The Somerset reporter., 1900-07-19
Affairs in China.

sacred at Pekin.
The European governments have re-
ceived from their representatives at
Shanghai a despatch from the Governor
of shan Tung, dated July 7, reporting
that the European troops made sortie
from Pekin and killed 200 of Gen. Tung
Fuh Slang's forces and that the Boxers
were mounting guns to make a breach
in the defense.
Under date of July II the governor of
Shan Tung wired as follows:
"Native soldiers and Boxers have
been attacking. the legations for some
hours, but have not yet effected an en-
trance. They are now all bombarding
with cannon to make breach for a
heavy onslaught. l fear that all the
ministers and the government as well
are in great danger. The government
is intensely anxious"
Finally came the news from Shanghai
that breach had been made and the
foreigners killed. All the dates probably
refer to much earlier period, but the
presumption is that the successive de
spatches give an outline of what has
happened. The Europeans, having
reached the end of their resources,
made desperate sortie and then bravey
met their fate. The details of the hor
rible story will probably never be
known.
Several hundred refugees, most of
them women and children, have left
Tien Tsin in accordance with Admiral
Seymour's orders urging all non com
batants to depart. Many women have
remained behind, however, refusing to
leave their husbands whose business
detains them The refugees were sent
down the river on board lighters and
! tugs and were then transferred to msr-
chant ships in the harbor.
| The American, Japanese and German
warships received their people, the
officers of the United States gunboat
Yorktown generously entertaining 200,
most of them missionaries and their
families. The British refugees were
crowded on dirty freighter, and
women accustomed to Injuries had
to sleep huddled together on the
decks
The Shanghai correspondent of the
London Mail. under date of July Is,
adds certain details of affairs at Pekin,
June 25. According to his story the
members of the legations made daily
sorties, sometimes by night and 80 sue
cessively as to compel the chinese to
retreat from the immediate vicinity.
| These reverses had a disheartening
effect upon the Chinese and began signs
of disaffection followed by assertions to
| Prince Ching's army which was endeav-
oring to cooperate with the besieged.
Ultimately Prince Tuan decided to
make night attack in three powerful
columns.
"At 6 o'clock in the evening of July
g." says the correspondent, "fire was
opened with artillery upon the British
legation where the foreigners were con-
centrated. For two hours the walls
were battered with shot and shell and
huge breaches were made in them.
Then a general advance was ordered
and the Chinese infantry, volieying con
stantly, moved towards the gaps. The
fire of the defenders, however, WAS 80
accurate and steady that hordes of Chi
nese soldiers and Boxers broke and fled
in the widest confusion, leaving large
numbers of dead and wounded around
the legation They could not be rallied
until they we're out of rife range of the
foreigners. Then Prince Tuan, making
a desperate appeal induced them to
stand and return to the attack. Artil-
leTy fire was then resumed, and at the
middle watch second attack was at
tempted But before the attackers
could accomplish their object they were
met by Prince Ching and Gen Wang
Wen Shao with their troops who were
going to the aid of the foreigners A
desperate battle ensued between the
various forces of Chinese and Manchus
UNFORTUNATELY, many of Prince Ching's
troops deserted to Prince Tuan. Prince
Ching fell and was supposed to have
been killed, but as the search for his
body was unsuccessful, it is now be-
lieved that he was only wounded and
was carried off and secreted by his
faithful followers.
"Gen. Wang Wen Shao, gray haired
and 10 years old, vainly led his troops
in person. He was killed, and his fierce,
which was comp letely outnumbered,
was routed.
"Throughout the night repeated at
tacks were made on the legation, but
these were invariably repulsed with
heavy losses. Toward the end of the
third watch, about 3 a. m the allies
had practically defeated the beseigers,
who were wavering and gradually with
drawing But just then Gen. Tung Fuh
slang arrived from the vicinity of len
1sin with a large force of Kan Su
braves. By this time the gates of the
legation had been battered down and
the buildings were In ruins Many of
the allies had fallen at their posts and
the small band that was left took refuge
in the wrecked buildings which they
endeavored hastily to fortify.
upon them the fire of the Chinese
artillery was now directed. Toward
sunrise it was evident that ammunition
OF the allies was running out and at 7
O'Clock, az the advances of the hinese
in force failed to draw a response, a
rush was determined on.
"Thus, standing together, as the sun
rose, the little remaining band, all Eu.
ropeans met death stubbornly. There
was desperate hand to hand eucoun-
ter. The Chinese lost heavily, but as
one man fell, others advanced, and final
ly, overcome by overwhelming odds,
every one of the Europeans remaining
was put to the sword in the most afro
cious manner"
The navy department at Washington,
Monday morning, received official con
firmation from Admiral Remey of the
reverse of the allied forces at Tien Tsin,
ON the morning of the 18th. The dis.
patch is dated Che Foo, July Is, and
says:
Reported that allied forces attacked
native city, morning 18th; Russians
right with 9th Infantry and marines on
tho loft Iossea alIied forcea large