The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-20
FIRING ON inner CITY
JAPANESE REPORTED ITS BoM-
BARDMENT BY THE ALLIES.
CHEFFEE AND REMEY WIRE.
COMMANDING GENERAL REPORTED
ONLY EIGHT WOUNDED.

Last Tuesday Given by Chaffee as the
Date of the Relief of the Lega-
HOns-Evidence Is That 1t Was on
Wednesday-TrOOps That Chaffee
Led-Admiral Remey Gave the Jap
anese Statements of the lombard
ment of the Inner City.
Washington, Aug. 19.-From Gen Chat
fee to-day the war department received
official confirmation of the fall of Pekin
and the rescue of the besieged legation
ers.
The dispatch of the American comman-
der was not long and contained but few
details but the unconcealed satisfaction
with which it was received by officials of
the administration indicated clear.y the
anxiety that had been engendered by his
prolonged silence. His last communica-
ton to the government prior to the receipt
Of to-days advices was dated Aug. II, at
Matow, almost 80 miles from Pekin. The
explanation of his silence is suggested in
adyices received by the navy department
to-day from Admiral Remey. who tele-
graphing from Taku on the 1Sth says the
telegraph line between that point and Pc
kin is interrupted.
The cablegram from Admiral Remey
contains some important information not
mentioned by Gen. Chaffee. He makes the
startling statement, on japanese authori-
IT, that the inner city of Pekin was being
bombarded by the allied forces. Admiral
Remey says, also, that the Dowager EN-
press is detained in the inner city by
Prince Yungedo.
Advices received late last night from
the foreign office at Toxic, Japan, by the
japanese legation in ths city, confirm and
amplify previous accounts of the cap
ture of Pekin by the allied troops.
Gen. ChaRee's Message.
Following is the text of the dispatch
from Gen. Chaffee, as made public by
the War Department:
"Chee Foo, Aug. 10, 19O0.-Adjutant Gen
eral, Washington: Pekin, Aug. 15.-We
entered legations grounds at O'Clock
last night with Fourteenth and Light Bat
terry. Eight wounded during days fight
ing, otherwise all well. Chaffee."
The dispatch, which was received dur
ing the morning, was transmitted imme-
diately 60 the President at the White
House He expressed his qualification at
the news it contained, particularly at the
small loss sustained by the American
troops. A copy of the dispatch was sent
10 Adjt Gen. Corbin, who is in New
York.
IL will be noted that the dispatch ndi-
Gates that the American troops entered
legation grounds at o'clock on the even
ing of the 14th inst. By the Washington
officials and by the several legation Off
cials to whom it was shown the date of
Cen Chaffee's communication is regarded
as an error of transmission. II is believ-
ed that the word fourteenth" should be
fifteenth All previous advices Official
and unofficial, have Indicated that the
legations were relieved on the evening
Of the 18th, Wednesday after day of
sharp fighting Minister WI, the Chinese
representative and the Japaneses minis
ter were quite positive on this point
all of their official advices being
that entrance to the city of Pekin was
effected early on the evening of Wednes-
Gay, the 18th inst.
Other Commands There.
The fact that only the Fourteenth In
fantry and Riley's Battery entered the
city, as shown by Gen. Chaffee's dispatch
does not indicate that the Ninth Infantry
and the marines who were so consp!c-
uously gallant throughout the advance
upon the capital, did not participate in
the enga cement which resulted directly
in the rescue of the beseged legationers.
Il is pointed out as likely that Gen.
Chaffee acting in accord with the other
commanders, divided his force, leaving the
Ninth Infantry and the marines without
the walls of the city TO act as rear
guard, to prevent the escape of Chinese
troops by other gates than those through
which the allies entered, or for some other
excellent reason.
Only two battalions of the Fourteenth
Regiment are with Gen Chaffee. They
comprise about 500 men. This would in
dicate that only about one-third of Gen.
Chaffee's force actually had entered the
city at the time ne sent his dispatch.
The fact that only eight of the American
force were wounded, none being killed, is
regarded as notably fortunate.
what Remcy Wired.
Admiral Remeys dispatch which con-
tains much interes ing Information in a
few words, is as follows:
"Che Foo.-Bureau Ct Navigation,
Washington.-Ta eighteenth Telegraph
line 10 Pekin interrupted. Information,
japanese sources, Empress Dowager de-
tiired by Prince Yuugedo, inner city,
which being bombarded by allies. Chaffee
reports entered legation grounds evening
fourteen h. Eight wounded during day 5
lighting; herwise all well. Rem "
The starting feature of the dispatch Is
that fighting within the city Of Pekin
was continuing, according to the advise'
Of Admiral Remey The inner or as it is
ropularly known, the Forbidden City, ev-
Identity had not been taken 1t Is sur
founded by a massive wall of solid ma
sonry. more than p feet high and Il Is
Tot regarded as surpri ing that the Chi
neEe shou d make their final stand with n
its shadows.
Prior 10 the receipts Of the dispatch II
was accepted generally as fact that the
Empress Dowager, In company with the
Emperor and a large suite, had left Pekin
While nothing Is said in Admiral Remey s
advices as TO the whereabouts Of the EN-
peror, IL is deemed probable that he left
the city without the Empress Dowager
says They Escaped.
The Chinese minister Mr. WI. is very
positive that the Emperor, Empress Dow
agor ana the entire Chinese court left Pc
Kin before the arrival at the gates OF the
II "a Anrorf4f.