Page:Twentieth Century Impressions of Hongkong, Shanghai, and other Treaty Ports of China.djvu/86

78 rank rode up, and announcing himself as the commander of the Chinese troops at Sinho, intimated that there would be peace now, and expressed a desire to take by the hand those who fought him on that day. The visitors had not been at Tungchow long, however, before they discovered that all was not to be plain sailing. The commissioners, whether owing to direct orders from the Emperor, or to the knowledge which was brought them that a great military force had been brought upon the scene, in the place of the former courtesy assumed an arrogant, almost offensive, attitude. They placed all sorts of obstacles in the way of an arrangement, and it was only after four hours' discussion that they could be brought to assent to plans for the accommodation of the expeditionary force. There seems very little doubt now that they were utilising the negotiations simply for purposes of delay—to allow of the advancing Chinese troops to close in more effectually upon the invading force. But Mr. Parkes, though suspicious of the bonâ fides of the Mandarins, did not divine the true state of affairs until he was on his way back to the British camp on the following morning. Then he realised only too well what the true position was. On every side troops were encountered, obviously collected for the execution of some grand coup. Taking in the situation as he passed along, the dense masses of cavalry ready for instant action, the guns being placed in position, and the marching and countermarching of considerable bodies of braves, Mr. Parkes had not the slightest difficulty in understanding that the object of the Chinese was to attack the expeditionary force at a disadvantage. Immediately the truth dawned upon him he took steps which seemed to him to be demanded by the occasion. He first of all despatched Mr. Loch with two Sikhs, to carry to Sir Hope Grant the news of what he had to expect. He himself decided to return to Tungchow, for the double purpose of demanding an explanation of the commissioners and extricating from the dubious position in which they were placed the main body of the escort, which, with Messrs. De Normann, Bowlby, and Anderson, had been left there to point out the camping ground to the expeditionary force on its arrival. Mr. Loch performed his task with difficulty, but he was not content that his mission should end there. He thought that his duty impelled him to return to the Chinese lines to help his associates out of their difficulty, so taking Captain Brabazon and an escort of two Sikhs with him, he rode as fast as he could through the enemy's ranks to Tungchow. The party had an uneventful ride, and on arriving at Tungchow they found that the British members of the party were away in the town shopping, in blissful ignorance of the critical position of affairs. There was, however, a letter from Mr. Parkes instructing the officers to prepare for instant flight, and stating that he was himself seeking Prince Tsai. Not long afterwards the entire party met to face what was momentarily becoming a more dangerous situation. Mr. Parkes' interview with Prince Tsai left not the smallest doubt that war was intended, and apart from this, there were sufficiently ominous movements visible to show that the sword was to be drawn, if it was not already out of its scabbard. It was speedily decided to make a bold bid for safety. This could only be done by riding with the least possible delay back to the British lines. But the expeditionary force was 10 miles away, and it was known that, according to an understanding arrived at between Mr. Loch and Sir Hope Grant, the British attack would be delivered at the expiration of two hours from the time of the former's departure. With none too confident feelings, therefore, the little band of Britons commenced their journey. All went well until they had passed through Chan-chia-wan. Then they found themselves in the rear of the Chinese army, with the battle already raging in front. After a council of war it was decided not to take a direct course, but to endeavour to get round the right flank of the Chinese force and by a detour reach the British lines. When an attempt was made to give effect to this decision the Chinese immediately interfered. The British were told by a Mandarin that if they persisted they would be fired on, but that if they would accompany him to the general's presence he would procure a safe conduct for them. The offer was perforce accepted, and Mr. Parkes and Mr. Loch, separating themselves from their companions, and attended only by a Sikh trooper, rode off in search of Sankolinsin. the Chinese general. They came suddenly upon a large body of infantry, who attacked them with such ferocity that they would inevitably have been killed, but for the intervention of the Mandarins, who rushed between them and their men and commanded the latter not to fire. Sankolinsin, on being encountered shortly afterwards, treated the representations made to him with scornful flippancy. By his orders the unfortunate Britishers were dragged from their horses and subjected to all manner of indignities, and finally were despatched prisoners to Peking. The remainder of the party were later subjected to similar ill-treatment and followed their companions in misfortune to the Chinese capital.

The battle meanwhile was proceeding rapidly to its inevitable culmination. In the final dispositions for the struggle the French had taken up position on the right, and they early became vigorously engaged with the best portion of Sankolinsin's troops. The Tartar cavalry charged the guns with so much spirit that a battery narrowly missed falling into their hands. This charge was met by a counter charge, which, however, produced little effect on the dense masses of the enemy. Sir Hope Grant, fearing the prolongation of the conflict, decided to assail the enemy's left vigorously. The movement was carried out very effectively, the great feature of it being a brilliant charge by some squadrons of Probyn's Horse. The enemy now began to give ground slowly. Their progress rearwards might have been hastened had not the French been too exhausted to participate further in the fight. Sir Hope Grant, making the best use of available material, was, however, able before night fell to occupy Chan-chia-wan and drive the enemy out of a strong camp one mile on the other side of the town. The British commander was under no misapprehension as to the character of his victory. The Chinese, though beaten, were not demoralised. They had fought bravely and well, and there was no reason why they should not again measure swords with the expeditionary force. In the circumstances Sir Hope Grant considered that prudence demanded that he should strengthen his force with a view to future eventualities. He therefore ordered Sir Robert Napier to join him with all available troops from the Tientsin garrison. On the 2lst of September Lord Elgin arrived at the military headquarters, and about the same time the French troops were reinforced by a fresh brigade. The hostilities were then recommenced with vigour. The Chinese, emboldened by the delay, made another stand at the Palikao bridge which crosses the Peiho west of Tungchow; but they were no match for the carefully trained and well equipped troops pitted against them, and on the bridge being brilliantly rushed by the French, they quickly dispersed. Peking was now practically at the mercy of the invaders. That the circumstance was appreciated in the imperial entourage was made manifest the