Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-08-01
FROM WASHINGTON.
Of the Alexandria Gazette.
Washington, August !.

Il
Chang and other Viceroys have mem
orialized the throne asking that the
Ministers in Pekin be permitted to COM
municate freely with their govern
ment, that adequate protection be given
them and if they so desire, that they De
escorted to Tientsin. No answer, wa
saws, has been received to that memorial.
The State department issued the follow
ing cablegram of Viceroy Earl Ii Hung
Chang, dated July 81, retransnitted
by the Chinese Minister 10 London and
which was received by Minister WI on
the midnight OF July 81 and handed to
the Secretary of State this morning:
Gust issued telegram from Paotne-
Flu of the Sixth moon 23d day July ~
that the privy council had that day re-
ceived an imperial edlct az ioiiows:
We have received the memorial OF III
Hung Clsng and others emplorlng Us
10 save and protect the ministers OF the
various nations. Now the ministers are
al safe and well and Ii Hung Chang
is directed to wire to Yang Yu and
others so that they may inform the res
pective secretaries for foreign affairs
accordingly. Respect this" Ii Hung
Cnang's dispatch goes on to say tnis
telegram mas been delayed 10 its trans
mission and continues: "The other day
| aud other viceroys sent joint memo
rial REQUESTING that the different minis
ters be escorted out of Pekin or that
they first be enabled to freely COM
municate oy letter or wire with their
respective governments. When an I'M
perial answer is received l will again
wire. Communicate this to Minister
Yang at St. Petersburg, Minister Yu
at Paris and Minister Wa at Washing
ton for them to inform secretaries for
foreign affairs"
The State department has received
Information which leads it to believe
that the Russian Vice Admiral Alexiet
has been chosen ss the commander-ln'
chief of the allied forces at Pekiu.
An act OF Congress of March 1893,
requiring every railroad freight car,
used in interstate trffic, to be equipped
with automatic couplers and that cars
shall be equipped with air brakes to be
controlled by the engineer went into
effect to-day. There are more
than 100000 freight cars in the
country, and the cost of equippir
each car with the couplers is about $50.
Various propositions have come from
different off -ias IN China, 1t is admit
ted at the State Department today
| looking TO the abandonment OF the sd'
vance on Pekin. They have been sub
miited as suggestions, IF we do this
will you d. that" and in no case has II
been possible 10 trace them directly
back to the Chinese government itself
Consequently no official reply has been
sent, but thtse indirect hints have been
met by the positive announcement tC
tue viceroys from whom they have ema
ma ed that the duty OF China is plair
aud unless that government sees bit *
do it, there will be nothing left for The
powers but to march on Pekin and take
possession of that city. No negotia
tons, it was officially declared at thu
State Department, will be entered int
with China until the terms laid dowr
iu the Presidents response to thu
Chinese. Emperor's appeal for me
diation have been complied With
Free communication between th'
ministers at Pekin and thei
home governments and the CO.
operation OF the Chinese government
with the allied troops to put down the
disorders and restore pea a1d qule
and the safety OF foreigners, are thu
first requisites. When China has de
mon strated her willingness to NEE
these demands the United States ma!
listen to any proposition she may hav'
TO make, but until then the United
States will not change their policy o
urging the quickest possible move
ment of the allied troops to rescue th'
foreigners now besieged In the Chimes
capital. Whether or not the advance
has yet started is not known to the OF
fcials here There are indications tina
it has, but as this is purely militar!
movement it is being left entirely Il
the judgment and discretion OF tn,
commanders in the field. 1t il
realized that they must know 81
much more about the real condition
confronting them than could possibl.
be understood here, even in the light o
their dispatch that there is no DISPOSE
ton to give them any but the most gen
eral instructions. Still less is there an,
intention of ordering them to start to
wards Pekin on any particular date
Besides the usual impediments Of an ar
my, owing to the singular condition.
prevailing in northern China, the allied
forces must carry with them not only
water but fuel. The transport services
will be of special Importance 10 thii
march and the organization OF such q
service is liable to be delayed at any
moment by some apparently trivial but
really important detail.
Preliminary reconnoissnces have
been made with the purpose OF locating
the Chinese army which is said to be
lying in wait to oppose the advance o.
the allies. 1t is especially important to
obtain an approximate idea of the size
of this army, for upon this will largely
depend the decision of the foreign com
nanders as to the number of men nee
esssry to leave behind for the defense
Of Tientsin. This force to hold the
base it is desired to make as small az
possible consistent with the duty thai
will devolve upon it, so that the col
umn to procet to Pekin msy be strong
enough to overcome not only any OPP
position that it may meet on the way
but also that OF the Chinese forces al
the city itself. When the start is made
| it is is realized that the foreign minis
ters at Pekin may depend upon the ra'
pidity OF the movements Of the reliev
ing force, unless it be overwhelmed by
| the Chinese army.
Ex-Governor Roger Wslcott, of Mass
achusetts, has accepted the appointment
| M ,annh dor 10 Ifalu 10 snncaad Mr.