The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-08-15

Protest Against English 0ccupa-
ton of Shanghai.

Washington, August 24-At the close
Of the official day at the state department.
the following official announcement was
bulletined:
1.-The department. of state announces
that a message from Minister Conger has
been received, but of uncertain date and
not in reply to the telegram sent to him
on August s. 1t VIII not be made pub
no.''
This came at the conclusion Of Il period
Of intense expectancy and yet one devoid
of any actual developments, save III the
foregoing meagre announcement Minis
ter Conger' message was received IN
Washington shortly before noon, coming
first to the Chinese legation by the usual
route through Chinese rof1iciaIs. It was
IN the American cipher, without date
and signed with the minister's name. 1t
was at once transmitted to the state de
partment and conferences began between
Acting Secretary Adee and Secretary
Root. Throughout the afternoon the
state department. maintained retfcence
concerning the subject, declining 70 adj
nit that the message was in hand. The
suspense was cleared up at four O'Clock
by the above announcement. I5 was
stated authoritatively that while the mes
sage was of q confidential character, and
for that reason could not and would not
be given out, yet as q means of aIIaytng
possible mis-interpretation, it could be
said that the dispatch showed neither
better condition nor worse condition on
the part of the Iegationers at Pekln. 1t
did not indicate whether Minister Conger
has, or has not, received any messages
from this government. Nothing was con-
tanned in the message which viii cause
any change in the Instructions to General
ChatIee. In fact, it was stated III this
same authoritative quarter that the only
additional instructions sent to General
those of a more specific and explicit na-
ture which the developments in China,
and the information received by the war
department., necessitated.
Throughout the day word was anxious
ly awaited from General ChaHee as to the
development of the military situation
near Pekln, but not d word came, nor
did Admiral Remey send anything on
the situation. The last heard from GEN
eral Chafee, he was at Ho ST WI, and
according to all calculations, he must
now be very near Pekin, unless events
have occurred to delay the advance. The
officials are taking into account that an
advance even up to Pekin leaves much TO
be accomplished in military way 1t
was stated today by an official who has
lived at Pekin that nothing short OF the
heaviest artillery couldsmake any impress
sion upon the walls of the imperial city.
He said light artillery would be of no
avail, and for this reason, the advance of
a flying column, even up to the walls Of
the city, could effect little, If stubborn
defence were determined upon. The walls
are fifty feet nigh and wide enough on
top for two coaches to pass abreast From
an offensive standpoint the walls afford
opportunity for planting guns, while
from defensive standpoint, they could
not be reached except by the use of very
heavy projectiles.
Although the situation admits Of the
prospect of an assault upon Pektn, Jet
government officials were decidedly more
hopeful today that solution of the Chi
nese problem would be found without re-
course to such heroic measures. The i'm
proved feeling is based largely on the be-
lief that China, realizing chat her sacred
capital is about to be besieged by the
armies Of the world, win yield everything
and that the legationers will be delivered
on the terms of the allies.
The attitude of the United States con-
cerning the landing OF British troops at
Shanghai has been made known to the
foreign governments through their repre-
sentatives here. This has had the effect Of
practically eliminating the United States
from the question. Neither the French
nor the German government is disposed
to accept calmly the landing of British
troops, and 1t is understood that strong
representations, both from Fran CO and
Germany, are now being made at Lon
don. AS summed up, by well informed
diplomat, these representations in effect