The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-03

tween the EOrefSneFs ana the
Tsung-H-Yamen Are Friendly.
LONDON. Aug 3.-The cable dispatches
| from China are today more conflicting and
confusing than ever before. For example,
| date, says:
| ''It is stated officially that Liu Kun
VI, the Viceroy of Nankin, and Sheng,
| the Director of Railroads and Tele-
graphs, have declared that the minis
ters at Pekin are being held as hos
tages and will be killed if the allies
advance toward Pekin.
| "Only the Russians and Japanese, In
| all about %, 600 troops starting for
| the Chinese capital"
Another message from Chefoo, also under
| yesterdays date. says the Tsung-HYamen
reported the foreign ministers in Pekin
| safe on July 80. This despatch follows:
| YUAN shihkai the Governor of
Shantung, states that he has received a
note dated at the Tsung-liYamen, Pc
kin, on July So which reports that the
Ministers at the German Legation and
others are well and that the relations
between the ministers and the Tsung-
hYamen are friendly. According to
this report conference was being he'd
| to arrange for the protection Of the
ministers while they were On their way
70 Tientsin from Pekin.''
1t will be noted that one of the despatch
es states that the ministers are being
held as hostages. and VIII be killed if the
| troops move toward Pelrin. while the other
| claims that the relations between the min
and that arrangements are to be made for
their safe escort to Tientsin.
Still further. to compiicate matters,
there comes a report from Tientsin, dated
July 30, which was forwarded from Shang-
hal, at 7:15 a. N. today, indicating that
the advance toward Pekin has begun. The
| report follows
During a reconnaissance today the
| japanese troops struck the
enemy in village two
miles beyond the Hsiku arsenal.
The Chinese were in considerable
force, and occupied huts with loop
hoied walls. When the advance guard
of the japanese were only fifty yards
distant the Chinese opened fire. The
engagement was very brief, and after
having thirty casualties, the japanese
retired
The commanders of the troops OF the
various nations are rushing prepara-
tions for general advance on Wednes-
day august y. The river is full OF
Communicated junkss which are taking
on supplies"
Other dispatches from Shanghai say that
the eonsuls are afraid that the action OF
Wee Admiral Seymour in proceeding up
the Yangtse-hiang toward Naukin is likely
to produce trouble for which he alone will
be responsible At the same time the
consuls favor the formation of interna-
tional force to protect Shanghai under Ad-
miral Seymour's command
It is unusual to find praise for the United
States in a German newspaper, but several
received here today speak in high terms OF
Americas course in China, The National
zeitung," in a leading article on America
in China says:
''If the movement upon Pekin has now
really begun, America undoubtedly de-
serves great credit. Immediately after the
first direct news from Mr.. conger was re-
ceiyed-a communication firmly regarded
at all times in Washington as authentic
Mr.. Hay insisted with all earnestness that
Mr. Conger's cry for help demanded speedy
relief. It even seemed for a while that the
American Secretary OF State entertained
the thought of sending a purely American
expedition to Pekin if necessary
The paper Is gratifed at President Nc
Kinley's refusal to accept Ii Hung Chang's
offer to deliver Mr.. Conger if the American
expedition were countermanoed It thinks,
however, that Washingtons China policy
has been wavering and explains this as
due to the exigencies of the Presidential
campaign and to the presence of the Chi
ncse themselves in the United States.
Safe Blown Open and Robbed.
LYNCHBURG, Va, rug. 3.-The large
iron safe of the Lynchburg branch of the
Anheuser- Busch Brewing Association was
blown open some time during last night
and about 5000 in money was stolen The
safe was literally blown to pieces. Three
strange men have been arrested on suspi-
eion.
Chicken Thieves Pay Dear.
LANCASTER, Pa, Aug. 3.-Henry Meis- |
keys hen roost was robbed of all his yalu-
able chickens and yesterday he traced the
thieves to where their wagon had been.
Tbara ha fnund rool-a+bo,f-