The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1900-08-18

department late yesterday afternoon,
sent a thrill of exultation and expec-
fancy throughout official quarters by
announcing his arrival at Ho ST WI,
only thirty-three miles from Picking,
last Thursday. The last heard from
him before this was at Yang Tsun.
which had been captured after a hard
fHht, and word of his movements since
then had been eagerly awaited. Thurs
day he was eighteen miles beyond
Yang Tsun. Lang Fang, the place
where the Inflated Seymour expedi-
tioA
Met Its Fate
and turned back, had been left be-
hind. The battle Of Yang Tsun was
Ho ST. WI was accomplished on the
9th, a march Of eighteen miles in three
days. This vas our days ago, and at
the same rate of progress Chaffee is
even now fairly within striking dis
lance of the walls of Picking. 1t was
a contamination which the war de:
partment had awaited calmly. and STIR
ring as the news was that the Ameri-
can force was now nearing the gates
of the imperial city, Secretary Root
and Adjt. Gen. Corbin evinced no u
prise, as it accorded With calcula-
lions, although the advance has been
more rapid than was expected.
The Dispatch.
The dispatch from Gen Chaffee con-
veying so much in so few words is as
follows: Observation-Disclosures General,
Washington: Tenth arrived Hospiuw
Tho ST Wu), yesterday"
Word of the advance soon spread
throughout official circles. In the en-
thusiasm of the moment a report got
about hat this was the day for the
actual arrival at Picking, but the war
department had not a word of the ad-
vance beyond Ho 81 WI. 1t was
deemed hardly likely that the march to
Peking could have been made since
last Thursday. At the rate of prog
ress,
Six Miles Il Day.
made from Yang Tsun to Ho ST WI,
about twenty-four miles would have
been covered in the last four days,
and up to to-day this would still leave
the international forces nine miles
from Peking. Viewed from any stand
point, the advance to Ho ST WI was
VI lIc ulli1OoI 1iIpOI tdtiSCs Iol OiiS
strategetically, but also in showing
that communication was open back to
Chefu: thai the expected opposition
from Chinese hordes had not beer suf-
ficient to prevent the steady forward
movement. and in in the influence it
would exert upon the Chinese govern
ment.
Result of the Fighting
Shortly after this dispatch arrived,
another message from Gen. Chaffee,
far more lengthy, gave the melancholy
result of the fighting at Yang .Tsun.
The casualty list was given in detail,
with the additional information that
the dead had been buried at Yang
Tsun and that the wounded had been
sent back to the hospital at Tien-tsin.
The reply of the United States gov
eminent to hCina's o%vertures for peace
was made public early in h day,
showing the firm and final position
that had been taken. While express
ing satisfaction at this pacific step, the
reply states that it is evident that
there a be
No General Negotiations
between China and the powers" so
long as the ministers and legationers
are restrained and in danger. Then
follows a specific statement of what
the United States expects as a condi-
ton precedent to a cessation of hos
t%ilities. viz. that a body Of the relief
force be permitted to center Peking
u~nmolested" and escort the ministers
back to Tien-tsin. 1t developed dur
ing the day that the reference to "the
powers employed in the American
reply was not without a distinct mean
ing. Exchanges between the various
powers have been going on constantly,
and as a result the officials
Had the Satisfaction
of knowing late in the day that the
position of the United States had the
approval and support Of all the great
powers. While this had not been ex-
pected in any formal manner by the
parties. yet the exchanges in the chan
~cellories of Europe through the for
eign representatives in. Washington
were acting unitedly in approval of the
curse of this government. Several OF
the foreign representatives, including
Baron Speck Won Sternberg. the Ger
man charge %d'affaires, had extended
conferences with MT. <Auce -uuAAiA6 IAC
afternoon. These added to the assur-
ances Of unanimity among the powers.
The presence Of the Russian represent
alive was gratifying in clearing away
some MiaapprehensfOn
which vas not shared by the govern
ment here as tt Russia's course in au-
thorizing M. de Giers to leave Peking
under Chinese escort. It was pointed
out that this in no way brought. about
a difference in the attitud eof Russia.
and that, as of the other powers. all
were acting on the theory that the
Chinese government must first give an
absolute guarantee for the safety OF
the ministers. It seems evident that
this absolute guarantee cannot be CIV
en- by China unless 1t allows the in
ternatfonal forces to enter Picking, SO.
that in effect the Russian position does
not differ materially from that Of the
other powers. At least Russia Is In
cluded among those who fully approve
the course taken by the United States.
Situation Desperate.
London, Aug. i5.-The British consul
at Canton, says the Daily T~elegraph's
correspondent there, has received the
following message. dated Aug. 8, from
Sir Claude Macdonald, British minis
tsr IN Peking:
cur situation here is desperate. In
49, rfS gNNEstafff III rrgfsafarht