668 Mr. A. Henry Savage Landor, [May 31, 



WEEKLY EVENING MEETING. 

 Friday, May 31, 1901. 



Frank McClean, Esq., M.A. LL.D. F.R.S., Vice-President, 

 in the Chair. 



A. Henry Savage Landor, Esq., M.B.L 

 With the Allies in China. 



After the fall of Tientsin native city, and the excitement of looting 

 it, it was felt by the Allies that a good rest was necessary before an 

 attempt could be made to relieve the Legations in Pekin. 



The idea prevailed in Tientsin that the Ministers and all foreigners 

 in the capital could not have escaped massacre. If the Imperial 

 troops in Pekin were as well armed and drilled as those who fought 

 in Tientsin, we could but surmise that the Legations, with the small 

 guards and limited ammunition they possessed, could not have with- 

 stood a long and severe siege. 



The generals of the Allies thought that at least 25,000 men were 

 necessary for an advance on Pekin. Some suggested that 40,000 

 would be a figure at which a greater chance of success might be ex- 

 pected. The rainy season would be coming shortly, and would render 

 the country almost impassable. The railway had been destroyed. 



Various unsuccessful attempts had been made to communicate with 

 Pekin by means of disguised messengers. Day after day passed, and 

 we in Tientsin heard no news of the besieged, which made us fear 

 the worst. 



It was not till July 29 that the Allies woke up to the real state of 

 affairs, on the receipt of a pathetic letter from Sir Claude MacDonald. 

 It said : " If the Chinese do not press their attack we can hold out 

 for some days — say ten ; but if they show determination, it is a ques- 

 tion of four or five, so no time should be lost if a terrible massacre 

 is to be avoided." 



Directly afterwards a second messenger brought to the American 

 Consul a small piece of tissue paper on which was a cypher message 

 from Mr. Conger, the United States Minister. It was dated July 21, 

 and said that the Legations had sufficient provisions, but little 

 ammunition. Fifty had already been killed. The Japanese Consul 

 received a messenger a few days later. 



It was plain that the besieged in the Legations were in a sorrowful 

 plight. At any cost, an attempt to relieve them must be made at once. 



