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The Mccook Tribune
Mccook, Red Willow County, Nebraska
What is this article about?
In Pekin, as allied troops depart, the local populace grows more unfriendly toward foreigners. Legation defenses near completion with brick walls, but ministers avoid strong fortifications to prevent irritation. US Major Robertson protests legation's vulnerability; French and Italian troops remain, causing inconveniences.
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Demeanor of Pekin Populace More Unfriendly as Troops Depart.
THE DEFENSES NEARLY FINISHED
Consist of Thick Brick Walls Loophole For Rifles-Ministers Wish to Avoid Irritating Chinese-The Situation in General.
PEKIN, Aug. 5.-American and European residents assert that the demeanor of the Pekin populace is constantly becoming more unfriendly and that as the allied troops depart the Chinese resume their old habits of jostling and cursing foreigners in the streets.
The legation defenses are now approaching completion. Generally speaking, they consist of brick walls from fifteen to twenty feet high and from three to four feet thick, loophole for rifles. The ministers of the powers ignored the plan for a uniform system of defense submitted by the generals and consequently the governments are working independently. It is the policy of the ministers to avoid conspicuous work of defense, lest these should prove an irritant, provoking instead of preventing hostilities. Most of the engineers have recommended stronger defenses than the ministers will sanction. Major Edgar B. Robertson of the Ninth infantry, who commands the United States legation guard, has written to Mr. Rockhill to protest against what he calls "the defenseless position of our legation," representing that it is exposed to attack on four sides. Mr. Rockhill has replied that it is not intended to maintain a fortress, but merely a wall for protection against unexpected mob violence. The wall is made of brick, out of deference to Chinese pride.
The French and Italians still remain here. The non-fulfillment of the agreement to evacuate public places in a fortnight causes some inconvenience to the military authorities. Only the German barracks have been completed. The French barracks have hardly been begun. The troops are grumbling over being compelled to give up comfortable quarters and to find temporary camps.
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Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Pekin
Event Date
Aug. 5
Key Persons
Outcome
legation defenses approaching completion with brick walls; ministers avoid strong defenses to prevent irritation; french and italian troops remain, causing inconveniences due to incomplete barracks.
Event Details
American and European residents note increasing unfriendliness from Pekin populace as allied troops depart, with Chinese resuming jostling and cursing foreigners. Legation defenses consist of 15-20 ft high, 3-4 ft thick brick walls with rifle loopholes. Ministers rejected uniform defense plan, working independently to avoid provoking hostilities. Major Robertson protested US legation's defenseless position to Mr. Rockhill, who replied it's for protection against mob violence, not a fortress. French and Italians remain; evacuation agreement unfulfilled, only German barracks complete, troops grumbling over quarters.