BRITISH INDIAN TROOPS TO ADVANCE ON PEKIN.

Southland Times, Issue 14711, 2 August 1900, Page 2

BRITISH INDIAN TROOPS TO ADVANCE ON PEKIN.

LI HUNG THINKS IT ADVISABLE TO PRESENT THE LEGATIONS AT TIENTSIN. DIPLOMATIC DESPATCHES FROM PEKIN CONFIRM NEWS OF COMPARATIVE SAFETY OF THE FOHEIGNERS. SIR R. HART AND FAMILY SAFE. MESSAGES PROM DIFFERENT SODKCES ARE HOPEFUL. CHINESE PALTRY COWARDS. 58 KILLED : FIVE BRITISH' London, Aug. 1. Received Ist, 9.50 p.m. The Hon. St. John Broderick informed the House of Commons fchafc according to his latest advices General Guzelee, it. command of the.ludian troops, contemplated an immediate advance on P«jkio, hoping th»b the Allies would co-oparata with him. HOSC: KCMG, Aug. 1. Received lat, 9.50 pm. Li Hang Chang and tbe Viceroys are pressing the Chinese Govtirnment to expedite the transfer of the Ministers to Tientsin. The Mohawk is retelling foreigners in Hainan, and the Wallaroo baa arrived here from Sydney. Sheng annoanoes that the Tsung li Yatnea declines to transmit legation telegrams unless in plain language. Diplomatic and other despatches from Pekin have reached Tientsin, corroborating previous news. U.S. Minister Conger on the 21st reports that sine a the 16tU a mututl truce had been observed und that the Legations were provisioned for ueveral weeks. They had little ammunition and if shelled as before wonld be unable to hold ont long. A complete massacre would ensue. Be hoped the relief would bti speedy. All were then safe and well. (This refers to Mr Conger's family.) Sir H. Hart sent) word that he and his family were safe. Mission* ariea report that all the Americans in Pekin and Tungohow are safe at Ptkin, bat tbe mission buildings have been destroyed. A private message reports that General Jung Lv inquired of Sir Claude MnoDonald if he would agree to a truoe, and bb« latter did so. Everything was quiet aod there was plenty of food, in the shape of rice, for the horses. Tie greatest danger was lest the Chinese, defeated an Tientsin, should enter Pekin. The Amerioans gallantly sOrtied on the night of the 3rd and punished the Chinese. Received lsb, 10.20 p.m. A private message from Pekin, dated 2lat, says that the first newti from the oatside world reaohed Pekin on tho 19th. The failure of tbe relief expedition under Admiral Seymour originally Imperilled the

situation. The Tsung-li-Tamen broke off relations with the -Legations on the 18th June and war was declared on the 20th. Fonr attempts were made to burn the Legations, but the oowardioe of the Chinese prevented them rushing the buildings. Professor Francis James was murdered. The total dead were— Germans and Japanese 10 each, French 11, British 5, Russians and Austriaos 4 eaoh, Americans and Italians 7 each. The Americans hold a strong position near the city wall, and there is sufficient provisions and excellent s/rangements. Received Ist, 10.35 p.m. An Imperial ediot oommended the Boxers, ordered the missionaries to quit the interior and commanded Viceroys to help Pekin. A further edict on the 18th enjoins the protection of foreigners, and promises compensation for outrages already perpetrated. This change of front was due to a report that a large relief force waa ooming.