The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-01
HARDsHIPs OF THE MARCH.
Americans Driven Forward by Appeals to
Their National Pride.

Copyright, 1900, by Associated Press)
Pekin, August 14,-(By post, via Tien
Tsin. )-One disadvantage that the Amer
leans had during the hard march to the
relief of Pekin was that their transpor-
tation wagons were late in arriving. The
Ninth infantry possessed the only outfit
which reached Tien Tsin up to the time
of starting. The supplies were divided
among the soldiers Of the Ninth and the
Fourteenth infantry regiments and the
battery. The Americans with haver-
sacks, blankets and tent rolls started
under the heaviest loads but they soon
stripped to fighting trim, preferring to
forego their blankets rather than to
sweat under them. During the last two
nights of the march they slept tired and
worn-out in the rain without shelter or
cover.
One night the wagon train lost the
road and passed the American camp. The
drivers plodding along four miles in the
darkness and rain. They might have
driven into the Chinese camp but for
tunately the Russians stopped them just
in time.
The Americans often bivouacked sup
PEERLESS and breakfastless, and toward
work only by appealing to their ma
tioIal pride.
Don't let the Britishers beat you.
Don't let the Russians get ahead" they
urged constantly.
The army transport when it reached
Pekin was unique spectacle; miles of
animals, vehicles and coolies, trailed be-
hind everything imaginable on wheels
from farm wagons to fashionable equip
ages.
The Japanese had COWS bearing packs
and the Russians had camels. Cinnamon
pulled the carts. staggered under heavy
packs, the soldiers cursing and beating
them Several dropped dead. Two hun
dred junks and scows bearing munitions
were towed up the river by coolies. Had
the Chinese taken the offensive most of
the transportation might easily have
been captured and cut to pieces by
small thanking parties.
After it was apparent that the enemy
was demoralzed, the generals trusted the
transport to luck and bent their efforts
toward getting ahead. Only such an
emergency as existed could have justi-
fed such hardships as were imposed upon
the troops.
Berlin, August 31.-The German Gov
ernmcnt is considerably embarrassed by
the proposition of the United States
and Hussja to withdraw from Pekin and
&c recognize Ii Hung Chang as an inter-
mediary. 1t was wholly unexpected here
that Russia would join the United States
in such a step Count Won BuelCw, the
Foreign Minister, considers the new situa-
ton thus created so important as to
compel him to abandon the vacation trip
he wcs about to take.
This evening the semi-offic,al press ex-
presses the views CT the Government in
cautious terms. A Foreign Office official
made the following statement on the sub
iect:
Germany has not yet answered Rus
s.a request to withdraw from Pekin
The other powers don't regard the mill
tary situation there as rrecarious. AS
far as III Hung Chang is concerned, Ger
many is ready to acknowledge him as
China's representative in peace negotia
items if he show himself properly accredit-
Cd, hit as 20 THIS feature of the case
nothing IS as yet known here"
The Joint proclamations Of the generals
against Dlundering at Pekin have thus
far proved Intellectual. 1t is reported that
some twenty thousand armed Chinese are
about fifty kilometres from Pekin. Al
council of generals was called for Au-
gust 22rd.
HAS MANCHURIA BY THE THROAT.
st. Petersburg Sept. 1.--Offcial dis
patches say the Russians have occupied
Tsitsiker, which leaves only Mukden to
be captured in order to place the whole
of Munchuria in Russian possession.
Apparently there is no intention to re-
lax that hold.
General Kouropatkin, the Russian
Minister of War has just ordered two
batteries of Krupp guns to protect the
Manchurian Railway. Eight new batter
les of quick firers will be distributed
among the four new Siberian Army Corps
The dispatches say Chinese sued for
peace but the Russian general said his
orders were to proceed and the Chinese
rctreated.