The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-01
Are the ENJOYS safe2


mats in Picking, coincident with the
time originally set for the commence
ment Of the advance movement of the
allies. They include a dispatch from
the British minister recounting that
his legation has been repeatedly at
tackled by Chinese troops. but that
there has been an armistice since July
rs: a message from the Germans that
their legation has been attacked. but
that firing ceased July IL; and the re-
port from the Japanese legation, which
states that the firing ceased on the
nth. These last messages contain the
information that the American 1ega-
ton, as well as that Of the Germans.
Russians, British and Japanese. were
stiil holding out These last messages
purport to be dated the 21st and 22d
respectively. 1t will be remembered
that Minister Congers message, pur-
porting to have been dated July IS.
said: I'm British legation. Under con-
tinued shot and shell from Chinese
troops. Quick relief only can prevent
a general massacre
All of those messages are transmit
ted through the Chinese. and II one Of
them has been tempered with. there is
strong probability that all have Note
the discrepancies. The British minis
ter reports that firing ceased on the
18th; the japanese on the 18th; the
Germans on the 18th: while Conger's
telegram asserts that 1t eth continued
on the 18th. Again. the Japanese mess
age states that the American legation
was holding out on the 22d. while Con-
ger, under date OF the 18th. says that
he was In the British legation.
1t II difficult to explain these dis
crepancies on the theory that the mess
ages are all genuine. and have not been
tempered with. The theory that the
members OF the legations should in
some instances have used the Chinese
calendar for their dates is more ingeni-
Gus than plausible. Opinion had set
tied down to the belief that the Conger
message had been tempered with. to
the extent at least that the date had
been raised. II that were true OF the
Conser message. why not of the others
which have now come TO hand7
Each OF the messages may be. and
quite likely IL. authentic. save In the
date. The Conger message. OF doubt
full validity. describes situation in all
respects Identical with that portrayed
In his admittedly authentic message of
July T. That situation Is substantially
Identical with the one set out In the
messages which have Just come to
Der who have been killed and wound
ed. none OF the alleged messages
throws a ray Of light on the situation
beyond what was given out In Con-
gers report Of July 4 I, is impossible
10 explain the discrepancy as 10 the
condition OF the American legation on
any theory that the dates were cor
rect. while II is easily cxplainable on
the theory that ali OF the messages
which have been given out were really
OF an earlier date than July 4 Rumor
from Chinese sources has fixed the date
Of the masSaeres OF the members u the
legations at July 6 Beyond the mere
dates. there Is not word In the mess
ages themselves which Is absolutely
contradictory OF this
The Chinese have now q strong tn
tereSt In seeking 60 deceive the allies
into belief that the members 81 the
legations are alive. Is Hung Chang
has announced that they are being kept
as hostages. and has broadly intimatcd
that their lives win ray the penalty II
any advance Is made on TO Picking The
Chinese are among the most skulfal
forgers in the world Many 81 them
have been educated Ia Europe and
h4NNE HtFAHEA NAkifAn&A1 az fsNEAktrskN
languages II the legations have fallen
the Chinese may have obtained pos
session Of all Of the ctphers uscd By
the various foreign ministers. ard could
be at least enabled 60 use them g. the
extent Of altering or changing the dates
~ authentic messages which they had
! previously Intercepted.
The best that eaa be said OF the pres
eni messages IS that they increase the
possibility that some members Of the
/ legations are ssnl alive. but are very
far from proving that fact. Picking is
within seventy-five miles of Tientsin.
II the Chinese government really de-