New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-07-26

navigation Bureau washington.
written message, signed Conger, dated July 4,
received Tien-Tsin 21st, says;
Been hesicged two weeks British Legation.
Grave danger general massacre by Chinese
soldiers, who are Smelling Legation daily.
heief soon, If ut ali. City without govern
ment except by Chinese army. Determined
massacre NIL foreigners PekIng Entry re-
lief forces into city probably he hotIy con-
tested
THOMAS.
REGARDED AS A HOPEFUL, SIGN.
The message refutes the Shanghai reports of
the massacre Of the foreigners on June 81 al
ready proved false by Baron Nissis letter of
June %, and again three days later and eff
fectually disposes of every alleged destruction
of the legations except that OF July = which was
also an emanation from Shanghai, and there
fore to be discredited on account Of it's untrust-
worthy origin. The opening Of a new line of
communication with Picking. uncontamnated
by Chinese officials, is regarded as n hopeful
sign. although the long delay TO which the mes
sage was subjected was unfortunate The fact,
however. that the japanese. British and Ameri-
can Ministers in quick succession have managed
to have their letters delivered-the former on
July 10 and the others n week later-encour-
ages the belief that now, with conditions more
settled between Picking and Tien-Tsin, dis
lance of only seventy-five miles, later messages
moment.
The omission of Captain Thomas to mention
to whom The dispatch he transmits was ad-
dressed will have to he rectihed as soon as he
hears from the Department Presumably il
was sent to Consul Ragsdale, at Tien-Tsin, as
it was dated before Picking had any news of
trouble at that place. Why Captain Thomas
should say written message, signed Conger."
instead of autograph letter from Conger' is
mystifying to officials. Captain Thomas has
the reputation Of paying extreme attention to
fine details, and that he failed to telegraph to
the Department that he had received the fol-
lowing message" and then quoted it from date
line to signature. he would have been war
ranted N doing is regarded as Indicating per-
haFs that he did not care TO guarantee the au-
thendeity of the message. The higher officials
are nevertheless disposed to credit 1t as fully
as they did the Conger cipher cable dispatch
of last Friday, with which it's words so far as
they go, are practically identical.
DOUBTS AS TO FORMER MESSAGE.
This similarity of language in two messages
written, according to the dates attributed to
them just two weeks apart raises a new doubt
sato the cipher telegram, and tends to support
the hypothesis that IT. old message, held
by the Chinese officials and forwarded in re-
spcnse TO Secretary Hays query of July H. 1t
is difficult to believe that after four weeks
siege, Minister Conger should appeal in the
words of two weeks earlier, using the terms
Chinese soldiers" Smelling" British Lega-
ton daily" relief soon," general rnassa-
GRE 1t is declared however, with much en-
phasis, by all officials who reposed confidence
In the cipher dispatch, that the latest message
transmitted from Taku justihes no change in
their belief 1t is noticeable that in both mes
sages Minister Congcr takes the precaution to
guard against the Chinese getting any COM
fort out of his appeals. should they fall into the
hands of the enemy. In this respect he exercises
greater care than Baron Nissi. whose language
as received at the Japanese Legation in Wash
ington was as follows
The situation at Picking is extremely critical
The foreign legations are surrounded on all
sides by Chinese soldiers and homharded night
and day. The members Of the legations, the
guards and residents resisting to the ut
most but the overwhelming numbers of the
enemy make opposition hopeless. Our ammu-
milton is being exhausted; lives are in such
danger that we may be massacred at any mo-
ment. We earnestly request the immediate dis
patch of renforcements for our rescue from our
preCarious condition
This was dated Picking. June 90 and was
brought out by a messenger who left Picking on
July l. The message forwarded by Captain
Thomas dated five days afterward yet it
does not appear that the situation became much
worse in that time. Much dissatisfaction is ex-
pressed in official circles that the British Gov
eminent has not made public the dispatch said
to have been received at Tien -Tsin from Sir
Claude Macdonald, also dated Picking July J.
This dispatch and Minister Conger's were prob
ably carried by the same runner