
night of the 10th made public the lat
est correspondence between the United
States government and China, constlt-
uting not only a remarkable series OF
state papers, but at the same time dis
polling all doubt and uncertainty as to
the American policy in the present crit
zeal juneture. The urgent, almost
pathetic, appeal OF Iii Hung Chang,
submitted early in the day, that the
victorious march, Of the allies stop at
Tung Chow and that the military COM
manders on the field be instructed to
arrange an armistice at that point, was
met with a response that Gen. Chaifee
already had been given complete in-
structions empowering him to carry
out an arrangement in concert with
! other commanders for the delivery of
the ministers and persons under their
protection TO the relief column, not at
Tung Chow as had been suggested,
but at the imperial city of PelIin.
A cablegram to Vienna from Hong
Kong announces the capture Of Pekin,
but the Austrian government, like
D
confirmation of this report. An official
telegram dated Talu, August IA, has
been received at Rome, which asserts
that the attack on PelIin began on the
18th, that Sir Claude Macdonald, the
British minister, had opened communi-
cation with the relieving force, and
that the allies have established their
headquarters at Tung Chow. Chinese
officials in Shanghai are reported as
admitting that the allies inflicted
heavy defeat on the Chinese imperial
troops around Tung Chow, on the 18th,
and then marched direct on Pekin.
This, if true, carries the japanese Off
cial advices announcing the capture of
Tung Chow one step further.
Now that the primary object for
which the allied armies marched upon
Pelsin, viz. the rescue of the bcsieged
legationers, has been accomplished,
the drift of discussion in official and
diplomatic circles reverts TO the next
step to be taken. Necessarily many of
the predictions as to what this will be
are purely conjcctural, as il is realized
that complete and definite information
regarding the conditions of affairs in
Pekin must be awaited before any pos
tive action can be taken by the gov
ernments whose interests have suffered
as a result of the Chinese troubles.
The Chinese government on the Goth
made formal application through Ii
Hung Chang, as its envoy, for the APP
pointmcnt of an American commits
sioner TO bring about the cessation of
hostilities in China and the restoration
of general peace. This, coming since
the capture of Pelin, is the first show
ing of China's complete WEAKNESS with
the struggle and her desire to make
terms The reply of the United States
government has not yet been made
known.
The allied armies have captured and
entered Pekin i'm the face of obstinate
resistance and the members of the
foreign legations are safe. Official
confirmation of the fall of the Chinese
capital came to the United States gov
eminent on the. night of the nth in
the shape of two eablegrams, one from
Admiral Remey and the other from
Consul Fowler at Che Foo.
The Japanese cavalry left Pellin on
the Goth in pursuit Of the dowager en-
press and her court, according to tcle-
grams from the north received at
Shanghai by Chinese officials. These
| dispatches aver that the empress and
her treasure train, protected by 80, 900
troops, have already arrived at WI Tai
San, in Shan 81 province.
"Pcllin was relieved on the night of
the 18th. This message was received
on the night Of the 18th at the impcr-
ial customs Office in London from the
commissioner of customs in Che Foo.
1t is the only official message that has
reached England in confirmation OF
the earlier reports.
The navy department at Washington
received dispatch from Admiral
Remey on the 18TH announcing that
Gen Chaffee had arrived at Matow.
the next town of importance after Ho-
Si-Wu
Empress Dowager, of China, is being
held by Prince lung in the inner city,
which at last reports was being bonn
bardcd by the allies.
During the fighting prior to the fall
of Peilin the Americans had eight
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