China.

Manawatu Herald, 4 August 1900, Page 2

China.

ADVANCING ON PEKIN.

j Lord Salisbury, M. Delcasse I (French Minister for Foreign Affairs) and Colonel John Hay (United States Secretary of State) are agreed on the urgency of an immediate advance being made on Pekin. Colonel Hay has notified Admiral Remey, the United States Naval Commander, that heavy reinforcements are comhrg. The 68th Battery ot Artillery has reached Taku from Manila. DESPATCH FROM DR MORRISON. "The Times " states that Dr Morri* son, in a message from Pekin, dated July 21st, describes the Europeans a? displaying unwavering courage and splendid fortitude. The members of the Legations and the general health of the foreign community, who contentedly awaited relief, was excellent, Hostilities had ceased on the 18th the Chinese soldiers probably being short of ammunition. The enemy, however, continued to strengthen the barricades around the besieged area, and also the batteries on top of the Imperial City wall. At the time of writing the main body of the Imperial troops had left Pekin, with a view to meeting the relief forces. Supplies had begun to arrive at the Legations, the wounded were progressing satisfactorily and the medical arrangements — although 150 cases passed through the hospital -were exellent. The Tsung-li.Yamen forwarded Sir Claude Mac Donald (the British Ambasssdor) a copy of the EmpressDowager's appeal to the Queen for intervention. On the day previously it issued an Imperial decree urging the Boxers to " continue their loyal and patriotic services in exterminating Christians." The victory of the allies at Tientsin led to a fresh decree on the 18th, in which the murder of Baron von Ketteler (the German Minister) was attributed to local bandits, though there was undoubted evidence thai the crime was premeditated and committed by an Imperial .officer. Dr Morrison states that the besiegers consist of Imperial troops under Yung-fu and Tung-fu. Decrees had been circulated applauding the gallantry of these forces, although it consisted of bombarding for a month a number of defenceless women and children, cooped up within the Legation compound. The Chinese during the bombardment used shells, shrapnel and round shot. Expanding bullets were also used. The French Legation was undermined by the Chinese, and at the I time of writting was a mass of ruins. ! M. Pichou (the French Minister) on the first day of the siege took refuge in the British Legation. The Chinese, in their determination to destroy the British Legation, burnt the Harilin Academy, reducing the unique library there to ashes. They then posted a proclamation of neutrality, but the same night a general attack was made in the hope of surprising the garrisons.

" The Times," in commenting apon its correspondent's message, declares that it now rests with the Powers to make China understand that she will be held fully responsible for whatever has has happened. If anything further happens to Europeans at Pekin or elsewhere the punishment must be ten times heavier. The paper also rejoices at the note of impatience from Berlin and Paris against any delay in affording relief.