Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-08-14
Our Course in Demanding Free Pas.
sage TO Pekjn Is Now Ap-
proved by All Europe.
ALLIES NEARING PEKIk.

Washington, Aug. 13.-Thc American
commander in China in a dispatch of
just four words, received at the war
department, late this afternoon. sent
a thrill Of exultation and expectancy
throughout official quarters, by an
nouncing his arrival at Ho 81 WI. only
SO miles from Pekin. last Thursday.
The last heard from him before this
was at Yang Tsun, which had beer
captured after a hard fight and word
Of his movements since then had been
eagerly awaited. Thursday, he was IS
miles beyond Yang Tsun. Lang Fang,
the place where the i'll fated Seymour
expedition met its fate and turned
back. had been left behind. The battle
of Yang Tsun was fought on the 9Th
and the advance on Ho 81 WI was ac-
compished on the ninth day, march
OF Is miles in three days.
This was four days ago and at the
same rate of progress Chaffee is even
now fairly within striking distance of
the walls of Pekin. 1t was a consum-
nation which the war department had
awaited calmly. and stirring as the
news was that the American force was
now nearing the gates of the Imperial
city, Secretary Root and Adjutant Gen
eral Corbin evinced no surprise. as it
accorded with calculations. although the
advance has been more rapid than was
expected.
The dispatch from Chaffee conveying
so much in 50 few words, is as follows:
Che Foo, Adjutant General, Wash
ington: Tenth arrived Hospiwu
CHo 81 Wu) yesterday. (Signed) Chat
fee
Word of the advance soon spread
throughout official quarters. In the
enthusiasm of the moment report got
about that this was the day for the
actual arrival at Pekin. But the war
department had not "a word of the adj
vance beyond Ho ST WI 1t was deemed
hardly likely the march to Pekin should
have been made since last Thursday.
AT the rate of progress. six miles a day,
made from Yang Tsun to Ho 81 WI.
about "a miles, would have been COW
cred in the last four days and up to
today this would still leave the inter-
national forces nine miles from Pekin
Viewed from any standpoint. the adj
vance to Ho ST WI was of the utmost
iiilJi Ipl oliN bul
also in showing that communication
was open back to Che Foo, that the
expected opposition from Chinese
hordes had not been sufficient to pre-
vent the steady forward movement and
in the influence it would exert upon the
Chinese government. Brief as the dis
patch is, it conveys much information
beyond that specifically contained in
its few words
Although it is not stated what force
has arrived the war department accepts
it to mean that this is the international
force which first took Pei Tsang and
then. Yang Tsun. 1t has gone steadily
forward along the left bank of the Pei
river. keeping the main road which
skirts the river bank. At Yang Tsun
the railway crosses the river and
branches off to the west. Now that the
forces have left the railway far in the
rear. they are depending upon the high
way and the river.
Ho ST WI is a place of considerable
size and the largest town between Tien
Tsin and Ching CHA Wan. The latter
place and Tung Chow are the two cities
of considerable size in the line of ad-
vance after leaving Ho ST WI. II is
surrounded by orchards ana gardens
and is not place likely to have af-
forded opportunity for strong defence.
1t is the highest point on the Pei river
where the river water is depended on.
as the native walls are the source of
supply on the balance Of the route to
Pekin.
As it has taken five davs for Gen.
Chaffee to report the advance to He ST
WI, it is evident that wire commtTo-
cation is not open to the front. Tits
was hardly 10 be expected and the safe
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