Page:American Boy's Life of William McKinley.djvu/317

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OF WILLIAM McKINLEY
271

CHAPTER XXVIII


Relief of the Legations in Pekin—The President's Views on China—Capture of Aguinaldo—His Peace Manifesto—The President's Trip to the West


The taking of Pekin was as picturesque as it was daring. This immense city has a high stone wall around it, the building of which dates back many centuries. The wall is broad at the top, and at various points there are watch-towers or forts. Both walls and forts were guarded by thousands of Boxers, as were also the huge gateways leading into the city.

The majority of the Allies had come up by way of Peitsang and Tung-Chow, but others, including the Japanese, had taken a different route. While the sturdy Japanese soldiers attacked at one point, the Americans, English, and Germans attacked at another. There was heavy firing at various points, lasting several hours. Then the Russians joined the Japanese, and at-