Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 August 1900 — PUSHING ON TO PEKIN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PUSHING ON TO PEKIN

ALLIED ARMY ADVANCES ON CHINESE CAPITAL. International Relief Force of 20,000 Men Begins the Forward Movement —Fifty Missionaries Reported Slain— Rumor of Japanese Repulse.

The march on Pekin began Wednesday, and the allied trOops, it is declared, will not turn back until there is a government in China capable of maintaining its international obligations. It is estimated that the expedition numbers 20,000 men of all arms, with 170 guns. The

column started toward Pekin under the general command of the Russian admiral, Alexieff. By placing the Russian admiral in command the allies settled the first point of difference and secured the prompt help of Russia in this un-

dertaking for the immediate relief of the legations. Russia has greater interests to protect than the other powers, and has a larger army in China. Admiral Alexieff is also the ranking officer in the allied armies. Gen. Chaffee has instructions to cooperate heartily with the other commanders, but so far as possible to keep his American force in -a compact body. The general went to Tien-Tsin on Monday, and instructions were cabled him there to take command of the troops already mobilized and proceed to Pekin, if the other forces were ready, Without waiting for the cavalry regiment on the transport Grant. This regiment will proceed to Tien-Tsin as soon as landed and protect that place while assisting to keep open communication with the column marching on the Chinese capital. This Government, according to Washington advices, will give no heed to the Chinese warning that the danger of the ministers depends on the discretion of the powers. This is recognized as simply a diplomatic threat that the lives of the ministers may be sacrificed if the allies march on Pekin. This Government, however, takes the position that the freedom of its ministers is not a matter for diplomatic negotiation. It will not treat with

China for his rescue. It will not make any agreement or condition regarding his rescue. Numerous communications from Chinese officials have been received at the State Department suggesting that the allies shall be kept at Tien-Tsin in order that China may be able to protect the ministers from further attack. The intimation has clearly been that an attack upon Pekin will be followed by a general massacre. The Government has replied to these intimations that it cannot take them into consideration. It has lodged with China a demand for free intercourse with its minister. That must be granted without condition. There will be no change, it is asserted, in the policy of this Government toward China, but China must carry out her treaty obligations. The President will not recall the troops now in China nor check their march on the Chinese capital, says a Washington correspondent. They will move forward to the rescue of Minister Conger and other Americans in Pekin. The condition of the Chinese capital as reported by Minister Conger will be the President’s only guide in future directions given to Gen. Chaffee. There is no hope that these conditions will appear more favorable than they now do. The Government, from the information in its possession, believes that the imperial troops have attacked the foreign legations. It further believes that Prince Tuan, the father of the heir apparent, has directed the hostile demonstrations. Whatever the purpose of these attacks, they were hostile to this Government.

It is reported from Shanghai that fifty missionaries have been massacred in the Shan Si province. to a dispatch from Tien-Tsin, under date of Sunday, the Jnt«nese tf vangnard has been repulsed with a loss of 150 killed aud wounded. The Chinese fortress at Hung Hun wns stormed by the, Russians under Gen. Ajgustoff July 30, thus relieving the posts of Novokijevskoje and Postja, threatened by the Hung Hun garrison. Many guns were taken. The topographical features of the country between Tien-Tsin and Pekin are favorable to the operations of trained troops against such masses as the Chinese might collect to oppose them. The land is low and nearly flat, and the only difficulties in the way of transportation are the streams and the semi-swampy character of the soil. It is reported that the Chinese have prepared dams that will enable them to flood the country, but it is improbable that much could have been done to make these works effective. A movement up the Pel-Ho river might •ven be aided by torpedo boats;

ADMIRAL ALEXIEFF.