The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-08-01
Now Doubt the Authenticity
of Couger's Autograph
Cipher Message.

Washington. July 27.-Unless come
! authentic assurance as to the condition
of the Americans 10 Pekin reaches the
state department. within day or two
the administration is likely to abandon
whatever faith it has manifested thus
far in tie truthfuloess cf Chinese
information The Chinese minister is
confident that within tha: tiue there
will be news from Pekiu of q character
70 satisfy the ,aoss sseptical as 60 its
accuracy, aoG lie also is confident that
this will De good news from the Ameri-
can poiot Of view. Tie state depart
ment IS still receptive. though looking
With growing coldoess upon the
pumerous cdic.s which are ccming from
Chioa. all withcat bringing any news.
The contributions OF the day we're from
Consul General GoodDow. at Shanghai.
aud Consul Fowler, at Cbefoo So
much CT their message SIS was given
OUT for publication related to the vel
| fare Of certain American missionaries
who have been made the subject Of
irquiry by relatives in this country.
The cables maugled these messages,
and there is reason to doubt tie vs!ue
Of the Information attempted to be COO
yeyed through them.
Mr.. Goodoow also had something to
say about the present situation, and it
is believed that a part of ais message
vas oos Of 60 encouraging character.
At any ra'e. it vas withheld sroa, the
press, probably because tee department
diiid not regard it as wise 20 give tue
sfsno Of i.s approval to matters which
Mr.. Goodocw wishes % Dc taken IN e
purely speculative sense
Ever s;aca :ae .ece;o; st 'i;co Tsia
1 c; the su,ogrsoh c,sssage frcm IL
Coaser, dated Pekia. Jc!y 4. state
decar;uea. officials hs7e naa sTa7s
aoub;a as to The autacacity Of 'he
cipher message attributed to ain, da;ed
Pskiu. Jsiy lSsh There have ceao
maoy little side lights on tbs message
that afford ground fc: suspicloO, AID
now the British arthorit:es have ADDED
their quota to the growing cisiruss Of
tbiogs Caloese. Il seems that MIR.
Warren. at p7esen, acting as British
coosu! at Shanghai. has been told by
Sbeug, tie famous Chinese director Of
posts and telegrs2bs. that Yuan, TIE
go7e,noc Of Shan Tuug, tod bin
(SbeDg) that a message had passed
through to the Uoited States from air
Conger oD ,he 1S:h Of July telling of
the copd;tioas at tie British legation.
Tbs fac: IS cited as ccoerra'cry Of
these sus nicioos shat the cipher dispatch
Was "tased'' by Chinese officials. L;
is pointed out ct the state department.,
howeve:, that there are ? lsusible eS,
plauatioos Ct this curious fact Which
tead 70 show the autbencity of the
cipher. Secretary Fay cablea MT.
Conger tia. be might have implicit
faith 10 the persoo Who brought the
dispatch to him. Mr. Conger therefore
had right to trust the mao. aod poss'.
oily lie told hin 10 a general way see
contents Of the dispatch, iu case the mes
sepser should be obliged to destroy it
to Insure his own safety HoSever
that nav be, the British government
has thought Mr. Warreo's report worthy
the attention Of our own government.
[; is the earnest desire Of this gov
eroneot that tie forward movement 90
Pekin be made at the earliest possible
moment