Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-07-12

Washington, July 1.-THE war de-
partmenr has received the following
from Admiral Remey: "Che o,July
10-l arrived yesterday. Two bat
taiions of the Ninth infantry and one
battalion of marines, under Colonel
Meade landed today and proceeded
to Tien Tsin. The allied forces at
Tien Tsin are engaged maintaining
defenses. / have ordered the Solace
here to take the sick and wounded to
the Yokohama hospitals The Oregon
will proceed soon to dock at 'Kure
towed by a chartered steamer, and
conveyed by the Nashville. | have
| just learned from Admiral Seymour
| that the foreigners at Tien Tsin are
hard pressed"
London, July 1.-THE Che Foo
correspondent of the Express, tele-
graphing yesterday, says:
| 'The Japanese force is equipped
with thirty-six heavy mortars and 100
| field guns, and has pontoon and bal
I! loon sections. 1t is expected either
Marshal Nodzu or Marshal Oyama
will take command
The plan of campaign contem-
plates operations extending two or
three years.
"a further force of $4,000 men will
De landed at Taku a week hence, ana
10000 additional soon afterward. Be
fore the rainy season is well advanc.
ed Japan hopes to have $4,000 troops
in China.
The formidable preparations are
viewed with great distrust by Russia,
Germany and France"
China DiscIaims Responsibility.
Washington, July 11.-Chinese Min
lister WI this morning delivered to
Hay a copy of a cablegram received
by him purporting to be from the Chi
nese imperial government disclaiming
responsibility on the part OF the gov
eminent for the Boxer troubles and
asserting that the engagement at
Tien Tsin was the direct result of tNe
| bombardment of the Taku forts by
the foreigners.
The imperial decree detailed at
length from their point of view the
history OF the Boxer movement from
its inception, saying the local author
tiles at first failed to take notice and
the infection spread with such rapidity
that a situation was created which
could not be brought under control.
| 1t refers to the request of the foreign
| troops to be allowed to eLter the cap
ital for the protection of the legations,
which request was granted as an ex-
traordinary mark of courtesy beyond
4 the requirements of international in
tercourse." The claim is made that
the foreign troops did not confine
| themselves to the protection of the
| Legations but patrolled the streets,
firing guns, which caused resentment
on the part of the Chinese soldiers
and the people, which was taken adj.
vantage of by the lawless element
1t was during the discussion of the
| proposition to request the foreign min.
listers to retire temporarily to Tien
| Tsin for safety that the Ger
man minister was assassin
ated by riotous mob while
4 vi LIE WY W Issuing LII amen
Since the occurrence, says the decree
the anarchists have assumed more
bold, and threatening attitude, and
it was deemed inadvisable to send
the foreign ministers to Tlen Tsin
Assurance is given that the military
authorities have been strictly enjoin
! ed to afford protection to the Legations
and that the anarchists will be as
severely dealt with as the circum
stances permit.
convicts Released to Stay.
4 Moscow, July 11.-Dispatches from
Port Arthur say that one of the first
acts of the Boxers in Peking was te
liberate $500 notorious convicts, who
were confined in the prisons there
They were granted liberty on condi
4 ton that they should murder the
/ Europeans and native Christians ir
the city.
The convicts are now armed with
swords, pixies and daggers and are
searching turnout the city for theil
vistims. Foreign buildings, stores ant
banks are being burned by these
miscreants. 1t is now feared that the
plague will follow the massacre.
Washington, July 1.-THE followins
official dispatch was received at the
state department last night:
"Che Foo, July 10.-The Shan
Tung governor writes that he has re
sports, dated July 4, that all the lega
tons at Picking were safe except The