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.

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_.