Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-08-25
PEKIN TAKEN BY ALLIES
Capital of China Now Wholly in
the Hands of the Powers.
TIE EMPIRE WITHOUT A HEAD

since the Flight OF the Eapress
DowaEer and Emperor No One
seens to Know who 4. Directing
Anairs-Peace Proposals Rejected.
Washington, Aug. 22.-The capital Of
China is now wholly in the hands of
the powers. The Chinese and Tartar
cities were entered on the 10Th. The
imperial City, within the walls OF the
Tartar City, fell either on the same
DAY or on the 10th. Chinese troops in
the Forbidden City fought obstinately
all day of the 10th to prevent the cap
ture OF the imperial palace.
The state department has made pub
lie portions of Minister Conger's dis
patch, as follows:
Secretary of state, Washington:
Saved. Relief arrived today. Entered
city with little trouble. Do not know
where imperial family is. Except
deaths already reported, all Americans
alive and well. Desperate efforts made
last night to exterminate us. Mitchell.
American soldier, and a Russian and
Japanese, wounded. German killed.
The whole movement is purely a
governmental one. The Boxers are only
q pretense, having no guns. The conf
N~@NSAeea IN 1901 VI NiiG CIuUTGSS WAS the
leader OF the imperial troops here. The
imperial family left four DAYS ago for
Shan 81 province. It is estimated that
the strength of the Pekin garrison was
10000 men. The legation was urged to
leave the city under an escort Of Chi
nese troops, but feared treachery."
The meeting of the cabinet yes
terday was devoted entirely to
the Chinese situation. Several cues
uons were awaiting attention. First
OF these was the application of Ii
hung Chang for the appointment of
Minister Conger or some other com
missioner to negotiate for the cessa-
ton of hostilities. The decision ar
rived at was TO reject the appeal. and
reply of this character will be sent
20 Minister WI to be forwarded To Ii
Hung Chang. The moving cause for
this action is that this government is
at present very much In the dark as TO
whether there is any existing govern
ment in China, With the capital in
the hands OF the allies, the emperor
and empress dowager fugitives in hid
Ing, and the entire governmental fab
TIC paralyEed, there is no evidence of
an authority adequate to conduct nego-
Nations and secure results which will
NC maj DlnQlnR.
with the recognized ruler in flight.
no one seems to know who, II any
Dody, is directing its affairs As China
is an absolute monarchy, without any
legislative branch, the emperor and
empress dowager are all powerful. and
practically they are the empire of
China. Under the present remarkable
conditions, the United States will act
win extreme caution in whatever
steps II may take toward a solution of
the pending problems. In the mean
time, there is reason to believe that the
united States and all other powers in
terested will keep their armed forces
on the ground, so that order NAV he
maintained and at least a semblance
OF stable government brought out of
the existing chaos.
China's latest application for peace
negotiations was received on Nom
day at the Chinese legation, and was
transmitted by Mr.. WI to the state
department. Earl LIS request is that
the United States shall name Minister
Conger. or some other official. to act
as peace envoy for the cessation of
nostlities. The Chinese envoy pro-
posed no terms as to withdrawal of
troops, his sole anxiety being to Sc
cure the cessation of hostnities.
according to London adyices the
foreign ENJOYS are now on their wav
TO Tien Tsin.