Beleaguered in Pekin 15

Beleaguered in Pekin 15

July 30, 10 A.M. The Chinese army messenger left Changchiawan at 8

o’clock yesterday evening. He reports desultory fighting from 3 A.M. to

8 P.M. yesterday. Many Chinese were killed. The foreign army advanced

to Mat’ou yesterday at 8 A.M. Chinese retreated on Changchiawan. They

have about 10,000 men. Three cannon have been taken from the Chien Men

to the front. Fighting at Peit’ang is continued by Boxers. The firing

from the north bridge is by a company of two hundred Boxers having only

thirteen rifles. The Empress has three hundred carts and Tung Fu Hsiang

one hundred, ready to start west; the date is a secret. Tung’s fourth

son, with five hundred men, has reached Lianghsiang on the way west.

(This news was brought in by a soldier of Tung Fu Hsiang’s body-guard,

who brings us regularly the report of the army messenger.)

 

Same date, 7:30 P.M. Yesterday morning Mr. Sugi sent two outside

coolies to Tungchow to inquire in regard to the foreign army, etc. They

returned this evening. They report that men in Tungchow affirm that the

foreign army had fought the Chinese yesterday just south of Mat’ou.

They also report having seen a man from Chiachiatuan (eight miles east

of Tungchow) who says foreign troops have come to relieve the Catholics

there, and are distant but a mile or so from the intrenchments, letters

having already been exchanged.

 

The Peking gates, except the Chihua Men and the Pingtzu Men, are ready

to be closed, with stone and sand-bags at their sides. Many Boxers have

been killed at the Peit’ang; twelve regiments of General Ma’s troops

are to go to Changchiawan.

 

We have given each of these coolies a small letter to the commander of

the troops and offered a reward for a return to-morrow night with an

answer. The troops must be pretty near us, and we may hope to see them

in two days.

 

July 31, 11 A.M. The regular Chinese army courier arrived from the

field of battle this morning at 4:30. He reports, in the hearing of

one of Tung Fu Hsiang’s body-guard, the same man who has brought us

the reports of the movements of the foreign army from Yangtsun, the

foreign army advanced from Mat’ou, fighting from 8 P.M. on the 29th,

and arrived at Changchiawan at 5 P.M. yesterday. The Chinese army is

five miles south of Tungchow.

 

August 1. The following letter received to-day by Colonel Shiba, dated

Tientsin, the 26th ult.:

 

“Your letter of the 22d received. Departure of troops from Tientsin

delayed by difficulties of transportation, but advance will be made

in two or three days. Will write again as soon as estimated date of

arrival at Peking is fixed.”

 

[Illustration: TEA CARAVAN RESTING OUTSIDE OF CITY WALL

 

One might imagine this picture to illustrate a scene in Bible

times, in Palestine or Egypt; but time does not make any changes in

China; nothing changes there, save through the influence of outside

aggression. Here is a caravan from the interior of Asia, halted outside

the city wall for entrance in the morning. The burdens have been taken

from the camels and the beasts have settled for rest.]

 

A somewhat mangled but authentic telegram has been received from

London. The telegram is undated, but was sent off probably between

the 21st and 24th ult. It refers to a letter written by the Japanese

minister about June 29, and to a telegram from the United States

minister, dated July 18, from which it may be inferred that the state

of affairs here on the latter date was everywhere known. It also says

that the Chinese troops, after severe fighting, were finally routed

from Tientsin on the 15th ult., and that arrangements for our relief

were being hastened. It further asks if the Chinese government is

protecting us and supplying provisions, etc.!

 

Very few provisions have been sent in to-day. A desultory firing has

been kept up all the time from the north bridge and the Mongol market.

The messenger, who has been bringing in the previous rumors of the

progress of the troops, said that they had been driven back from

Changchiawan to Auping. As the letter from Tientsin has proved him an

arrant liar, in future no more attention will be paid to his stories.

It is a great disappointment, after being told that the relief were

within two days of us, to hear that they have not yet started and have

not yet fixed a date for starting.

 

The messenger’s story has been well arranged all along, and has agreed

very well with the letter received by the Japanese minister on July

18. As we have had no later information (the British consul’s letter

gave none) as to the movements of the army, we have believed just what

the Chinaman told us, and as long as he was getting paid for it he

would give us any kind of rumors.

 

August 2. Extracts from various letters received from Tientsin: Mr. E.

B. Drew to Sir Robert Hart, July 28. “Yours of 21st wired home. Keep

heart; aid coming early. Troops pouring in. Enemy is at Peits’ang. Japs

and Russians in his front. Very little rain. Yangtzu valley agitated.

Lu and Chang trying to keep order. Li Hung Chang at Shanghai; doubtful

if he is coming to Chihli. Tientsin is governed by a joint foreign

commission. Manchuria rising against foreigners. Russians, hands full

there. Newchwang much disturbed. Germany and America each sending

15,000 men, Italy 5,000—Canton, west river. Ichang threatening.

Earnestly hope rescue of you all.”

 

Mr. E. K. Lowry to Mrs. Lowry, July 30. “Bearer arrived last Friday

evening, with news from Peking.... The 9th and 14th regiments, United

States, already at Tientsin; 6th cavalry at Taku on its way up. There

was fighting at Piets’ang this morning. Everything quiet here now.

Word came to-day that the Boxers are killing Christians at Tsunhua,

Shanhaikuan, and many other places. Russians and imperial troops have

fought at Chinhau. Tientsin is full of foreign soldiers and more are

coming all the time. Railroad open between here and Tangku. Many ladies

and children were taken to the United States by the transport Logan.

All property at Peitaiho has been destroyed”.

 

[Illustration: BALED TEA READY FOR SHIPMENT TO RUSSIA

 

Some idea of the great quantities of tea produced, and of the method of

packing, may be gathered from this picture.]

 

Consul Ragsdale to Mr. Conger, July 28. “Had lost all hope of ever

seeing you again. Prospect now brighter. We had thirty days’ shelling

here, nine days’ siege—thought that bad enough. Scarcely a house

escaped damage. Excitement at home intense, of course. Our prayers and

hope are for your speedy rescue. Advance of troops to-morrow probable.”

 

From J. S. Mallory, Lieutenant-colonel 41st U. S. Infantry. “A relief

column of 10,000 is on the point of starting for Peking; more to

follow. God grant they may be in time.”

 

Colonel Warren to Captain Myers. “Have been trying to reach you ever

since June 21. Relieved the foreign settlement June 23. Seymour,

June 24. Captured east arsenal June 26; captured west arsenal July

10; captured Tientsin city July 14. Will advance in two days. Column

10,000 strong,—English, American and Japanese; 40,000 more following

in a few days. Hold on by all means. First column will support you and

divert enemy from you. There will be eight regiments of United States

infantry, three of cavalry and two batteries of artillery; also five

hundred marines. Infantry will be in the first column. Enemy strongly

intrenched seventeen miles north of here (Yangtsun), and at two points

farther on.”

 

The Customs volunteers took up a new position on the Mongol market, on

the southwest of the British legation.

 

August 3. Another message was received from the yamen requesting us

to leave the legation and go to Tientsin. The Chinese are extremely

anxious to get us out of Peking, as they think that with us out of the

way the armies will have no particular reason to come to Peking and

will be content to settle up matters at Tientsin.

 

August 4. A great deal of firing all night. Two Russians were wounded

while building a barricade, one of whom died during the night.

 

August 6. A sharp fusillade at 1 A.M., otherwise a quiet day. The

firing, which throughout the first few days after the truce amounted

only to a few scattering shots, has come to be nearly as hot as before

the truce, and attacks are being made again every night.

 

August 8. The ministers received an official message from the

tsung-li-yamen saying: “By an imperial edict dated August 7, full power

has been granted to Li Hung Chang to discuss and arrange all matters by

telegraph with the foreign offices of all the powers.”

 

Colonel Shiba reported that a Chinese outside coolie came in to say

that all the troops in Peking, with the exception of five battalions of

Jung Lu’s, have been, or are going to be, dispatched in great haste to

meet the foreign troops; he does not know where the latter are. He adds

that another 50,000 foreign troops have been landed at Taku.

 

[Illustration: LI HUNG CHANG

 

China’s greatest Viceroy]

 

August 9. Sniper firing all day from Tung Fu Hsiang’s troops,

especially at the customs position in the Mongol market. The latter

were several times silenced by volleys from the Nordenfeldt machine gun

mounted on a parapet built against the west wall of the legation. No

firing from Jung Lu’s troops at all.

 

August 10. Very heavy rifle-fire from all sides about 3 A.M. A

messenger sent out to meet the troops returned, bringing a letter from

General Gaselee, the British general in command, also one from General

Fukushima. General Gaselee’s letter is dated south of Tsaitsun, August

8: “Strong forces of allies advancing. Twice defeated enemy. Keep up

your spirits.”

 

The following letter from General Fukushima to Colonel Shiba was

received: “Camp at Changchiang, two kilometers north of Nantsaitsun,

August 8, 1900—Japanese and American troops defeated the enemy on

the 5th instant near Pietsang, and occupied Yangtsun on the 6th. The

allied forces, consisting of American, British, Russian, and Japanese,

left Yangtsun this morning, and while marching north I received

your letter at 8 A.M. at a village called Nantsaitsun. It is very

gratifying to learn from you that the foreign community at Peking are

holding on, and believe me it is the earnest and unanimous desire of

the lieutenant-general and all of us to arrive at Peking as soon as

possible, and deliver you from your perilous position. Unless some

unforeseen event takes place, the allied forces will be at Hoshiwu on

the 9th, Mat’ou on the 10th, Changchiawan on the 11th, Tungchow on the

12th and Peking on the 13th or 14th.”

 

The messenger who brought in the letter told the following story: On

August 6 he went by way of Tungchow, finding there that his family

had been murdered by the Boxers. On the 7th, he met boat-loads of

wounded and defeated Chinese. At Tsaitsun he met the advance guard of

the allies. The evening of the 8th he marched with the middle division

to Chuanchang, six miles south of Hoshiwu. On the morning of Thursday,

the 9th, he started with this division, which expected to reach Hoshiwu

that evening, but left them and returned to Peking by the road to the

west. The troops have but few Chinese servants. They have many pack

animals, led mostly by Japs. He saw a small number of Russians and a

body of several hundred mounted black (probably Bengal) lancers, who

made fun and charged at him with their spears. He asked how long they

would be before reaching Peking, and was told five or six days, as the

Chinese were not stubbornly resisting, the allies merely having to

drive them on ahead of them.

 

The following is an extract from a telegram received by Mr. Conger from

the United States consul at Chefoo: “All communications north of this

pass through this office. So far as known, excluding army and navy,

no Americans have been killed, and there has been but little loss of

property south of Tientsin. All trouble confined to Peking and Taku.

The high officials are doing their best to keep order. Very large force

of all nations at Taku.”

 

August 12. Heavy firing all day.

 

August 13. The whole force of the artillery possessed by us was brought

to bear on the Chinese position in the Mongol market, as the Chinese

seem to be making a last desperate attempt to kill us all before the

arrival of the relief force, and it is expected that from that quarter will come the fiercest attack.