The Saint Paul globe., 1900-07-29
WI TING FANG e0NFIDRFT
EXPLAINS LACK OF INFORMATION
AS DUE TO CHINESE
METHODS
Ii HUNG CHANG IS INDIGNANT
Protests Against the Doubts Express
sed by Various Powers-Washing-
ton Authorities Disposed to
Take Hopeful View.


ihe usual visit from Minister Wu TO the
state department, all bearing directly
apon the welfare of the foreign ministers
N Peiin. This constantly growing mass
Of assertion is beginning to have a cuml-
iative effect upon the skeptics, and there
was noticeably more hopeful view taken
of the state of affairs today. Beyond the
fact that it is scarcely conceivable that
Chinese authorities should persist in re-
porting and strengthening these stories
H. lp to the rapidly approaching moment
when the whole truth must be disclosed
by other agencies it appeared upon care
lul consideration of the reports that
here really was little ground for hope
as to the safety of Mr. Ccnger ard his
colleagues at Pekin today than there
was Yesterday. The depressing fact is
always in mind that the Chinese authori-
ies,~by their own statements are able to
, communicate with the legationers, for
some mystery.
FLIMSY EXPLANATION.
Reason does not permit these unfortu-
mates to communicate with their own
government Minister Wu's explanation
of this, is that the Chinese methods are
hcient for the officials here. The min
lister, however, is honestly trying TO get
a further communication through from
/, Mr.. Cohger and It may be that success
III This Undertaking will afford him
brilliant vindieation.S At least he main
tains wonderful show of confidence i'll
the safety OF the Legations, and manages
to impress this in some degree upon the
officials and others with whom he comes
In contact.
CHAFFEEt At TAKU.
There was nothing of interest from
China respecting the military or naval
forces there. The war department Of
ficials now calculate that Gen. Chaffee
with his troops on the Grant viii arrive
at Talu this evening, though il may be
several days before his report of the
fact can reach the department. The ir-
regular and unsatisfactory character of
the present system of communication be-
tween Taku and the cable and at Shang-
hal has been taken into account by the
war department .and it is said that one
of Chaffee's first acts upon taking COM
mand of tbs United States forces ashore
at Taku and Tien Tsin will be to estab-
lsh, perhaps in cooperation with the
other military commanders, a line of
rapid despatch boats running from Tien
Tsin to Shanghai or Nagasaki.
MORE TROOPS MAY GO.
While the positive statement is. made
that it is not the present intention to
send any more troops from Manila to
China, at the same time it is known that
oil a
and that if an emergency should arise in
China which made it imperative to have
additional troops they would be drawn
= from the Philippines for temporary duty
at least Some time ago, Gen. Macarthur
was advised by Secretary Root to main
tain sufficient transports to carry sup
plies between Manila and Taku, and
these transports would be. available for
emergency troops. The Pennsylvania
Indiana and Sumner, when the latter ar.
rives at Manila, probably will be held
Icr service between Manila .Taku and
will be available for the contingency
which may occur, but which the depart
ment does not expect to arise A stub
born resistance to the advance of the in
teTnational armies might make addi-
tionaI troops necessary. In that event a
speedy relief column no doubt would be
sent from Manila.
CAUSES SPECULATION
The dispatches from Consul Fowler,
conveying assurances from Yuan Shih
liai the governor at Shan Tung, that the
foreign ministers were well on July "a
and had been provisioned, in. connection
with constantly reiterated assurances
from other Chinese sources of the safe
ty of the ministers, have raised anew
the theory at the state department which
is being speculated upon. These assur-
ances have been given in answer to the
repeated and urgent demand of the va
riOus European governments that they
be placed in communication with their
ministers. the last assurances of Yuan
was in answer to the specific demand
of the foreign admirals for direct com
munication. = Yuan's announcement that
the imperials government 9ae Pekin not
only asserts the. safety of the ministers.
but declares that they have been provi-
stoned, if accepted as true, indicates
thar the ministers have been communf-
Gated with. The inquiry then naturally
arises: sIf the ministers have been
proyisioned why does not the Chinese
government knowing as it does that the
whole world is demanding direct mes
sage from the besieged legationers, allow
them to communicate with their govern
ment? Why not furnish direct and un-
equivocal evidence of the safety of the
ministers. instead of this repetition of
assurance, which The world hesitates to
accept?''
DOUBT IN LONDON.
LONDON, July 2S.--The hopes of Eu-
rope for the safety of at least some Of
the members of the legations at Pekin.
which, earlier in the week, had COM
menced to revive, are now Pickering and
at the point of extinguishment. 1t has
been pointed ont here that there has
been ample time to get authentic mes
sages signed and dated by the minister's
This is the only confirmation of Chinese
assurances that viii be acceptable. Uniil
''lch adyices have been received or until