Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-31

ships, under the command of Admiral Sey-
mour. started from Tien Tsin for Pekin to
protect the foreign legations there. On
June IL Rear Admiral Kempff asked for an
increased force. and Secretary Long Inn
mediately ordered 900 marines to be sent
from Manila with all despatch. The dis
lance from Manila to Taku Is about 1000
miles. On June Is the japanese chancel-
lor Of the legation was murdered by Boxers
or by Chinese soldiers in the street In
Pekin. On June 16 news came that the
foreign ministers and the foreign refugees
were virtually prisoners in Pekin. A force
of 100000 Chinese soldiers was reported as
massed outside of the capital, while the
little force under Admiral Seymour had not
yet arrived, and were said to be short OF
supplies and ammunition and themselves
in need Of rescue.
In fact, during all this time the widest
rumors were afioat, and from June IL to
the middle of July not one word of ofhc1al
report came to any government from its
minister resident at the court of China.
Later on all European papers published
with narrowing details the murder or all
the members Of the legations in Pekir,
together. with a handful of marines VINO
were trying to defend them, and this lat-
ter report was generally credited through
out the civilized world.
wild Rumors Ahoat.
On June 81 Admiral Seymour's column
was reported to have reached Pekin four
days previously after constant fighting, but
with slight loss, and to have found the
legations safe. The next day Seymour was
reported killed. Both reports were false;
On June 25 message from him reached
Tien Tsfn, saying that on his retreat from
within twelve miles Of Pekin. he had been
blocked eight or ten miles from Tten Tsfn,
that he was terribly harassed by a great
force of the enemy and had lost sixty--wo
men killed and was caring for 2O6 wound
ed and could only hold out two days longer.
A rescue force was Immediately dispatch.
LII Bod hof
his message. he had, by night attack
captured a Chinese armory and arsenal
with immense stores OF ammunition and
rice. The allied forces reached Tien fsin
petition to reach Pekin was a serious
damage to the cause Of the allies. as 1t
gave the Chinese confidence In their ability
to overcome foreign troops.
Capt. b. H. McCalla of the cruiser New
ark who commanded the American contin-
gent in this expedition won the admiration
of his associates by his cool and intelligent
iind ne vhe and ITS
ultimate safety was credited to the
gallant conduct Of the American cap
tain. He received several wounds which
laid him up in the hospital for some time.
Capt. McCalla also piloted through to Pekin
the first detachment of marines, which con-
stituted the legation guard during the dark
days of the siege.
Message From Minister COnger.
When the hopes regarding the fate Of the
legations in Pekin were at the lowest ebb
WI Ting Fang, the Chinese minister to this
country, on July IL delivered to Secretary
Hay what purported to be an imperial
edict, setting forth the position of the Chi
nese government regarding the trouble in
that country. This edict which was quite
long and in the nature of an apology. laid
the blame on the Boxers, but took occasion
to intimate that the reduction of the Taku
of the first marine guard to protect the
legations In Pekin, had done much to In
flame the Chinese populace against foreign
ers. This note was delivered at all the
European courts by the resident Chinese
ministers simultaneously with the action
Of Minister WI. The most important result
made by Secretary Hay regarding it. Mr..
Hay took the ground that if the Chinese
government was acting in good faith and
could get message out of Pekin in spite
Of the Boxers, the same power could get
message back to Pekin. He presented this
proposition to Minister WI, who acknowl-
edged the logic Of it and offered to use his
utmost ability to transmit any message
conf1ded to his care to Minister Conger in
Pekin. The result was that on July 20
Minister WI handed Secretary Hay a
cipher message, which, though undated,
purported to have been sent from the Chi
nese capital July 49, and read as follows:
British legation, under continuous shot
and shell fire from Chinese troops. Quick
The news of this communication, which
came almost like message from the dead,
was received with incredulity in the courts
of Europe. The officials here, however, ac-
copied it In good faith and made it the
basis of renewed activity to hasten efforts
for the relief of the imprisoned ENJOYS in
that the total number of American troops
on that date in China, transports, en-
route, or under orders to go, was II, 665 off,
GERS and men.
Brigadier General Adha c. Chaffee was
designated to command the American con-
tingent with the allied forces.
Policy of the United States.
On July 10 Secretary Hay, by direction
of the President, prepared and sent to the
American ambassadors and ministers at
the principal foreign courts a message set
ting forth the attitude of the United States
toward China. This policy is briefly
summed up as follows:
LIST. Protection of American citizens in
China.
I'd. Hearty support of any native govern
ment which stands for law and order.
3D.. Indemnity for damages done to Amer
lean citizens and guarantees against the
renewal of such outrages.
18th. Finally, such peace Is established,
the withdrawal Of foreign forces and the
preservation of Chinese territorial and ad-
ministrative entity.
Previous to these operations General
Dorward of the British army, in command
of an allied force. made an attack on the
city of Tien Tsin. which was held by
large force Of Boxers and regular Chinese
troops. This attack resulted in the cap
ture Of Chinese positions southwest of the
city. Three hundred and fifty of the Chi
nese were killed and four OF their guns
captured. 1t now became necessary to take
the walled city itself, and on July IL 1000
Of the allied troops stormed and took the
Notifications. In this fight Colonel F. H.
Liscum of the 9th United States Infantry
and several other American officers were
killed or wounded while CALAMITY engaging
in the attack. During the few days fight
ing the losses Of the allies were about 500
in killed and wounded.
Tien Tsin the Buse of Operations.
Tien Tsin was now made the base OF OPP
erations for the movement for the relief
Of Pekin. There were chickering's and jeal-
ousies among the allies which prevented
prompt action, and 1t remained for the
United States government to again take the
initiative and push the relieving force to
the front.
ChaHee Hurrics Preparations.
About August General Chaffee reported
that preparations for the allies relief move
ment on Pekin were being pushed. His or