The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1900-08-01
HOPE FOR CONGER.
BELIEVE FOREIGNERS SAFE
IN PEKlN.

WASHINGTON, July 3l.-The effect Of
the news from China was to freshen
the hope that the government can soon
get in direct communication with Min
ister Conger The mass Of testimony
us to his being alive as late as the 22nd
inst, as to warrant the department in
rcsuming the considerations of projects
for the future. With all of its anx.
iety to get Mr.. Conger and the Ameri.
cans in Pekin safely away, the depart
ment is proceeding with proper eau
ton and is by no weans disposed to ac.
cept any proposition that would un-
duly jeopardize their lives.
Such might, be the result of an off.
hand acceptance of the proposition to
have the Chinese government to deliver
the foreign ministers at Tien Tsin, for
it is realized that the escort might be
overpowered by superior forces 0t Box.
ers ON the way to the sea. The state
department has como to the conclusion
that Mr.. Conger himself is the best per.
son to judge Of the conditions under
which his deliverance shall be effected,
and, therefore, 1t is again looking to the
Chinese government TO place it in COM
munication with Mr.. Oonger in order
that it may be advised by him. That
requirement was the first of the condi.
tions laid down by President Mckinley,
in his answer to tho appeal of the Chi
ncse emperor. SO that the situation can
not be said to have been materially
changed by the developments.
The state department was inclined to
regard Consul Fowler's communication
as the most valuable confirmatory evi.
dence yet received touching tho safety
of the Pekin diplomats. No answer
had been received to the second Conger
message, but in view of Consul Fow.
ler's news the officials were inclined to
look forward to an early reply.
The following bulletin was posted at
the department of state Monday:
"The secretary of state received at
midnight dispatch from Mr.. Fowler,
American consul at Che Foo, dated at
noon on the goth. Mr.. Fowler says:
"'A letter from the German legation,
dated the 2lst inst, has been received
at Tien Tsin. The German loss is ten
dead and 10 wounded. The Chinese
ceased their attack OH the 18th. Baron
Ketteler's body is said to have been
saved. The Austrian, Italian, Dutch
and Spanish legations were destroyed
and the French nartiallv
"A letter from the japanese lega-
ton, dated the 22d, arrived at Tien
Tsin on the 25th. 1t says: Ten bat.
talions of Chinese shelled the legations
necessarily from tho Goth of June and
stopped on the nth of July, but may
renew. The enemy are decreasing.
The German, Russian, American, Brit
ish, half the Japanese and the French
legations still defend. japanese say
they have food for six days, but little
ammunition. The emperor and EN-.
press are reported at Pekin."
LONDON, July 30.-The Shanghai cor.
respondent of The Daily Express, tele.
graphing July 29 said:
"a new imperial edict promulgated
this evening urgently orders all vice.
roys and provincial governors to en-.
deavor to negotiate peace with the
powers whose ministers are held as hos.
tages pending the result of the over.
lures for the abandonment of hostin.
ties against China.
"The viceroys are also commanded to
guard their territories vigilantly agairst
attack and to prevent, by all means In
their power, the advance of foreign
troops, especially along the Yang Use
Kiang. The decree says that the off.
cials will answer with their lives for
any failure to execute these orders.
Commands arc also given that not
single foreigner shall be allowed to es-
cape from She interior, where there are
still fully 1000 Europeans, connected
with missionary work in isolated situa.
tions.
when the governor of Shantung
communicated to the consuls the i'm
perial decree of July "a he omitted i'm
portant passages addressed to Ii Hung
Chang:
"'It is admittedly inadvisable to kill
all the ministers, but it is equally un.
wise to send them to Tien Tsin. II will
be much wiser to keep the survivors at
Pekin as hostages
"You are commanded to hasten to
Pekn. You are incurring imperial dis
pleasure by delay. You have been APP
pointed viceroy of Chi Ii because, with
your military experience you will suo.
cessfully lead the imperial armies
against the foreigners in Chi Ii, which
You Lu. the present viceroy, is unable
to do owing to his ignoronce of military
affairs.
ali Hung Chang replied to this edict.
asking to be allowed to retire on account
of his age.
"Sheng now admits that he has tele-
grams since July announcing that every
foreigner In Pao Ting Flu was murder.
ed. including 40 British, French and
American missionaries and announcing
also that two French jesuits and 1000
converts have been massacred at Kwang
Ping Flu, on the borders of Shan Tung
md Chi Lii A majority Of the consuls
favor strong measures against Sheng's
duplicity.
Local officials assert that the Italian
priests murdered in Hu Nan were
wrapped in cotton. which had been
soaked in kerosene, and were SLOWLY