The true northerner., 1900-08-10

would be certain death. Rifle firing
upon us daily by imperial troops.
Have abundant courage, but little
ammunition or provisions. Two pro-
gressive Yamen ministers beheaded.
All connected with legation of the
United States well at the present mo-
ment.l
"CONGER."
Positive Information.
The information which came Tues
day that American troops were en-
gagged in the battle OF Peitsang estab-
lished positively, for the time, that
Notwithstanding the difficulties which
Gen Chaffee had encountered in de-
barking troops and supplies at least
part and considerable part, OF our
force was in the vanguard OF the tor-
ward movement Gen. Chaffees dis
patch 10 the war department conveyed
the most satisfactory evidence that the
commanders had thoroughly agreed in
advance upon n plan of action, ana
that there is every indication that this
! plan will be followed, rs Gen. Chaffee
ON Friday sent the cable saying that
the attack upon the Chinese at Pelt-
=
day when Admiral Remey and the
press correspondents say the fighting
occurred. Gen. Chafiee's announce
that the present objective Of the in
ternational column is Yangtsun, is in
terpreted by the officials at the war
department to mean that this point.
where river, railroad and wagon road
meet. is TO be made the advance base
for tho nnpratinus op Itatyin
Americans Were I'm 1t.
The most positive addition to the
news OF the day was the brief line
from the Associated Press correspOn-
dent at Tien Tsin, stating that the
Ninth and Fourteenth Infantry, Reil-
ly's battery, and the marines We're in
the battle of Pietsang. 1t was this
force which with the British and Jap
anese bore the brunt of the attack on
the left flank. which was TO turn the
enemys position. This plan had al
ready been made clear by Gen. Chat
fees dispatch, although he did not
mention what American troops would
be engaged. In view of the participa-
tion of the American troops, the war
and navy departments are anXiously
expectant of report of the part taken
by our troops and of any losses which
the Americans may have sustained.
No light has yet been thrown upon
the subject of whether the command
ers of the international forces have
agreed upon commander. The Chat
fee dispatch would seem to indicate
that none had been agreed upon.
Germans Not Engaged.
1t Is perhaps noteworthy and sig
nifcant that in this plan of attack up
on the enemy at Pei Tsang the Amer
ican British and Japanese forces were
joined in the movement to turn the
enemy's right flank, while the Rus
slams and French operated together on
the opposite side of'the river against
the enemy's left. This may indicate
the line of cleavage among the allies,
whose general dissensions were re-
ported at Tien Tsin. 1t is also exceed
ingly significant that General ChaffCe
does not mention the German force at
ell. The war department officials do
not believe that this could have been
due To an oversight on his part, IL it
was arranged that they were to partic-
ipate in the movement. Ii therefore
seems likely that the Germans were
not engaged at Pei Tsang 1t is
thought possible that they may be act
ing independently
Strong Force of Chinese.
The Chinese evidently are as much
impressed with the strategic advant-
ages of Yang Tsun as the international
commanders themselves, as Gen. Chat
fee says i'm his cable that the enemy
is reported 10000 strong at the cross
ing of the road over the Pei river.
Without doubt after the fight at Peit-
sang, the Chinese force there, If the
report of Admiral Remey that it was
forced to retreat proves correct, re-
tired to Yang Tsun. 4nere is no in
formation as to the number OF the
enemy which met the advance at Peit-
sang, but Judging by the casualties to
the international force, it must have
been large, and may perhaps double
the Chinese army which the column
must encounter when il reaches Yang
Tsun The general feeling at the war
department is that unless the Chinese
generals have been completely demoral-
I'D by the Peitsang attack there is
very severe fighting ahead for the in
ternational forces and that the ground
will be disputed all the way TO Pekin.
Pushing Forward.
London, Aug. S.-The special dis.
patch to the Associated Press from
Tientsin, dated Sunday, Aug 5, 8 a.
m. via Shanghai, Aug. z, is the only
press message which has got through
from Teintsin since the battle at Poit-
sang Various Teintsin dispatches Of
earlier dates allude to reconnoitering
encounters with the Chinese prepara-
tory to general attack on the Chi
nese positions. which are five miles
long The reconnaissance has devel-
oped that the Chinese are in greater
80 hn Ill