Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-09-20
CHINESE SITUATION.
The Whole Matter Still In the Dip
lomatic Phase.
PEEIy GIVEN OVER TO LOOTERS.


|
gotiations yesterday with which the
public could be made acquainted, the
whole matter being still in the dip
lomatic phase and therefore not call
ing for military orders. War depart
ment officials are awaiting word from
the state department as to the next
step expected Of the troops, but it is
now intimated that this next step
will not be taken Immediately. The
situation has lost something Of its
acuteness, owing to the change in
the attitude of the Russian govern
ment, as indicated in Thursdays dis
patches. No official confirmation has
reached Washington of the postpone
ment of the withdrawal, but the fact
is not doubted here. Regardless how
ever, of the course to be taken by
Russia, il is now said there is nothing
in the American note of response to
Russia that demands an immediate
evacuation in the event that the
Russia troops are called away. In
stead, it is stated that the control OF
the situation would simply pass from
the state department into Gen. Chat
fees hands, and it would be for him,
after comforting with the other mill
tary commanders, to determine when
and how and to what extent the
American forces should be withdrawn.
He might choose his own time, and in
degree his position would be SINH
lar to that occupied by him in the
advance upon Pekin, so far as having
free hand is concerned. This state
ment of the conditions governing the
American reply to the withdrawal
proposal may be of significance, in
view of the fact that it is made with
the express purpose of clearing away
an erroneous impression that has been
made upon the public mind.
The quartermaster's supplies for
subsisting the army in China are near
ly all at Taku, but are still aboard the
transports. They have not been I'M
loaded, because it was expected the
army of Gen. Chaffee soon would be
on its way to the Philippines. No
definite orders have been sent to Gen.
Chaffee. He has been told to hold
himself in readiness to execute or
ders to withdraw. It is stated at the
war department that the whole mat
ter is in the hands CT the state de-
partment, and orders to Gen. Chaffee
are held in allegiance until the nego-
tiations with the foreign powers de-
termine what shall be done. \
Given Over to LootsrG
Pekin, via Shanghai, Sept. 13.-
Copyright, 1900, the Associated |
Press. )--Looting in Pekin continues,
both authorized and unauthorized.
Few houses are guarded except those
occupied by foreigners, the palaces
and those in the sacred city. Almost |
every house is destitute of furniture.
Gen. Chaffee says he could not have |
believed that any city would ever be
given over so completely to looters,
and he earnestly desires the co-opera-
ton of any nation to prevent this.
On the other hand, the missionaries
complain because the sacred city has
not been looted. They urge that the
royal family and other highly placed
Chinese personages who were behind
all the trouble should be made to suf-
fer more than those who blindly fol-
lowed them.
Gen. Fukushma, the japanese COM
mander, informed Chaffee that brutal
outrages were being committed in
Tung Chow. He told the American
commander that he had positive in.
formation that many women had
thrown themselves into wells, or com.
mitted suicide in other ways, after
having been outraged, and that there
were several authentic cases of coolies
who had been killed under peculiarly
atrocious conditions. He requested
Gen. Chaffee to investigate and then
to cooperate with him to check these
barbarities as far as possible. Gen.
Chaffee ordered Maj. Muir to proceed
Immediately to Tung Chow and to
report.
Prince Ch'nc's Notification.
Pekin, via Shanghai, Sept. 49,
Copyright, 1900, the Associated
Press. Prince Ching has notified
the allied generals that he is in the
vicinity of Pekin and will come to
confer with them regarding terms of
peace on behalf of the empress. He
has been advised that he will be re-
ceived. A report has reached Mr. Con-
ger, United States minister, that the
boxers are massing in force at Che
Chau, the original headquarters Of
the boxers, about 40 miles south, est
of Pekin. Should further and more
definite information be received a
contingent of the allies will be sent
TO take the town. The situation here
IN Pekin is quiet, pending the receipt
Of instructions from the various gov
ernments.