Show CONPEREHCE DECLINED Partial Armistice Agreed Upon Which Lessened Rifle Tire On July llth the besieged had their first communication with the Tsung11 Yarnen from whom a message came Inviting In-viting a confreencc which was declined de-clined Correspondence however ensued en-sued and a sort of armistice was agreed upon which stopped the bombardment and lessened the rile fire for a time Even then no protection whatever was afforded nor any aid given save to send to the legations a small supply of fruit and three sacks of flour Indeed the only communication had with the Chinese Government related to the occasional delivery or dispatch of a telegram or to the demands of tho Tsung11Yamen for the withdrawal of the legation to the coast under escort ATTACKED BY IMPERLVL TROOPS Not only are the protestations of the Chinese Government that It protected and succored the legations positively contradicted but Irresistible proof accumulates ac-cumulates that tho attacks upon them were made by Imperial troops regularly regular-ly uniformed armed and officered belonging be-longing to the command of Jung Lu the Imperial comrnanderlnchlef Decrees encouraging the Boxers organizing them under prominent Imperial officers provisioning them and oven granting them large sums in the name of the Empress Dowager are known to exist Members of the TsungliYamen who counseled protection of the foreigners were beheaded Even In the distant provinces men suspected of foreign sympathy were put to death prominent l promi-nent among these being Clung Yen Boon formerly Chinese Minister In Washington I TEST MESSAGE SENT With the negotiation of the partial armistice of July llth n proceeding which was doubtless promoted by the representations of tho Chinese envoys In Washington the way was opened for the conveyance to Mr Conger of a test message sent by tho Secretary of Stale through the kind offices of Minister Minis-ter Wu Ting Fang Mr Congers reply dispatched from Peking on July 18th through the same channel afforded to the outside world the first tidings that the Inmates of the legations were still alive and hoping for succor JOINT RELIEF EXPEDITION This news stimulated the preparations prepara-tions for a joint relief expedition In numbers auiHcicnt to overcome the resistance re-sistance which for a month had been organizing between Taku and the capital capi-tal Reinforcements sent by all tho cooperating co-operating Governments were constantly arriving The United Stales contingent hastily assembled from the Philippines or dispatched from his country amounted to some GOOD men under the able command of the lamented Col LIscurn and afterward of Gen Chaffee ENGAGEMENT AT TJEN TSJN Toward the end of July the movement began A severe conflict followed at Tien Tsln In which Col Llscum was killed The city was stormed and partly part-ly 1 destroyed Its capture afforded the base of operations from which to make the final advance which began in the first days of August the expedition being be-ing made up of Japanese RussIan British and American troops at the outset out-set setAnother I Another battle wag fought and won at Yang Tsun Thereafter disheartened disheart-ened Chinese troops offered little show of resistance A few lay later the Important Im-portant position of Ho SI Woo was taken ta-ken A rapid march brought the united forces lo the populous city of Tung Chow test which capitulated without neon CHINESE CAPITAL REACHED On August 14th the capital was I reached After a brief conflict beneath IContlntd pn P bQ 1 rj l KINlEY TO CONGRESS ED 1 4 Continued from Pngo Lithe Li-the walls the relief column entered and the legations wero saved The United k Slates soldiers sailors and marines oflUeis and men alike In those distant climes and unusual surroundings E1 showed the same valor discipline and good conduct and gave proof of tho tine high degree of Intelligence and elllclcncy which have distinguished Gu thorn In every emergency The Imperial family and the Government hnJCial famiy ½ ment had lied a few days before The city was without visible control Tho i remaining Imperial soldiery had made Ion I-on tho night of the 13th a last attempt Co to exterminate the hesleged which was Gallantly repplled It fell to the occu galant l < pelel I fel pying forces to restore order and organize or-ganize provisional administration WHERE TROUBLE OCCURRED Happily the acute disturbances were I tonfined to the northern provinces I iiI I Is a relief to recall and a pleasure to record the loyal conduct of the Viceroys and local authorities of the southern and eastern provinces Their efforts directed to the were continuously direced pacific control of the vast populations under their rule and to the scrupulous observance Ej observ-ance of foreign treaty rights Al critical I criti-cal moments they did not hesitate to memorialize the throne urging the protection pro-tection of the legations the restoration tecton legtons of communication and the assertion of the Imperial authority against the subversive sub-versive elements They maintained cilyM excellent relations with the official representatives rep-resentatives of foreign powers To re8entatves 5 their kindly disposition Is largely due I the success of the Consuls In removing I many of the missionaries from the Interior I CrOr t4 tenor to places of safety CONSULS COMMENDED In this relation the action of the IL5t Consuls should be highly commended In Shantung and eastern ChlLi the task was difficult but thanks to their energy and the cooperation of American Ameri-can and foreign naval commanders hundreds of foreigners Including those tLE of others nationalities than ours were rescued from Imminent peril |