The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-08-27


Signs that the Chinese Have Rallied
An Attack on Pekin Immtnent-Four
Thousand Advancing from Shang
Tung to Strike at Allies Rear.
Washington, Aug. 26.--Late to-day a
ldispatch was received at the Japanese
legation from the foreign office of Ja-
pan conveying the latest and most au-
thentic information of the situation in
and around Pekin. In a measure the
advices were Of a disquieting nature, as
they indicated that the Chinese had rail-
lied their forces and were preparing for
an attack upon the allies in Pekin. 1t
would also seem to account for the
lack of advices from General Chaffee.
AS made public by Minister Takahira
the dispatch from the japanese foreign
office at Toxic is as follows:
'tAn official telegram dated Pekn,
August 18, was received at Toxic from
General Yamaguchi, commander Of the
Japanese forces, to the following effect:
The capital is now entirely cleared
of the enemy. A cavalry regiment
which had been sent to Wan Shau Shan
(where the empress dowager's palace is
1ccated) reports that the imperial fam
lily, who had left Pekin August Ia start
ed after short rest at Wan Shau Shan
for the west and We're under the escort
of General Ma and his troops consisting
of only about 500 horsemen and twenty
carts. The Japanese forces occupied the
tresury department, in which over two
million taels In silver and large guam
ttty of rice were found.
Another telegraphic dispatch dated
Taku August 90, states that as the
Chinese troops and Boxers who had
gathered at Nan Yuen were about to
attack the foreign forces at Pekin, ia
panese and Russian cavalry were ex-
pected to encounter them on the goth.
The dispatch further states that Chi
nese infantry, some 5000 strong. with
fifteen guns, are advancing northward
from Shan-Tung to make a pear attack
on the allies -
A copy of the dispatch was transmit
ted to Acting Secretary Adee at the de-
partment Of state, and by him furnish
ed to the president. While the news of
possible rear attack upon the compar-
atively small force of the allies was not
received with surprise. it generally was
not regarded as serious, as the foreign |
forces are believed to be abundant1y |
able to take care of themselves against |
any force of Chinese likely to be sent
against them.
The war department has received no |
dispatch from General Chaffee, known |
to have come directly from him, for |
about week. Cablegrams signed |
"Chaffae' have been received, but as
they contained only lists of casualties, /
1t is assumed that they were sent by /
some subordinate officer in General
Chaffee's name. From no official source /
has the department learned of the de-
parture of forty Americans from Pekin
to Tien Tsin, as reported in a special
dispatch to London newspaper under I
date of August 10. Advices from Cen
eral Chaffee are expected hourly, as the
military line between Tfen Tsin and Pc
kin, which has been interrupted pre-
sumably is being or has been repaired
Imperative instructions were sent yes-
terday to the commander Of the United
States forces at Tien Tsin to have the
line restored at once under the protec-
tion of a cavalry detachment.
A suspicion exists here that the de-
lay in messages both from and to Wash
ington is rather between Che Foo and
Shanghai than between Tien Tsin and
Pekin. From Che Foo to Shanghai the
telegraph line is in control of the Chi
nese authorities and 1t is suspected they
are not so prompt in the transmission
of messages as they might be.