A good rest--The prevalent idea--The Generals of the Allies and
their opinion--Unnecessary accusations--Reinforcements--Prominent
features in Tientsin--Bathing not a luxury--The Russian and American
bands--News of the Legations--Sir Claude MacDonald’s pathetic
letter--A message to the American Consul and one to the Japanese
Consul.
After the taking of Tientsin city, and the excitement of looting it, it
was felt by the Allies that a good rest was necessary before an attempt
to relieve the Pekin Legations could be made.
As a matter of fact, the idea was prevalent in Tientsin that the
Ministers and all foreigners in the capital could not have escaped
massacre. Certainly everything pointed in that direction, and 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, could not have withstood a long
and severe siege.
Brigadier-General Dorward and the Generals of the other Allies were
of the opinion that, considering the strength of the enemy between
Tientsin and Pekin, at least 25,000 men were necessary for an advance.
Some suggested that 40,000 would be a figure at which a greater chance
of success might be expected.
Admiral Seymour himself thought that no less than 40,000 would be
necessary to fight and keep communications open. The rainy season,
which was late that year, would be coming shortly, and would render
the country almost impassable, as there were no roads to speak of,
and every inch of the railway had been destroyed. General Dorward’s
idea of travelling up by river was not looked upon favourably by most
commanders.
The Russians, who expected large reinforcements, seemed inclined to
wait till their men had arrived, which would be about the middle of
August or beginning of September, when a dash for the capital might
be made with comparative quickness and security, as the rains would
be over by that time. To start and have a second edition of Seymour’s
experience would be much worse than not to start at all.
There was method in their way of thinking, and more sense than appears
at first sight. Uselessly to sacrifice thousands of lives and yet not
attain the desired end seemed of no profit to any one. If an advance
were made at all, it must be made with every possible prospect of
victory.
Whispered, unnecessary accusations were made about the secret aims
of the Slavs, and absurd rumours were spread of machinations between
Russians and Chinese. Others went even so far as to believe that
Russian troops from Siberia were already in possession of Pekin, and
would try to keep the other Allies out! It would be interesting to know
who was originating these wild statements.
While all this talk was going on in the settlements, and while official
discussions and councils of war were taking place almost daily,
followed by genial dinners given by one General or another, nothing
whatever was being done.
Troops continued to arrive from Port Arthur, Japan Hong Kong, and
Manilla, and stores were now being brought up fast from Shanghai, Hong
Kong, and Nagasaki.
[Sidenote: PROMINENT FEATURES]
Several things impressed one in the settlements when matters grew
quieter.
Probably the most prominent feature were the American mule teams, with
their reckless drivers, which were greatly admired when one could avoid
being run over by them. Then the jovial, florid, naval face of Captain
Bayly, the Provost Marshal of Tientsin, who sat on a horse which he
rode up and down the Victoria Road at all hours of the day. On the
verandah of the principal hotel a swarm of Russian officers were at all
times to be seen drinking each other’s health, of which they seemed
to have already an exuberance, and making grand bows to one another,
while British officers sprawled disjointedly along the road with their
well-cut clothes, and an eyeglass often stuck over the eye, which did
not always add to their otherwise intelligent appearance.
[Illustration: AN AMERICAN POET AND NEWSPAPER CORRESPONDENT]
The British Tommy was nicely mannered and quiet, but bore an
absent-minded look about his face; while Jack Tar was free and easy, as
usual, and quite at home, as if the whole place belonged to him.
There was plenty of dash in the Americans, whose clothes,
nevertheless, appeared somewhat tight-fitting--a contrast to the
solemn, turbaned Indian troops, whose ample knickers made up for the
painful thinness of their legs.
[Illustration: INDIAN TROOPS BATHING, TIENTSIN]
Notwithstanding that the water of the river, canals, and ponds had been
polluted by dead bodies, the native troops were seen daily bathing
outside the mud wall, where the accompanying photograph was taken.
Europeans had given up washing long before, as the water supply was
limited, and a bath was indeed a luxury in which very few could indulge.
The little Japanese, silent, steady, and well-behaved, were like ants,
ever busy, carrying things here and there, moving guns, drilling,
foraging, grooming horses, washing clothes, cleaning rifles, or
polishing their swords and bayonets. They had established the most
reliable and well-conducted field post-office, although a Chinese
post-office had been reopened by the British, as well as one in the
German Consulate.
[Sidenote: A TELEGRAM]
The evenings were enlivened by the excellent Russian band, which played
selections from operas and well-known airs, and by the capital American
band, which went in for less classical but nevertheless captivating
music, such as “The Belle of New York,” “The Casino Girl,” &c.
Various unsuccessful attempts had been made to communicate with Pekin
by means of disguised messengers. Day after day passed, and we heard no
news of the besieged, which made us fear the worst.
A telegram had been received by his Excellency Director-General Sheng
on July 7, and we in Tientsin heard of it in due course of time. The
despatch contained news of the besieged, but although it purported to
come from his Excellency Yuan-Shih-Kai, Governor of Shantung, and had
been duly continued by Her Majesty’s Consul at Chinanfu, it was much
discussed, and little credence was attached to it in Tientsin. It ran:--
“A messenger has just arrived, having left Pekin on July 3. He states
that two Legations are still uncaptured. The troops and Boxers are much
disheartened. The former have lost over 2000 killed, and many of the
Boxer ringleaders have also been slain.
“They do not dare to approach the Legations, and the Boxers say that
their mystic powers have been broken by the foreigner.
“The messenger further says that if the foreigners have sufficient food
and ammunition they ought to be able to hold out for a long time.”
It was not till July 29 that the Allies woke up to the real state of
affairs, on the receipt by the British Consul of the following pathetic
letter from Sir Claude MacDonald:--
“British Legation,
“Pekin, July 4, 1900.
“We are here surrounded by Chinese Imperial troops who have fired
upon us continuously since June 20. We hold following line:--American
Legation and forty yards up south wall Tartar city above same,
Russian Legation, British ditto, also some part of the opposite (this
last held by Japanese), French legation and German ditto; all other
Legations outside this line and Customs buildings burned by enemy and
ruins held by them--their barricades close our lines on all sides.
Enemy are enterprising but cowardly. They have four or five cannon,
a 1-inch quick firer, two 3-inch ditto, and two 9 and 15-pounders,
used mostly for battering purposes. Our casualties are, up to date,
forty-four killed and about double that number wounded. We have
provisions for about two weeks, but are eating our ponies. If Chinese
do not press their attack we can hold out for some days--say ten, but
if they show determination it is a question of four or five, so no
time should be lost if a terrible massacre is to be avoided.
“The Chinese Government, if one exists, have done nothing whatever
to help us. We understand that all gates are held by enemy, but
they would not stand an attack by artillery. An easy entrance could
be effected by the sluice gate of the canal which runs past this
Legation through south wall of Tartar city.
(Signed) “+Claude MacDonald.+”
[Sidenote: A CYPHER MESSAGE]
Directly afterwards a second messenger brought to Mr. Ragsdale, 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 Chinese had ceased firing by agreement. The
Legations had sufficient provisions, but little ammunition. They could
hold out for some days. Fifty had been killed.
With much gentlemanly thoughtfulness Mr. Ragsdale immediately
communicated to all his colleagues the contents of the message, and
so, with excellent politeness, did the Japanese Consul, who received a
messenger a few days later from Colonel Shiba.
_August 1, 1900._
“+Circular.+
“The undersigned has the honour to present his compliments to his
colleagues, and to circulate for their information the accompanying
copy of the statement of a special messenger sent by his Imperial
Japanese Majesty’s Legation at Pekin, who has arrived here on July 31.
“+Nagamasa Sey.+
“His Imperial Japanese Majesty’s Consul.
“To the consul for France,
” ” ” Great Britain,
” ” ” Germany,
” ” ” Russia,
” ” ” the United States of America,
” ” ” Belgium.
“His Imperial Japanese Majesty’s Consul,
Tientsin.
“A special messenger who left Pekin July 23 arrived here July 31
after detention of four days by Chinese soldiers.
“He swallowed up a slip of letter from the Japanese Legation before
he was caught by Chinese soldiers at the time of his creeping out of
‘sluice’ at the south of British Legation.
“The following is substance of his statement:
“‘Mi-Tei, of the Japanese Legation, who handed me the letter,
had ordered me to proceed to Ho-hsi-Wu, or Yangtsun, where I
may find Japanese troops marching up towards Pekin. A few days
after armistice, the strict order was given by General Tung that
no provisions should be allowed to enter into the Legations. I
presume the object of armistice proposed by Chinese Government may
largely be attributed to the fact that a large portion of troops
under General Tung have left Pekin for Pei-tsang, to assist the
troops in checking the advance of foreign troops and also to gain
time in waiting for reinforcements from the south. I heard news
when released by Chinese soldiers that General Sung and Viceroy
Yu memorialised the throne that the Taku forts and Tientsin
must be recovered by them with the assistance of troops under
Yuan-Shih-Kai, Lo Ping Hong, and other Governor-Generals of the
south. This was duly sanctioned by the Emperor, who issued decree
to that effect on the 28th and 29th of sixth moon. All foreigners
are keeping up their spirits with daily expectation of speedy
arrival of foreign troops.’
“The following news reached at this Consulate in the morning of
August 1, 1900:--
[Sidenote: TWO BOXER LEADERS]
“‘Two principal leaders of Boxers, named Tsuao Fu Teu and Chang Te
Cheng, who were supported by and attached to the Viceroy Yu at the
beginning of the war, were killed. Soon after the fall of Tientsin
city the former was arrested and shot to death by Chinese, and the
latter was murdered three days ago by Chinese at Wan Cha Koa, about
100 li from Tientsin.
“‘+Mi Tei.+’”