Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-08-27
WAR NOT YET DECLARED
None of the Powers Has Given
China Formal Notice.
CHINESE FORCES ARE RALLYING
somewhat Disquieting News Comes
From Peking Via Tokyo-The Al
lies May lie archaeological City
Cleared of Boxers,

From Picking Via TokyO-The Al
lies Mny he Besieged-CnpitaI City
Cleared of Boxers.
Washington, Aug. 27.-Neither Russia,
Germany nor Japan has declared war
upon China either separately or in con
cert. This statement is made upon au-
thority of the highest character. What
those nations may do within the next AZ
hours or within the next fortnight is Il
question which no one in Washington is
prepared to answer.
brief dispatch from Chefu conveying
rumor current there that Russia, Ger
many and Japan had joined in decla-
ration of war upon China aroused some
Interested comment among Washington
officials and among diplomatic represent
auves of foreign governments resident
here.
In neither official nor diplomatic cir
cles, however, was the rumor taken Sc
riously. No information of such action
has reached either the department of
state or the legations of the governments
primarily interested. That fact alone is
accepted in official circles as a sufficient
refutation of the rumor.
No news FROM tOnser.
Not word was heard yesterday from
Minister Conger, General Chaffee or Ad-
miral Remey. Since the dispatch from
Consul Fowler was received late last
Thursday night the department of state
has received no adyices from any source
in China except n brief cablegram from
Minister Conger inquiring how he should
route his messages. The text of the dis
patch, which, it was explained, was very
brief and purely administrative in char
acter, was not made public.
The war department has received no
dispatch from General Chaifee known to
have come directly from him for about
week Cabegrams signed "Chaffee"
have been received, but as they contained
only lists of casualties il is assumed they
were sent by some subordinate officer in
General Chaifecs name.
A suspicion exists here that the delay
in messages both from and to Washing
ton is rather between Chefu and Shang-
hal than between Tien-tsin and peking
From Chcfu to Shanghai the telegraph
line is in control of the Chinese authori-
ties, and it is suspected they are not so
prompt in the transmission of messages
as they might be.
A dispatch has been received at the
japanese legation from the foreign of
fee of Japan conveying the latest and
most authentic information of the stua-
ton III and around Peking. In measure
the advices We're of a disqueting nature,
as they indicated that the Chinese had
rallied their forces and were preparing
for an attack upon the allies in Peking.
Sbn hnt oil ioI
were besieged in Pekng. it would ac-
count for the lack of advices from Gen
eral Chaffee. As made public by Min
lister Takahira the dispatch from the
Japanese foreign office ut Tokyo is as
follows:
"An official telegram dated Peking.
Aug. Is, was received at Tokyo from
General Yamaguchi, commander of the
japanese forces, to the following effect:
1.-THE capital is now entirely cleared
of the enemy. A cavalry regiment which
had been sent to Wan-shau-s (where
the dowager empress palace is located
reports that the imperial family, who
had left Picking Aug. II, started after
n short rest mt Wan-shau-shan for the
west and were under the escort of Gen
eral Ma and his troops, consisting of on
ly about 300 horSemen and 20 carts. The
Japanese forces occupied the treasury
department, in which over 100000
taels in silver and large quantity of
rice We're found
"Another telegraphic dispatch dated
Taku. Aug. %, states that as the Chi
nese troops and Boxers who had gath
cred at Nan-yuen were about to attack
the foreign forces at Picking japanese
and Russian cavalry We're expected to
encounter them ON the Goth. The dis
patch further states that Chinese infan-
try, some 5000 strong, with 10 guns, are
advancing northward from Shang-tung
to make n rear attack on the allies"
Able to Care For Themselves.
A copy of the dispatch was transmit
ted to Acting Secretary Adee at the de-
partment of state and by him furnished
to the president While the news of Il
possible rear attack upon the compara-
lively small force of the allies was not
received with surprise, ii generally was
not regarded as serious, as the foreign
forces are believed to be abundantly
able to take care of themselves against
any force of Chinese likely to be sent
against them.
A dispatch from Peking, Aug. 10, via
Taku, Aug. "a, says:
"Armed Chinese are reported to the
southward and westward. A well in
trenched force has been located by the
Bengal lancers in village four miles to
the southwest. 1t is believed that the
best Chinese leaders are in command.
Detachments of the allied forces were
out today reconnoitering and looting.
The imperial city and the forbidden city
are under close guard by the interna-
tonal authorities. This morning a
thanksgiving service was attended by