is masked on two sides by
the other Legations, and is only really exposed on two sides, the
north and the west. Already many missionaries and nondescripts have
been coming in and claiming protection, and in the natural course of
events it must become the central base of any defence. Everyone sees
and acknowledges that.

At the two ends of Legation Street, the western Russo-American end and
the eastern Italian end, heavy barricades have already gone up. The
Dutch Legation, lying beyond the Russian and American Legations at
this west end of the street, being without any guards and protectors,
will, therefore, have to be abandoned immediately there is a rush from
the Ch'ien Men Gate. The Belgian Legation is naturally untenable, and
will also have to be sacrificed. The Austrian Legation is likewise a
little too far away; but for the time being a triple line of
barricades have gone up, having been constructed along the road
between this Legation and the Customs inspectorate. To-day, the 16th,
carts are no more to be seen on these streets; foot traffic is
likewise almost at an end. There is a tacit understanding that
everybody must act on the defensive.

Also every Chinaman passing our barricades is forced to provide
himself with a pass, which shows clearly his reason for wandering
abroad in times like this. There has already been trouble on this
score, for our system has had no proper trial....

Since the 14th and that dreadful first Boxer night, we have begun to
take affairs a good deal into our own hands, and have attempted to
strike blows at this growing movement, which remains so unexplained,
whenever an occasion warranted it--that is, those of us who have any
spirit. Thus, on the afternoon of the 14th, Baron von K---- took a
party of his marines on top of the Tartar Wall, pointed out to them a
party of Boxer recruits openly drilling below on the sandy stretch,
and gave orders to fire without a moment's hesitation. So the German
rifles cracked off, and the sands were spotted with about twenty dead
and dying. This action of the German Minister's at once created an
immense controversy. The timid Ministers unhesitatingly condemned the
action; all those who understand that you must prick an ulcer with a
lancet instead of pegging at it with despatch-pens, as nearly all our
chiefs have been doing, approved and began to follow the example set.
This is the only way to act when the time for action comes in the
East, and the