Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-08-15
By Telegraph to virgInian-Pllot1

Hc ipepuEtment OF state announces
that message from Minister Congcr
mas been received. but Of uncertain
date and not in reply to the telegram
sent him on August Sth. 1t will not be
made public"
This came at the conclusion of. a
period OF intense expectancy. and vet
one devoid of any actual developments.
save in the foregoing meager an
nouncemcnt. Minister Conger's mes
sage was received in Washington
shortly before noon. coming first to
the chinese legation by the usual
route through Chinese officials. 1t was
III the American cipher. without date.
ana signed with the minister's name
~ CONFERENCE.
1t was transmitted to the State De-
nartment and conferences began be-
tween Acting Secretary Adec and Sec
rotary Root. Throughout the after
noon. however the State Department
maintained an unaccountahle reticence
conc"rhing the subject. declining to
admit that the message was i'm hand
me suspense was cleared up at
O'Clock by the above announcement. II
was stated authoritativcly that while
the message was of n confidential char
acter. and for that reason could not.
ana would not be given out. vet, as n
means OF allayiug possible misiuterpre-
tation, 1t could be said that the dis
patch showed neither n better cordi-
lion; nor u worse condition on the part
of the legationers ut Pckin.
THE MESSAGE.
1t did not Indicate whether Minister
ConSer has. or has not received any
messages from this Government No
thing was contained In the message
which viii cause any change in the in
structions To General Chaffec In fact
II was stated In this same authorita-
tive quarter that the only additional
instructions sent to General Chnffcc
since lie left Washington were those
OF a more specific and explicit nature
which the developments in China. ana
the information received by the War
Department. necessitated.
NO WORD FROM CIIAFFEE.
Throughout the day, word was anx-
iously awaited from General ChaIrce
as to the development of the military
situation near Peilin. but not word
came. nor did Admiral Rcmev send
anything on the situation. The last
heard from General Chaffee he was at
fio ST WI. and, according To all cal
culations. lie must now be very near
Pekin. unless events have occurred to
delay the advance.
MUCH TO BE DONE.
The officials are taking into account
that an advance even up to Pekin
leaves much To be accomplished in a
military way. 1t was tatcd to-day by
an official who has lived at Pekin that
nothing short OF the heaviest artillery
could make any impression upon the
walls OF the imperial city. lie said
light artillery would he of no avail. and
Tor this reason. the advance of living
column UP 60 the walls OF the city
could effect little ii Il stubborn defense
were determined upon. The walls are
a@f 10Th x,.fl IL,
on top for two coaches to pass abreast
From an offensive standpoint. the
walls afford opportunity for planting
guns, while from a defensive stand
point they could not he preached. cx-
cept by the use Of very heavy projec-
tiles.
CHINA MAY YIELD.
Although the situation admits of the
prospect of an assault upon Pekin. yet
government officials were decidedly
more hopeful to-day that n solution of
the Chinese problem would be found
without resource TO such heroic mca-
sures. The improved feeling is based
largely on the belief that China renliz-
ing that her sacred capital is about TO
be besieged by the armies of the world.
will yield everything and that the lega-
TONERS will be delivered on the terms
of the allies.
LANDING OF BRITISH TROOPS.
me attitude OF the United States
concerning the landing of British
troops at Shanghai has been made
known TO the foreign governments
through their representatives here.
This had the effect of practically elm
mating the United States from the
question. Neither the French nor the
German governments Is disposed to ac-
cept calmly the landing OF British
troops, and it is understood that strong
representations, both from France and
Germany. are now being made at Lon
don. AS summed up by we'll inform
ed diplomat. these representations in
effect are that for every British marine
landed at Shanghai. France and Ger
many would also land marine 1t is
felt moreover. that the issue involved
relates not only to Shanghai. but viz
tually to the control of the entire Yang
Use kiang valley. known as the para
disc of China.
Foreign governments have manifest
ed desire also to learn the views OF
the United states concerning the in
structions of Russia To her minister AT
Pekin. NJ deGiers In respose to in
quiries here. 1t has been made known
that this government looks upon the
course of Russia as substantially the
same as that OF the United States. and
that the Powers are therefore acting in
substantial unanmity.
THE BRAVE JAPANESE.
Copyright. 1900. by Associated Press.)
Shanghai, Aug. 1S.-The following
dispatch has been received from the