Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1900-08-30

With Official Messages Sent by
United States Officials.
OUR CLAIMS IN THE ORIENT.
Our Government VIII Net BE CocrcCd
by Threats "f Foreign Combina-
ttons-Li Hung Chang Said to BE
HeId - r,rfSopar en- Hoard shin

Our Government VIII Net BE CocTCCd
by Threats of Foreign Combina-
ttons-i Hung Chang Said to BE
Held a Prisoner on hoard ship.
Washington, Aug. 29.-SeveraI com
munications came to Washington from
the United States officials in China
yesterday. tut being dateIess IN most
cases the government was by no means
satisfied with the state of the COM
muniCatiOns, and the cabinet meeting
gave the large" part of its attention to
the problem OF Tectifiying this state
of affairs. Evidences Of interference
with the messages have accumulated
to point where the government has
determined to take steps to establish
channels of its own, even if 1t is
necessary to employ the rather eXpen-
sive device of a man-Uf-Wdr plying be-
tween Shanghai and ChefoO for this
purpose Meanwhile word comes that
rapid progress is making with the
shore 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 received yesterday, and While
they cast no direct light on the mill
tary situation, they were inferentially
important. The generals statement
that he needs no siege battery. taken
in connection with the diversion of the
First cavalry. which was bound for
Taku to Manila, seems to make clear
that there is no intention to enter into
-, ,,
as would involve the use of heavy ar
tillery or of reinforcements in the
shape of men and horses.
At the same time it cannot be said
that the government has shown any
sign of purpose to abandon any Just
claim it may have secured upon China
through the brilliant operations of the
little American force in the Flowery
Kingdom. But 1t seems TO appear that
the battle of today is one Of diplomacy
rather than one of arms, and nOtwith-
standing the various rumOrs that have
filtered out from Chinese sources Of
heavy engagements between the inter
national forces and the Boxers, the
officials here are satisfied that no for
midable organized resistance will be
offered by the Chinese if the demands
of the powers are limited to the prin-
ciples laid down by the United States
in .ts several notes.
1t is quite certain that our govern
ment is willing and anxious to do all
it can to bring about a speedy settle
ment of the Chinese difficulty and a
retirement of the forces. But it is de-
termined that no proper advantage is
to be lost through this wish, and the
government Will not be coerced by for
eign combinations or threats Of com
binations against our interests One
of the officials of the government to-
day stated that the United States is
not going tC turn tail and run, because
some Of the powers show a disposition
to break a compact under, which we
became allies in China. The powers
accepted the note of Secretary Hay Of
July 3 as a basis for joint action, and
they will be held to that agreement. "
Inquiry at the state department as
10 the personality of the latest Pekin
refugees at Tien Tsin shows that be-
sides Miss COndit-Smith, who is a sis
ter-in-law of Mrs Couger, there is a
Miss Payen, resident of Milwaukee,
Wis. and Mrs and Miss Woodward of
Chicago mother and 6aUahtpr