Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-08-10
EROM WASHINGTON.
rCorrsspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette. ]
Washington. August 10.

Following upon the demand made by
this government upon China Wednes-
dav through Minister Va, made public
Yesterday, thai firing by imperial troops
upon the legations cease Immediately,
the War Department took further steps
to expedite the movements OF troops
toward Taku. II announces this morn
lug the chartering OF four additional
transports: the Kvarven and the Will
helmins, sailing from Seattle, the Ar
gyle from Portland, and the Siam from
San Francisco. Army officers say that
the number of transports and their to-
tai capacity exceeds the troops and
freight to be transported and they re-
gard the cnsrtering of transports, these
OF today and those OF last week. ss in
dicating Ell her an increase 10 the MILL
tary force or further transfer OF regl-
ments from the Philippines to China.
As the cabinet members from the htst
have strenuously denied any possibili-
~ of an extra session OF Congress,
which alone could increase the total
strength of the army, the natural con-
clusiou is that the abundance OF trans
portation facilities means the taxing OF
further regiments from General Mac
Arthur.
The Department Of State makes pub
lie the following telegram from Mlols-
ter Couger which was received by
Minister WI late last night, being con-
tanned in a teleram sent to him by the
Taotsi OF Shanghai. 1t was handed by
Minister W. TO the Acting Secretary OF
Safe al O'Clock this morning: The
Tsung Ii ysmen states to the diplomatic
BODY that the various foreign govern
ments have repeatedly asked through
the respective Chinese ministers that
We Immediately depart from Pekin
under suitable escort. The yamen asks
us TO fix date for our departure aud
to make the necessary arrangements TO
do so. Our reply is that we will seek
Instructions from our governments and
that iu the absence Of such instructions,
we cannot qui: our posts. l must ID.
form you that 10 order TO ensure our
safe departure foreign troops only
can safely escort Us and they must De
in sufficient force 10 safely guard eight
hundred foreigners, including two hun
dred women and children, as well as
three thousand native Christians, who
cannot be abandoned to certain massa.
ere. We cannot accept Chinese es-
cort under any circumstances, All my
colleagues are dispatching the foregoing
10 their respective governments. OF
the American marines, seven have been
killed, and sixteen wounded. Among
the latter Captain Meyers and and DR..
Lippitt, who are getting along we'll"
This message is undated, but 1t lie
supposed to have been sent on o. after
the 5th OF August, when the imperial
edict removing the inhibition against
the ministers sending cipher kilograms
was received by thu Tsung Ii ysmen.
II substantially accords with the dis
patch from the French minister, NJ.
Plchon, to MS government, which was
made public 10 Psris yesterday, and is
printed 10 this Ii )roing's papers.
Minister Wa, the Chinese Minister
here, was early at the State Depart.
ment with the cipher cablegram fIom
Minister Co0ger al Pekin, but it was
after midday before il was prepared to
give to the press. Previously, how
ever, the fact that it was almost identi-
Cal 10 language with the message from
VI Pichon had leaked out, so that the
keen anxiety to learn the contents OF
this latest message rom our imprison-
ed minister was TO some extent allayed
The message was translated from the
code by Chief Clerk Michael. This
10 * over an hour. bat ss soon as ii was
accomplished Actipg Secretary OF State
Adee took copy TO Secretary OF War
Root. By him IL Was at once tele-
pnoned 10 he President at Canton and
a reply TO Mr. C)pger was drafted and
vii be sent this afternoon. II tells him
under no circumstances to leave Pekin
under Chinese escort unless be and hi
colleagues are assured that it would be
sale 10 do 30. l. also assures him that
toe U0ited States government has not
asked for his departure from PekiD, ss
the T-uDg li-yamen has reported, and
that sufficiently large force OF foreign
troops il now on the road to furnish
ths escort for foreigners as we'll as con.
yerts. His reply to the Yamen In re.
fusiDg TO FIX date Of departure with
out Instructions from his government is
endorsed and he is directed to make
representation TO the Chinese govern
ment that the foreign troops, or part
OF them, should be allowed to enter Pc.
Kin to take them away. 1t is deemed
evident from Conger's message that the
Chinese government is yet not fully in
control of affairs in Pekin and that the
anti-foreign sentiment is still high. If it
we're otherwise. Minister Conger would
not say that the N assacres of 5000 ma.
tive Christians would be certain if they
should be left behind by the relief
forces. His statement that a Chinese
escort could not be accepted under any
circumstances is much stronger than
the LAM usge of the message from NJ
Pichon, but undoubtedly represents the
view entertained by all diplomstes
there as to the amount OF trust that
can be placed in the ability Of the Chi
nese to protect them.
The following statement was posted
at the state Department this morning:
At the instance of relatives OF Baroness
Ketteler the State Department recent.
ly telegraphed to the Embassy In Der.
lin in1uiring whether any news of her
condition had reached the German
government. The charge d'affairs,
Mr.. Jackson, telegraphed today (Au.
gust 10y that no special tidings bad
been received regarding Baroness Ket-
teler, but that it is assumed that she
was well on the 4th inst, as the health
of the members of the German legation
at Pekin was on that date reported
good.
Admiral Dewey said today, speaking
Of q published story of an interview
with him In relat on to Philippine and
Chinese affairs: "My attention has been