New-York tribune., 1900-08-02
HOPE FOR THE BESIEGED.
ALLIES EXPECTED TO REACH PEKING
IN ABOUT A WEEK.
by The Associated Press.)

by The Associated Press9
London, Aug. AT last the story Of Peking
has been told Dr.. Morrison. in to-day's Times"
holds up the Chinese Government before the
world as guilty Of a degree Of infany and
dupIIcity that exceeds the surmise OF its worst
detractors. IN the same dispatch he gives
more hopeful view of the prospects of the be-
siesed than has been expressed by any OF the
others who have been heard from
simultaneously there comes from the Belgian
Charge dAnaires at Shanghai an official state
ment that the allies are expected to reach
Peking in about week. they being eighteen
miles from Tien-Tsin yesterday
MESSAGE FROM BRITISH MINISTER
Another letter has been received at Tien-Tsin
from the British Minister. Sir Claude Macdon-
aid, dated July "a I'VE are surrounded by I'm
perial troops" he writes who are firing on US
continually. The enemy is enterprtsing. but
cowardly- We have provisions for about q fort
night, and are eating our ponies. The Chinese
Government, II there be one, has done nothing
whatever TO help US. II the Chinese do not
press the attack we can hold out for, say, ten
days So no time should be lost If a terrible
massacre is 10 be avoided"
Yet Shanghai dispatch says Ii Hung Chang
has received a decree, dated July IS. command
Ing him TO inform the consuls that the Ministers
were safe on that date. Evidently Sir Claude
Macdonald was oveFpess1nfstic. as Dr. Morrf-
son. under date Of July q, announces the arrival
Of supplies In view Of this it is quite within
reason that the edict announcing the safety Of
the Ministers on the 2sth Is correct
INDICTMENTS OF CHINA.
Sir Claude Macdonald's latest letter, while
strong Indictment OF the Chinese Government,
is not nearly so much so as Dr.. Morrison's dis
patch The correspondent with the Imperial
edicts as authority declares that as late as July
the Imperial Government urged the Boxers TO
continue their loyal and patriotic services in
exterrninating the Christians" He explains
those marvellous changes in the Chinese attI-
tude which have so puzzled the world II ap-
pears that all the appeals for Intervention and
all the protestations Of friendship have been due
entirely to the victories Of the allies at Ten
Tsln- The Ministers IN Peking owed their safety
up to July p not TO Government protection, but
to the scarcity Of Chinese ammunition and TO the
fear which the Tien-Tsn victories inspired.
MAY STOP NEGOTIATIONS
When il is remembered how great reliance is
placed upon DR.. Morrison in England, the i'm
portance Of his exposure Of the Chinese Govern
meut can scarcely be overestimated. It seems
to Danish all hopes entertained by Lord Sails
bury that the Chinese Government might yet
be proved not directly responsible for the out
rage. and it may result in an entire cessation OF
the negotiations with Chinese diplomatists. If
not IN an open declaration Of war on the part Of
the Powers.
General Sir Alfred Gaselee is quoted as say
ing on July 2S that he was ready to advance,
although lacking in artillery. Colonel Daggett.
commanding the Americans at Tien-Tsin, is also
credited with similar statement on the same
date, although utterly without transportation,
not even having horse for himself.
Reinforcements are reported 10 have been sent
to the Chinese at Yang-Tsun where strong in
trenchments have been thrown UP 10 bar the
advance Of the allies.
The Berlin correspondent Of The Daily
Chronicle says that Emperor Williams ap-
provaI OF the employment Of non-commissioned
men on leave is evidently intended 10 pave the
way for German expedition on a large scale,
and il is probable that, when sufficiently large
this force will act Independently.