CHINA. 



Ill 



Chinese Government, which could not have fore- in such attacks, which were officially ascribed to 

 seen the outbreak of the people against the Chris- riotous Boxers and unit incus troops The barri- 

 tians, and the Government desired to learn from cades of the besiegers were gradually pushed close 

 the foreign ministers what were the intentions up to those of the legations. The anti-foreiirn 

 and instructions of their governments. The min- party had its own way in Pekin whenever the al- 

 isters replied in a collective communication that lies made a fresh move toward the <-itv but when- 

 they had none but friendly instructions, and that ever they paused, more peaceful edicts were issued 

 detachments were on their way to Pekin for no and southern viceroys, who refused to support the 

 other purpose than to assure safety. In calling warlike policy and petitioned the EmpreM Dow- 

 attention to the firing upon the legation buildings ager to suppress the Boxers and protect the leca- 

 they were convinced that it was chargeable to tions, appealed to the powers to stay their advance 

 rebels or to soldiers acting independently, and and present their terms of peace pronuKim; on 

 they looked to the Chinese Government to put a their part to check anti-foreign disturbances in 

 stop to it. their provinces, but adding that they could not 



lor the next three weeks no communications guarantee the safety of the legations nor vouch for 

 passed between the Chinese Foreign Office and the the temper of the people in their own provinces 

 legations, which were closely invested by Boxers if the powers proceeded to the occupation of I'.-kin 

 and attacked with shell and rifle fire by imperial and the humiliation of the Empress. An imperial 

 troops. The Austrians aban- 

 doned their buildings on June r 

 21 and retreated to the French 

 legation. -The French and Ital- 

 ians evacuated their legations, 

 but resumed their positions 

 later. The German legation 

 was abandoned on June 22. 

 The British legation was the 

 main defensive position. Adja- 

 cent buildings were torn down 

 to deprive attacking parties of 

 shelter, to avert the danger of 

 fire, and to give material for 

 fortification. When Prince Su 

 abandoned his palace to take 

 refuge in the imperial city it 

 was occupied by Christian con- 

 verts, some of whom he had al- 

 ready received in the outer 

 court at the request of the min- 

 isters. These Chinese were em- 

 ployed in the work of fortifica- 

 tion, in which all the inmates 

 of the crowded British lega- 

 tion helped. Committees were 

 formed to take charge of the 

 administrative details. F. D. Gamewell, an Amer- edict of July 1 expressed disappointment in the 

 ican missionary having a knowledge of engi- achievements of the Boxer militia, who should 

 neering and of Chinese construction and the have combated the enemy and averted the out- 

 management of Chinese labor, superintended rages China had suffered at the hands of the for- 

 the erection of the barricades according to the eigners. They were still urged to proceed north- 

 plans of the military men. Sir Claude Mac- ward to ward off the danger that threatened Tien- 

 Donald was recognized as the chief in military tsin and Pekin, but the disloyal bands that robbed 

 as in other matters, although sometimes the mili- and murdered in their name would be distin- 

 tary officers objected to carrying out his orders, guished from the true Boxers and would be rigidly 

 On June 22 the Boxers burned the Italian and suppressed. 



Dutch legations and set fire to buildings within The legations were barricaded on every side with 

 the British compound, which were saved with a succession of walls built of large bricks taken 

 difficulty. The legation guards numbered only from houses, and on top of the walls and at the 

 430 79 British, 75 Fren'ch, 75 Russians, 58 Amer- entrance of the buildings were placed sand bags, 

 icans, 50 Germans, 40 Italians, 30 Austrians, and many of them made of silks, curtains, and gar- 

 23 Japanese. The periodical attacks made by or- ments, until the materials finally gave out and the 

 ganized bodies of imperial troops were mere dem- fortifications had to be constructed of bricks alone. 

 onstrations. A small force of them with modern When the allies relieved the force* IM-SJO-JW! at 

 guns, of which there were hundreds in Pekin, Tientsin, notice was given to the ministers once 

 could have demolished the legations at any mo- more that they must leave Pekin at once, the 

 ment. Even the Boxers, outnumbering the de- military authorities promising to protect them on 

 fenders fifty to one,. could have forced the position the route to Tientsin. The ministers replied that 

 had they not been restrained. From June 23 the they would remain and would protect tlu-m- 

 legations were completely besieged. The Imperial On June 27, when the time limit of this ultimatum 

 Guards under Yung-Lu continued to protect the had expired, the Chinese troops again attacked the 

 legations at the instance of the Emperor and of legations with shells and rifle fire. The Chinese 

 Prince Clung and the Tsung-li-Yamen. Kang-Yi Government, or the military leaders who had 

 and Prince Tuan encouraged the Boxers and the usurped all authority, determined to expel them 

 troops under Tung-Fuhsiang, of whom there were by force, and on June 26 a message was conveyed 

 15,000 in Pekin, to attack the legations, in order to the consuls in the treaty ports which announced 

 to frighten the ministers into leaving Pekin. that they were being convoyed down to Tientsi 

 No one in authority acknowledged connivance by imperial troops. The death of Baron von 



Copyright, 1901, by J. C. 

 RUINS OF THE AUSTRIAN LEGATION, DESTROYED BY THE BOlIBAKDMEXT. 





