The San Francisco call. [volume], June 09, 1900, Image 1

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

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While the Powers Prepare for Joint Action, Line
Up Battleships and Land More Marines, Tr)ere
Is No AbatemcQt in Outrages Committed by
ALARMING REPORTS CONTINUE
TO COME FROM CHINA
, Continued ' on Oeeond Pago.
'WITH BULLER'S ADVANCE TO LAINGS NEK — British Scouts Ques
tioning Suspected Natives.
LONDON.. June 9.— Definite returns
regarding the severe fighting be
tvrccn~t!:e'Chinese troops and "the
Boxers that w.asy going on Thurs
day between Tientsin and Pt-klng
had not been received at Tientsin when
the latest telegrams to reach London
were filed. The Chinese troops, however,
had killed many Boxers, according to
some reports, while another account had
the Government soldiers sorely defeated
la an engagement near Pao Ting Fu.
Apparently, the legation guards have
not yet tak^n a hand in the fighting, but
they" are ready, to do so at a moment's
notice. The Boxer movement affects
tome hundreds of square miles. •
Official dispatches to Vienna from
Peking -aver that the eect is more power
ful than any political party In China,
embracing r.o less than 4,000.000. and ma
nipulated by zealcus and adroit men.
Powers in Perfect Concert.
The representatives of the powers are
Ft'.ll acting in perfect concert, which ap
pears for the present to give the Chinese
Government ample chance to put" down
the disturbances alone.- The Tientsin cor
respondent of the Daily Mail, telegraph
ing June 7, says:
"For the last three days the whole
community of Tientsin has been prepar
ing to deftnd itself against an expected
ettark by the Boxers. There is a con
tinual influx of refugees from the sur
rounding jcountry. who are now crowding
the city. This increases the excitement.
Nearly all the villages surrounding
Tientsin are Joining the Boxer move
ment, which is taking more and more
a fanatical character.
"Parties cf foreigners when approach
ing the villajjea are driven back by armed
bands. Yesterday the Chinese troops
were ordered to ilachang, on the Grand
Canal, within twenty miles of ¦• which a
large body of Boxr-rs are reported to be
collecting. Attempts to re-establish the
regular working of the Poking-Tlentsin
railway have hitherto proved futile.
Every night the Boxers set fire to the
Eleept-rp and ihe woodwork of the bridges.
"Genernl Kieh eecrsa bent upon acting
TrJth enc;rET and dealing: out heavj' blows
to tho rebels, rzccsz^zlag the necessity
cf destroying the prestige of the Boxers,
which ha3 btrrun to demoralize hla army."
Protection cf the Sabsls.
Secret or6c73 from Peking fcr the pro
tection of tho rebels h.ivi paralyzed mili
tary aciion a«d ra-sci the Matua cf the
Boxers In th<? fjrcu cf the Jsncrant
classes. AlHiCii^tx the Boxera declare
drilled soldiers had fired upon the Box
ers who were destroying the railway near
Tientsin was favorably received, as giv
ing.some ground for hope that the Gov
ernment would change its policy. Now
arrives the intelligence that Nieh's troops
have- been ordered to return to camp.at
Lu Tai, and that their action has been
condemned. The Tsung LI Yamen, how
ever, denies the iruth of the latter state
ment. But the denials of the Tsung Li
Yamen are never convincing. If it be true,
the news must fco regarded as serious.
"The American Missionary Conference
to-day sent a dispatch to President Mc-
Kinley appealing for protection and as
serting that the, missionaries at Pao Ting
Fu and other places are in extreme dan
ger; that the Tun" Chu mission station
has been, abandoned, that the chapels
have everywhere been burned and that
hundreds of native Christians have been
massacred.
"The- serious condition of affairs' at
Peking Is reacting upjon the provinces.
The French Minister here has received a
telegram saying that the French Consul
at Mong Tazo and the- French agent at
Yun Han Fu have both been compelled
to retire from their, posts, as the Vice
roy announced that he was unable to
guarantee their safety. ',
"The Boxers burned a Russian chapel
at Tung Ting, thirty-five miles north of
Peking. Haut Ching Cheang, director of
railways, admits that the destruction of
the Peking-Tientsin Railway Is contin
uing, the Tsung LI Yamen being power
less to prevent It, and that It is useless
to expect the early restoration of com
munication."
REPORTS RECEIVED FROM
KEMPFF AND CONGER
Captain McCalla in Charge of the
Landing Force and He May Com
. maud at Peking. ; .
WASHINGTON, June 8.-The following
cablegram from Admiral Kempff. was re
; celved at the Navy Department this after
noon: ¦
"TONG KU, June 8.— On June 3 landed
forces to protect American Interests with
consent of China. Fifty-six men sent? to
Peking, rest to Tientsin. The , nations
sent forces " to : both cities. - No injury '"so
far.* British, Russian and Chinese ad
mirals and : twenty warships are here. \' ¦
"Cropa likely to fall, causing, probably
uioro . trouble in- tho near future.,", Our
landing . force tender McCu.!la. On Juno 5
the situation was mostcritlcal.. The Rus
sian force began fighting. I landed fifty
more men; have requested Helena be sent
! immediately to protect our interests or a
vessel Jlke her. Consider a battalion of
¦ marines necessary, .with gunboat as a
base inside. On June 6 the Tientsin-
Peking Railway was cut. Will act in con
cert with the naval forces of jothor pow
ers to protect interests if necessary. A
meeting of,, foreign senior 'naval officers
was held to-day.' Present English, French,
German, Austrian, Italian. Japanese and
American officers. Will arrange for com
bined action to protect life and -property
if- required. Nine; hundred men are
ashore; twenty-five warships here.
"KEMPFF.".
The following cablegram was received
at the Navy Department; this morning
from Admiral Kempff, on board the New
ark, off the Taku forts:
"TONG KU, June S.— Battle between
Chinese and Boxers near Tientsin. Large
number of Boxers expected to reach Tien
tsin to-morrow. : - ' ' KEMPFF."
Minister Conger at Peking also has been
heard from to-day. ¦ His message to the
State Department said there was no im
provement in the situation and asked for
instructions. It was not deemed proper
by the officials to indicate upon Just what
point Mr. Conger ;needs advice, but there
is an intimation that he .wishes to know
to what extent 1 he is to ; co-operate with
the '". diplomatics representatives of the
European, powers at Peking.
Secretary Hay took the message to the
Cabinet meeting.
The State Department is steadily pur
suing the line of policy laid down at the
beginning of this; Boxer. trouble of avoid
ing any Interference" with Chinese inter
nal affairs, beyond such measures as may
be absolutely necessary for the protec
tion of life and; property there." Espe
cially It Is determined : to; avoid, commit
ment to the policies of , any . of the Euro
pean' powers'* which .might;,' Involve 'the
United : States in trouble. .." Therefore, not
withstanding the : ominous news conveyed
in Admiral Kempff's. cablegram;, it seems
entirely probable that Minister " Conger
will be directed to . stick i to the > same line
of policy which he has pursued'up to this
time. "¦¦¦ '/ ';,-¦¦¦..,¦¦ •' - '£*. ':¦:' ¦ '.'"¦•
It is not :to^ be A>jv this '.that'
the United States | la\ desirous | of evading
any proper measures of responsibility.* and
the ' State Department I officials ore j careful
to . point out , that, r. while \ retaining our in
dependence, of action, our \ Government is^
really actlns concurrently with the Euro T
their first object to be annihilation of
Catholic converts, the wire-pullers evi
dently wish to propagate hatred among;
the country people against foreigners and
things foreign in general. The movement
on the surface has a patriotic character,
but it may turn ultimately against the
dynasty.- This seems to be the reason
why It has thus far been treated with a
gentle hand. The ' legations at Peking
have wired for reinforcements.
A dispatch to the Daily Mall from Yo
kohama, dated Friday, describing the ef
fect upon Japan of the refusal of the
Korean Emperor to give an audience to
the Japanese Minister regarding the tor
ture and execution of political suspects,
says:
"The feeling here is exceedingly ex
cited. It may net be possible for the
Government to keep it in check, as the
officla. were able to do at the end of
March, when Russia made her demands,
particularly on the question of Masam
pho. It is thought here that Russian
Influence is behind the affront given by
Korea to Japan. The tone of the Jap
anese press Js very bitter, and grave de
velopments are possible."
HUNDREDS OF CHRISTIANS *
HAVE BEEN MASSACRED
Missionaries Norman and Robinson
Hacked to PieceB TJnder Circum
stances of Hevolting Barbarity.
LONDON, June 9.— The Peking corre
spondent of the Times in a dispatch dated
June 7 says:
"Partlculars received here show that
Messrs. Norman and Robinson, the mis
sionaries, were hacked to pieces under cir
cumstances of revolting barbarity. The
Chinese- Government cannot be exon
erated from the charge of complicity In
these murders. From the beginning their
action .will bear only one interpretation,
namely, that of approval of the anti
foreign movement which has had these
results.
"The Government has delegated as a
commissioner to Cho Kau and Pao Tins
Fu.'the chief centers of the Boxers, to
Investigate and report, a notorious antl
forclgn official, who Is known to be In
pymapthy with the Boxers.and who was
the director of a mining and' railway bu
reau that was founded to thwart all rail
way and mining development."
The Pekinff correspondent of the
Tirses. telegraphing June 8. says:
•The news that General Nieh's forelcn-
GREAT seriousness marks the situation in China. A horde of "Boxers" is ex
pected to attack Tientsin to-day, according to advices from Admiral Kempif. They
i'ought the Chinese soldiers yesterday near the city. Twenty-five foreign war
ships are now lying off Taku, and senior naval officers, lacking the Russian, have
made plans for joint action. Captain McCaHa of the Newark commands the American
landing party and may direct joint operations against the "Boxers,"
Problems of the Chinese situation occupied the Cabinet session at Washington
yesterday. Protection of American 5ives and property without aiding any other na
tion's ambition will be the policy of the United States, and Minister Conger has been
instructed on that line.
London heard a report last night that notes were passing between France, Great
Britain and the United States relative to joint' action 'to restore order in China.
Hundreds of Christians have been slain by the fanatical' "Boxers," arid two British
missionaries were hacked to pieces under circumstances of the most revolting barbarity.
GRAND MERCHANT STREET, PEKING, ANjD THE TSIEN-MEN GATEi,
THE ABOVE PICTURE. TAKEN* FROM LE MONDE ILLUSTRE, SHOWS THE, GREAT COiIMERCIAii ARTERY OP THE CHINESE PART OF PE
KING AND THE PRINCIPAL GATEWAY BY WHICH IT ENTERS THE TARTAR CITY. JUST BEYOND AND DIRECTLY OPPOSITE THE /GATEWAY
IS THE ENTRANCE TO THE IMPERIAL PALACE, NOT FAR FROM WHICH- IS THE EUROPEAN QUARTER OF THE CITY. WHERE ARE SITUATED
THE FOREIGN LEGATIONS, NOW GUARDED BY THE SAILORS AND MARINES RECENTLY SENT UP FROM THE WARSHIPS NEAR TIENTSIN.
RUMORED
SURRENDER
TO ASHANTIS
L017D01J, Juna 9. — Ac
cording to a dispatch to
the Daily Mail from Ac
cra, dated June 8, a native ru
mor is in circulation here that
Sir Frederick Mitchell Hodg
son, Governor of Gold Coast
Colony, mads a sortie from
Kumassie, whers he had bsen
besieged by the Ashantis, but
was forced to retire and ulti
mately to surrender.
Mail advices from Accra,
dated May 17, say: "Fifty
thousand Ashantis are in
arms and the insurrection is
spreading. It is impossible for
white men to go into the in
terior successfully during the.
rainy season."
crowded and refused a furlough. This
seems a curious return to make for their
conspicuous services voluntarily rendered.
I have it on jnclipputablo authority that
it is the practice of the War Office to ad
minister the British volunteer and. for
all I know, the regular army, by means of
regulations drafted end issued in great
part on no better authority than that of
its promoted second-class clerks, a body
of gentlemen, no doubt, of irreproachable
character, but by no means adapted by
their intelligence or education to be en
trusted with so great a responsibility.
Such a delegation of authority, which is
unconstitutional as well as' unbusinesslike,
is in itself enough to show that the whole
War "Office from top to bottom must be re
formed if ..not ¦; reconstituted after the
war.'- .¦-••,;"*::••• ', .JM
BULLER HAS SEfZED
VAN WYKE HILL
* LONDON. June 8.— The War Offlce has
received the following dispatch from Gen
eral Buller:
."YELLOW BOOM FARM. June 8.— On
June. 6 General Talbot, with the Tenth
Brigade and the South African Lignt
Horse, seized Van Wyke Hill. .The enemy
made some resistance and a good deal of
sniping occurred. ] Our . casualties were
about four killed and thirteen wounded.
"Durlng that day and the following we
got two 4.7 and two 12-pounder naval guns
on Van AVyke-Hill and two '5-inch guns
on the southeastern spur of Inkewelo.
Under cover of their fire General Hlld
yard to-day assaulted all the spurs of the
berg between 1 Botha's Pass and Inkewelo.
. "The attack, which wa"3 well planned
by Hildyard and carried out with immense
dash by his troops, for whom no moun-
OMAHA, June S. — Envoy Wessels and
his secretary. Dr. de Bruyn, arrived In
Omaha at 9:10 o'clock from Sioux City
over the Chicago. Minneapolis, St. Paul
and Omaha Railway. A lame number of
representative citizens, headed by Chair
man John Rush, received the visitors and
escorted them In carriage to the Paxton
Hotel, where a large crowd had gathered
to await their arrival.
The lobby of the Paxton was crowded
by an enthusiastic crowd when Mayor
Moores mounted the steps and welcomed
the Boers to Omaha and the State. Mr.
Wessels responded in brief.
At 1 o'clock to-morrow a reception will
be given Envoy Wessels at the City Hall
and a mass-meeting at the Creighton
Theater will follow.
illLWAUKEK, June 8. — Abraham
Fischer, the peace envoy of the Trans
vaal. arri\*ed in Milwaukee to-night from
St. Paul. He was given a royal recep
tion. Mr. Fischer will rest until to-mor
row, when he will speak to a large gather
ing at the Exposition building.
TO AID CANADIAN CONTINGENT.
LONDON, June 8. — A cafe chatant was
held at the Carlton Hotel this afternoon,
organized by Mrs. Morton, In aid of the
Canadian contingent In the war. Lady
Randolph Churchill, the Earl and Coun
tess of Chatterfleld. the Karl and Countess
of Yarborough, Miss Muriel Wilson,
Mme. Albani, Miss Edna May, Mrs.
Langtry. Mrs. Leslie Carter and a host
of prominent actresses and musicians as
sisted in various ways to make the event
a great success.
HOLLIS INTERVIEWED KRUGER.
LOURENZO UARQtTKS. June 8.—
United States Consul Hollls, who returned
here'yesterday from theTran3vaal by spe
cial train, had a two hours' interview in
close conference with President Kruger
at Machadodorp. It is stated that Mr.
Ilollis was the bearer of friendly dis
patches from the United States Govern
ment urging Kruger to treat for petace.
BOER OUTPOSTS DRIVEN BACK.
HAMMONI. Orange River Colony. June
S. — General Rundle made a strong demon
stration against the Boer positions, em
ploying 500 of General Brabant's Queens
town Mounted Rifles, two guns and tho
Cage Mounted Infantry under Colonel Dal
getty. The Boer outposts were driven
back and their laager was looted, but the
troops returned without a battle.
MAFEKING, Tuesday. May 23.— Colonel
Plumer occupied Zerest yesterday without
opposition. This district is regaining its
normal condition. Supplies are arriving
daily. * : .-
tain? were too steep, outflanked the ene
my, who were forced tr> retire from their
very strong position. 1 think we did not
have any casualties and I hope I have
obtained a position from which I can ren
der Laings Nek untenable.
BOER PEACE ENVOYS
ARE WARMLY WELCOMED
EONDON. June 9.-3:15 A. M.-General
Buller has at length taken the rf
fensive. and by maneuvering he has
secured a position west of Laings
Nek, by which he believes he can
make the Boer positions untenable. Pre
sumably, he will -immediately follow up
his. success.
I Lord Roberts has communicated noth-
I ing for three days, not permitting the
correspondents to wire what is going on.
London's inference is that he is resting,
although he is possibly disposing his
army for a reach after Commandant Gen
eral Botha. '
A blockade ol the wires owing to the
rush of official correspondence may. ac
count for the scanty press dispatches.
Some telegrams filed a week ago are only
Just arriving. Among these are spir
ited descriptions of the fighting at Elands
Fontein. -According Jo one of them, the
streets were. filled with women and child
ren.' .Rifle shots could be heard every
where. The British. soldiers would stop
firing and join in the chase after chickens.
The .burghers surrendered to any one.
Kaffirs went about looting the Jewish
stores and mounted Infantry galloped
hither and thither.
Lord ¦; Roberts'' army . has a new song.
It runs thus: •
"We're marching into Pretoria.
It belongs to Queen Victoria."
Botha L«ft During the Night.
The Daily Kxpress has the following
from Pretoria, dated Wednesday: "The
1000 prisoners who were deported from
. Waterval were told that they were about
i to be given up to Lord Roberts. They
entrained cheerfully and were conveyed
to Nooitgedache. instead of Pretoria.
. "General Louis Botha, with a rear
pu.ird of 2000. left Pretoria during the
night. ' The Rritlsh advance guard on en
tering v.-as upon the -very heels of the re
tiring, Boers. Botha has. sworn to carry
on. the war in the mountains."
"At Lourenzo Marques Station a crowd
waited all .Tuesday night to see President
Kruger.iaa it was reported that he would
arrive, by a, special train to gain an asy
lum op board 'the Netherlands cruiser
Friesland.
JFiUl of .Boer j Refugees.
• iOfiaiefourp issaldto be full of Boer ref
ugees and wounded. The railway still de
livers' goods at Brockhorst Spruit, forty
.miles east of- Pretoria, i A British column
is ¦ at "Bremersdcrp. Swaziland. Eleven
British 'prisoners have been taken to Mid
dleDurg. "The British at Beira are mov
ing into the interior in detachments of
200, daily. •-...-'
.. G. ;V." . Fiddes, Imperial Secretary to
the. High Commissioner, with a part of
Sir Alfred Mllncr's staff, left. Cape Town
Tuesday evening for Pretoria, possibly,
as the Cape Town correspondent of the
Daily News thinks, to arrange the an
nexation details. ,
Bad Treatment of Canadians.
"The invalid Canadians at Shorncliffe
camp, returned from the front, complain
that, they are badly fed, unhealthily
. Harold G. Parson's, Federation del
egatQ from "West Australia, writing to
the morning papers to protest against the
treatment given to the wounded Cana
dians, says:
Lord Roberts Has Not Communicated Anything for
Three Days, but It Is Thought He Is Preparing to
Pursue Commandant General Botha.
By Maneuvering He Has Secured a Posi
tion West of Laings Nek, and Ex
pects to Drive Out the Boers.
GENERAL BULLER HAS
TAKEN THE OFFENSIVF
SAN FRANCISCO, SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 1900.
VOLUME LXXXV1I1— XO. 9.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
The San Francisco Call.