THE PROTECTING FORCE.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 11590, 17 July 1900, Page 3

THE PROTECTING FORCE.

THKIE HEROIC CONDUCT. FORM A SQUARE BOUND THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN. SHOT BY THEIE GUARDS TO SAVE MUTILATION. HEADS CARRIED THROUGH THE STREETS. NATIVE CHRISTIANS OUTRAGED AND BUTCHERED. Beueived July 17, 12.50 a.m. Hono Kong, July 16. Sheng confessed that be had been in receipt of constant information, but minimised and suppressed the facts, fearing the consequences of revelation. He replied to the Minister at Washington on the 15th inst. as follows :— Peking news of to-day's date says thatTung-fuh-siang, disobeying the Tmpeiial orders, was on the point of using his gnns on the Legations and the Government, and both would be imperilled." A courier bearer who brought the announcement of the massacre, declared that the sortie occurred early on the morning of July Ist. The foreigners exhausted their Maxim ammunition, but armed with revolvers, they formed a square, with the women and children in the centre. When Tuan effected a breach in the outer walls with artillery, the defenders shot the women and children with their revolvers rather than allow them to fall into the hands of the rebels. Tuan's numerous guns mowed down the foreigners. The Boxers stabbed the victims. Others pursued the survivors into the burning buildings and shared their fate. The Boxers mutilated the dead and exhibited their heads in the streets. Native Christians were outraged and tortured, and then butchered.