New-York tribune., 1900-07-28
MR.. MoRGAN's CHEERFUL NEWS.
TELLS PARLIAMENT THE MINISTERS WE'RE
ALIVE IN PEkING JULY -

London. July 27.-The only information re-
garding China that the Parliamentary Secretary
Of the Foreign Office, william St John Brod-
rick able 10 inpart 70 the House OF Com
mons to-day was that preparations for the al
vance on Pellng seemed TO be approaching COM
pIetion.
William Prltchard Morgan. member for
Merthyr TyGvil. who has extensive business in
terests in China asserted that he had most
trustworthy information that all the foreign
Ministers except Baron Won Ketteler. the Ger
man 8Iinister) IN Peking were alive Tuesday,
July 81
This mornings reports from Shanghai rets-
rated the allegations that the surviving members
Of the diplomats corps have already left Pekins
their way to Tien-Tstn. and added that The
foreigners are being escorted by troops OF Yung-
Lu. Conmander-in-Chief OF the Chinese forces.
This move is stated 70 be the outcome OF ysry
stormy interviews between Ii Hung Chang ant
the foreign consuIs. and 10 have been taken in
the hope Of abating the wrath OF the Powers
and delaying the advance CT the allies toward
Peking.
Advices received from the same sources state
that half the foreigners in Peking have been
killed or wounded or have died as the result Of
the privations they had undergone.
simultaneously comes a cable dispatch &c
The Daily Mail from Shanghai. announcing
that the following letter had been received from
Sir Claude Macdonald. the British Minister Q,
China under date OF Peking, July s.
We are receiving no assistance from the su-
thOTities Three legations are still standing, IN
cluding the British. We also hold part Of the
city wall The Chinese are shelling Us from The
city with a 3-inch gun and some smaller ones
are snipinG us. We may be annihilated any
day. Our ammunition and food are short
We would have perished by this time only the
Chinese are towards and have organized
plan Of attack. If we are not pressed We may
hold out a fortnight longer. otherwise four GAYS
at the utmost / anticipate only slight resist
auce 20 the relief force
Sir Claude concludes by advising the relisf
force to approach by the eastern gate or BY way
OF the river.
The losses OF the foreigners in PekinS up %
July were forty killed and eighty wounded
according to The Mails" dispatch.
Some OF the statements above are strikingy
similar to the published version Of SIR Claude
Macdonalds letter OF July 4 II not the same
letter, the Chinese artillery would appear 20 q
strangely Ineffective. as the casualties were ths
same. according to the letters OF both dates
AS lending color to the suggestion that the coHi-
munications are Identical. II may be stated NAV
the Belgian Foreign Office this morning received
a dispatch from Shanghai under to-day's date
mentioning the receipt OF a letter from =
Claude Macdonald. dated July 4, in which
was stated that the beSieSed foreigners ~
Peking were reduced 70 horse flesh
The Belgian Consul at Shanghai also reports
that servant OF the German Minister who ien
Peking July Q. states that the British Lesau0p
was only attacked at night and II resuppise
he believed. could hold out
The alleged departure OF the Ministers uols
Peking has led to a reassertion Of the oele- -
the story is part OF a deep laid plan by Chhs
10 conceal the date OF the massacre az $50
the suggestion being that Chinese odclais ".
claim that the Ministers left Pektng unael4
strong escort but were arnbushed and uaaSsa0iVN
by Boxers en- route TO Tien-Tsin-