The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-03
THE FATE OF THE MINIsTERs.

THE FATE OF THE MINISTER'S.
There is no longer any doubt that the
minister of Germany at Pekin was assas-
sinated last month. AS to the fate OF
the ministers of the other nations repre-
sented there. and of the foreigners at
Pekin. nothing is known. Very little re-
lance is placed upon reports concerning
them received through Chinese sources.
The belief is, however. that the govern
ment has succeeded in protecting the 9th
er ministers from harm. How it has done
1t no one outside of Pekin knows. if. in
fact. it has protected them. II may have
taken them into that portion of Pekin oc-
cupied by the royal family. The govern
ment would naturally desire TO protect the
ministers and their families. knowing that
to permit them to be killed would be TO
call down on China the wrath of all OF the
Christian nations.
One report is that the Dowager Empress
has lost control of the situation. and has
so Informed the Powers-that, in fact, she
is unable to afford the ministers pro.ec-
ton. The man who is said to have usurp-
L
head of the Boxer Society. and is the
father OF the heir apparent to the
throne. 1t is the understanding that he
is bitterly hostile to foreigners. and, il it
be a fact that he is in supreme authority
at Pekin, the announcement of the as
sassinaton OF the other ministers and of
all the foreigners at the Chinese capital
may be expected at any time.
The consuls al Tien Tsin undoubtedly re-
gard the prospect Of the ministers getting
out of Pekin alive as very gloomy. Ac-
cording TO our dispatches this morning
they have advised their respective gov
ernments to notify the authorities at Pekin
that If the ministers are harmed the
graves of the ancestors of the royal family
will be destroyed. 1t seems, however, that
Great Britain has some reason for reject
Ing this advice OF the consuls.
Evidently the consuls at Tien Tsin re-
gard the situation of the ministers as des-
perate. 1t is reported at the latter place
that they are besleged in their legations
and cannot hold out much longer. If such
extra ordinary efforts are being made TO
get possession of their persons the purpose
is undoubtedly to kill them. 1t is to be
hoped that the report that they are be-
seged in their respective legations is not
true II would seem as If there would be
little difficulty in breaking into the lega-
tons. There are said to be 10000 Chinese
troops inside of the walls Of Pekin and 3d.
coo outside. Are the troops protecting the
legations against the assaults of the mob
or are they acting with the mob? That is
a question which no one seems TO be able
to answer. Until this report respecting
understanding that the troops were under
the command Of the Dowager Empress,
and that she was trying to protect the
ministers. Now Il is difficult, in fact,
impossible, TO say what the situation is.
About Il. 600 troops of foreign governments
are now at Tien Tsin. II they are rot
already on their way to Pekin they will
be soon. That Is a small relief force If
the government Is in sympathy with the
Boxers. While 1t is true that the Chinese
are very poor soldiers their army Is to be
taken into account because of its num-
bers. II is only question of a short
time. however, before the foreign nations
will have enough soldiers in China not on
ly to rescue the ministers, provided they
are not murdered before relief can be sent
them, but also to compel China to pay a
heavy indemnity for killing foreigners
and destroying their property There Will
be very little consideration shown China
II IL appears that the government encour-
aged the demonstrations against foreign
ers.