The Topeka state journal., 1900-08-08


the evening.
Those who were at the White House
in conference with the president includ-
ed Acting Secretary Adee of the state
department, Secretary Root and Ad-
jutant General Corbin.
Mr.. Conger's message makes it clear
that for the ministers to leave Pekin
would result in their death.
The officials had been led to believe
from the more recent dispatches which
had purpOrted to emanate from Chinese
sources, as well as from imperial edictS,
that the condition of the legatiOnerS
was much improved, but these advices
show a very different aspect of affairs.
NO HELP FROM FRANCE OR RUS
STA.
London, Aug. s.-The cipher dispatch
from the British minister at Pekin, Sir
Claude Macdonald, received at the
British foreign Office and read in the
house of commons today by the parlia-
mentary secretary for the foreign Office
Mr.. Broderick. announcing that the
members Of the legations We're holding
out five days ago, is taken with the ad-
miraltyS announcement that the Chi
neSe have been defeated and are retreat
look rather more cheerful today than
since Admiral Seymour's unsuccessful
expedition. The Russians hard fighting
on the Siberian frontier, the difficulties
of their position of the Lao Tung penin-
sula and the prospect of a revolt against
France in Indo-China, will probably pre-
vent either OF the powers r61n1OrcementS
to the allies operating against Pekin.
Hence the United States, Great Britain
Germany and japanese will have to car
ry out the military programme without
any more troops from Russia or France
Yokohama advices say dispatches re-
ceived from Seoul affirm that a Korean
cabinet will be organized to unite the
factions and that the Korean emperor is
sending presents of rice, flour and cigars
to the allies at Tien Tsin.
COMMUNICATION OPENED
Washington, Aug. S.-Minister Wu
this morning received an edict under
date of August 5, in which the Chinese
government permits the powers to hold
open and free communica tion with their
ministers. This includes the sending of
cipher messages.
Ii TAKES A STAND.
London, Aug. 8. 3:45 a. MN case
fight The suggestion that the allies
should be allowed to enter Pexin in or
der to escort the ministers to Tien Tsin
is absolutely impossible"
This is the dictum of Ii Hung Chang
1t was transmitted last evening to Will
liam Pritchard Morgan, member of
parliament for Merthyr Tydvn by his
agent at Shanghai. The agent had car
Tied to Earl Ii a message from Mr..
Morgan, urging that the allied troops
be allowed to enter the capital, and
stating that a settlement could be made
at Tien Tsin.
New York Aug S.-A dispatch to the
Herald from Che Foo says;
The allies attacked the Pei Tsang in
trenchments on both sides Of the Pei-HO
river Sunday morning and drove out the
Chinese When forced in from their
outer works the Chinese blew UP the
bridge The japanese crossed the river
exposed to a murderous cross fire, losing
heavily
The fighting lasted from o'clock until
II, with heavy losses on both sides. The
Chinese retreated up the river, pursued
by the allies.
There is a force of Il, 900 Chinese about
two days march to the east of Tien Tsin,
which is guarded by 5000 men of the
allied forces with IA guns
An imperial edict has been issued at
Pekin that Tien Tsin and the Taku
forts must be retaken at any cost.
IMMEDIATE REPLY EXPECTED.
Washington, Aug. S.-While there is
talk of the peaceable action of the Uni
ted States government in the Chinese
matter and some discussion of the pos
sibility of an extra session of congress,
to deal with the whole situation, it is
very likely that nothing will be done un-
til additional information is received
from China. The tenor of the messages
to Consul General GoodnOw this morn
ing and which he is expected to com
municate to the Chinese authorities was
such as to necessitate an answer at once.
The authorities here are now awaiting
that reply 1t is stated that President
Mckinley will not return to Washington
until next week when he will be accom-
panied by Mrs. Mckinley.
As to the possibility of an extra seS-
sion of congress, it was said this morn
ing by prominent official that such
session was improbable. The situation.
he said, is one of rescue. and We're con-
gress in session now it could not get ad-
ditional troops to China in time to par
ticipate in the entrance to Pekin.
ON THE VERGE OF WAR.
Washington. Aug S-The message
from Minister Conger brings the Chinese
situation to its most serious stage and
the authorities in Washington regard
the matter as one of great gravity. They
are aware that nothing but the most
vigorous action can meet the conditions,
save the ministers and other foreigners
in Pekin. and avert a war of long dura-
ton. After a. conference Of the men in
charge Of the diplomatic and military
affairs. in which President Mckinley
participated over the long distance tele-
phone, it was decided to send a message
to Consul General GoodnoW, repeating
the contents of the Conger message and
advising MN that the situation was ser
icus and a crisis had been reached He
was directed to communicate the fact to
Ii Hung Chang. to Cheng and other
Chinese officials who were to transmit it
to the government of China with a
strong representation that the present
situation was intolerable and could not
be continued without the most serious
AN9N4eH II - unutISloOu lildL lue ulS-
patch was practically an ultimatum and
an early reply was demanded. The an
swer is expected during the day or even
ing and it will probably determine the
future action of this government.
1t is not believed by the war depart
ment officials that the international
forces now operating along the Pei river
can reach Pekin in time to rescue the
ministers if active hostilities should be-
gin against the legationers by the imper-
ial troops. So serious do the officials re-
gard the situation that it is believed by
some that there is greater safety for the
ministers and other foreigners to accept
an escort of the imperial army to Tien
rIsirl n t.,