Pekin-Tientsin railway destroyed--Foresight of French and Russian
Ministers--Their guards on their way to Pekin--Pekin in extreme
danger--Imperial troops unite with the Boxers--Imperial favour
shown to the rebels--How the Chinese regard our civilisation--Their
dream of revenge--H.M.S. flag-ship _Centurion_ and the _Whiting_,
_Endymion_, and _Fame_ proceed to Taku.
The developments expected quickly came. The railway between Pekin and
Tientsin was torn up in many places, and several station sheds, machine
houses, and dwellings of Europeans--especially at Yeng-tai, six miles
from Pekin--were destroyed by the Boxers.
The traffic and passenger service were necessarily interrupted; the
supposed rebels were not interfered with by the authorities, and the
Legations, missionaries, and other residents in Pekin found themselves,
all of a sudden, in a somewhat precarious position. Fortunately the
telegraph was still working.
The French Minister, who had received from his Government full
authority to act on his own judgment, and to call for troops whenever
he deemed them urgent, had not waited, like the other foreign
Representatives, “twenty-four hours more for further developments.” He
had acted quickly and wisely. So had the Russian Minister; and these
two nations, which have, after all, not so many subjects to protect in
Northern China as has England or America, had at once sent for guards
of 100 men each to be despatched to Pekin. Sir Claude and the American
Minister only telegraphed for Legation guards on May 29, or nearly two
days later.
The situation in Pekin was one of extreme danger; the anti-foreign
feeling showing itself suddenly in all its virulence, murderous
placards being posted everywhere, and Boxer instigators, such as
Buddhist bonzes and preachers, collecting large crowds all over the
city undisturbed, and proposing the destruction of foreigners and their
property. The Imperial troops were demoralised and apparently on good
terms with the Boxers, while the Government openly supplied food, arms,
ammunition and clothes to the presumably “rebel” mob.
[Illustration: RUSSIANS LANDING AT TONG KU]
The Tsung-li-Yamên refused permission to the guards to come to Pekin,
but a day later, May 31, allowed thirty marines of each nationality for
the protection of the Legations.
The French and Russians, who were already on their way to Tientsin by
river, were compelled to turn back, as they were not in sufficient
numbers to face a Chinese Imperial force which threatened to fire on
them should they continue their journey. Reinforced by the British,
Americans, Italians, and Japanese, they all started again together.
On May 31, at 4.15 in the afternoon by special train there arrived
in Pekin the following foreign troops: Three British officers and 75
men, seven American officers and 50 men, three Italian officers and 47
men, two Japanese officers and 23 men, three French officers and 72
men, and four Russian officers and 71 men. The troops took with them
five quick-firing guns. The appearance of foreign troops--even in such
small numbers--had for a few days a salutary effect on the Chinese, who
quieted down temporarily, while much relief was felt in the Legations
at the arrival of these guards, since, although scanty, they would, in
case of a crisis, afford some protection to the women and children,
whereas there had before been absolutely none.
[Sidenote: IMPERIAL ENCOURAGEMENT]
The city of Pekin itself was not much disturbed, but in its immediate
neighbourhood Christian converts were assassinated daily, and chapels,
churches, and houses of missionaries were being looted, burnt, or
destroyed.
In the Imperial Palace--although Sir Claude reported to the
contrary--there existed, even before that time, not fear of, but
encouragement and friendliness towards the Boxers, the Empress-Dowager,
with Prince Tuan and a number of foreigner-hating Manchu princes,
believing firmly that the moment had come when the Chinese could at
last either kill or drive into the sea every foreign devil. It must
ever be borne in mind that this notion is and will always be firmly
rooted in every Chinaman’s mind. The higher he is in official position
the deeper is his feeling of contempt and hatred for foreigners. One
hears reports that the Chinaman admires our civilisation, that he is
in amazement at our inventions, that he will one day be as civilised as
we are, that is to say when he has learned enough. And so the Chinese
will be. He will strive to purchase machinery, guns, and ammunition,
he will gradually learn how to work them, and when he does he will do
it well; but this will only be in order to learn how to fight us, and
to have his revenge for what he considers, probably with justice, as
our offences. He will never rest content until, no matter at what cost
to his nation in human life, in money, suffering, and humiliation; no
matter what blows may have been dealt him, he can one day stand up
fiercer than ever and strike back a harder blow at us than any he has
received.
“Revenge! Revenge!” is the smothered cry of the Chinese. “The day will
come when we will fight these foreign devils with their own weapons,
driving them out of our country, and with them their corrupt ways,
their machines, their reforms. Then shall we once again return to our
old doctrines and rites, and happiness will reign for ever over our
country.”
This is the dream of the Chinaman. Perhaps we shall help him to turn it
into reality.
Admiral Seymour, who was at Wei-hai-wei with the fleet, seeing that
matters grew worse than had at first been expected, proceeded to Taku
with the flag-ship _Centurion_ and H.M.S. _Whiting_, _Endymion_, and
_Fame_.