Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-08-29
TIE GOVERNMENT ANXIOUS.
TO ESTABLISH SOME BETTER METH
Cd OF COMMUNICATION WITH
CHINA.
NAVE NO DATES,
AND A GENERAL MIxUP is THE
USUAL RESULT.
No More American Troops Are Need
ed, But There is No Disposition at
Present to Withdraw Our Forces
The Question of Dealing With Earl
Li-Sad Scenes of Des0lation.
WASHINGTON, August Is. severa

WASHINGTON August %. Several
communications came to Washington
from the United States officials in
China, to-day, but being datelss in
most cases tn government was by no
means satisfied with the state of COM
munications and the cabinet meeting
gave the larger part of its attention to
the problem of rectifying this state of
affairs. Evidence of interference with
the messages have accumulated to
point where the government has de-
termined to take steps to establish
channls of its own, even if it is neces-
Sary to employ the rather expensive
device of man of war plying between
Shanghai and Che Foo for this purpose.
Meanwhile word comes that rapid pro-
gress is making with the short cable,
which is to connect these points, and
it is believed that within a week this
means of communication will be open.
Three messages from Gen. Chaffee were
ACSCifOu bo-uety dlhd W4l1iS o1Sy Cast uO
direct light on the military situation
they were inferrentially complete
The Generals statement that he
needs no siege battery, taken in con-
nection with the diversion Of the First
cavalry, which was bound for Ifaku, to
Manila seems to make clear that there
is no intention to enter into a prolong-
cd ~, i
involve the use of heavy artillery and
of reinforcements in the shape of men
and horses. At the same time it can
not be said that the government has
shown any sign of a purpose to aban-
don any just claim it may have SECURED
up China, through the brilliant OPERA
lions of the little American force in the
Flowery Kingdom. But it begins to
apper that the battle to-day is one of
diplomacy rather than one of arms.
More interest attached to a series of
diplomatic calls upon Acting Secretary
Adee this afternoon than any report of
purely military perations in China.
First came the Japanese misister, Mr..
Tahahira, next the Russian charge, Mr..
Wolland, and finally Mr.. Theebaut, the
French charge.
The statement is made that the Rus
sian government, for one, is willing
to deal with Lii, of course upon prop
erly framed conditions, and this APP
pears to be borne out by earnestness
with which Mr.. Wollant, the Rus
sian charge, is seeking to impress upon
the State Department the entire agree
ment between Russia and the United
States as to China. At least he in
esists that Russia wishes to prevent
the dismemberment of China and also
that her animating purpose now is the
restoration Of order and the safe
guarding of the future. Under these
limitations it is urged here that Rus
sia'se objects can be achieved as we'll
as those of the United States, by deal
ing with Ii Hung Chang, who occu-
pies the advantageous position of being
the only Chinese parsonage, so far Of
ficially accredited, as a peace plenipo-
Tertiary.
Acting Secretary Adee found suffic-
lent matter of interest in these three
Gals to rpair so the White House late
in the afternoon to confer with the
President. 1t is quite certain chat our
government Is willing and anxious to
do all it can to bring about speedy
settlement of the Chinese difficulty
and retirement of Nne forces. uBt il
is determined that no power advantage
is to be lost through this wish and the
government will not be coerced by for
eign combinations or threats Of combi-
nation against out interest.
One Oh the officials or the government
said 1.-The question of actual force in
China is. secondary-one regiment of
United StAtes troops is as good as 100.-
900 men to establish yauRrinGiDle.ss An
indignity offered to fthefil Would 'be re-
sentea as quickly as if we had 100, 600
men on Chinese sell, and the United
States government is willing to try tha
case as to whether one thing could be
said on July 3rd and accepted by all
the powers, and changd two months
later to advance a selfish interest