Directory_and_Chronicle_1902 — Page 673

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

138

PEKING

the 13th of August, and to these localities the Chinese withdrew their best forces, leaving the eastern Gate of the Chinese City all but unguarded. Here Sir Arthur Gaselee and General Chaffee leading the British and American contingents of the Column found an easy entrance. After seizing the Temple of Heaven, they swiftly pushed along in a direction parallel to the South Wall and found a way on through the Water Gate, by which the waters of the Imperial Canal flow under the Wall.

In a few minutes the relief of the Legations was an accomplished fact. The Russians and French got in early the following morning at the Tung-pien-men, and the Japanese, who, after being the leaders all the way from Tientsin and bearing the brunt of most of the hard fighting on the road up, had the bad fortune to meet with most of the real opposition at the Walls, entered later on in the same morning. The gallant little Islanders found some solace in coming across the chief Treasury as they fought their way across the City, driving the beaten Chinese before them. On the following day the Americans advanced on the Imperial and Forbidden Cities and, with the co-operation of the French and Russians, seized these citadels of prejudice and seclusion. The French, backed by

The French, backed by the Japanese, effected the release of the sore-tried people in the Pei-t'ang The City was given up to a “modified looting" for a period of three days, and then military government was established, the different Powers undertaking different areas of the town. The Palaces fell to the Russians, who also sent out a column and seized the famous Summer Palace, thirteen miles distant. The capture of the City was formally celebrated by a visit of all the leading Ministers, Officers, and some of the troops to the Palace. For the first time in history, foreigners were able to see the arcana of the Imperial Court. The Imperial Family had the day before the Relief escaped from the City and fled into Shan-si via the Northern passes, en route for Si-an-fù, where it remained till October, 1901.

Peking, though it suffered indescribably from the depredations of the Boxers, the Imperial troops, the awful ruffianism of Tung-fuh-shiang's barbarians from Kansu, to say nothing of the subsequent attentions of the Allied troops, is at present more attractive as an object of travel than ever, for the simple reason that the City has been cleansed by the foreign Powers, and that most places of antiquarian, artistic or historic interest are now accessible if the visitor sets about his object with due attention to national susceptibilities.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1902 — Page 673

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