The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-05
One Dispatch Says That 10000 Boxers
Menace the Internationals.
THAT THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN FLOODED
Another States That a Clash With Genera
Ma is Expected To-day. French and Rus
slams Guarding the Line Of Commu-
nications. Fierce Fighting Be-
tween Russians and Chinese
on the Amur.
(By the Associated Press. J

10y Tic ASSOGldIGu 1FSSS.J
Washington, August 4.-Some features
of the dispatch received from General
Chaffee yesterday and which the War
Department refused to make public. be-
came known today. The first dispatch
received by the War Department from
General Chaffee contained very little in
formation, but closed with the state
ment that he was going forward to Tien
Tsin and would give his views. That is
what he has done. His views as cabled
in the dispatch of yesterday, would be
far from palatable to several foreign
Governments, and that is why the dis
patch is not made public This much is
asserted: General Chaffee and the United
States forces available under his COM
mand have gone forward toward Pekin
with the British and Japanese forces.
The troops of the other nations assem-
bled at Tien Tsin did not join in the
movement. but the reasons given By
General Chaffee could not be learned.
1t is understood that the criticism con-
tanned in the Associated Press dispatch
received yesterday of the sanitary con-
dition existing at Tien Tsin is borne out
in General Chaffee's dispatch, but in
discussing the matter with the War De-
partment he has been more specific and
the names of the commands are given
which failed to take proper precaution
for the health of the international forces.
War Department officials generally re-
fuse to discuss the contents of the dis
patch and Secretary Root announc ed
emphatically that it would not be given
to the public, and further that no adj
ditional dispatches have been received
from General Chaffee. The internation-
al questions involved make it impossible
on account Of diplomatic relations to give
the dispatch to the public, and it is
further desired that the proposed move
ment of troops should not be heralded
to the world for the advantage of the
Chinese forces which are opposing the
advance of the rescue of the besieged
Ministers.
The steady prosecution of the military
movements undoubtedly has frightened
the Chinese Viceroys, who have been
sparring for time endeayoring to use the
diplomatic corps at Pekin as a protec-
ton. The Tsung Lii Yamen dispatch re-
ceived this morning through Yuan and
WI fairly illustrated this condition and
made it plain that the Imperial Gov
eminent again is trying to force a sus
pension of the advance on Pekin by
menacing the foreign Ministers.
Having formally refused to put them in
communication with their Governments
and this having proved Intellectual to stop
the advance, it would not be surprising
if the Chinese Government should next
do one of two things, either come for
ward with a threat to renew the attack
on the legations ii the advance is not
stopped or resort to the plan of delivering
the Ministers safely at Tien Tsin or
at least to the commanders of the inter-
national column, trusting in that way to
abate the force of the invasion and in
duce the powers to consent to negotiations
for settlement of the trouble. 1t is
learned here that Viceroy Ii Hung ChGW5
actually undertook to do this but sought
to make the condition for the safe de-
livery for the Ministers that the Imperial
Government should be held blameless for
what had occurred at Pekin.
This condition having been rejected
absolutely by the terms of President Nc
Kinleys reply to the Chinese Government
IL may De THAT LII is trying TO arrange
for the delivery of the Ministers without
conditions, trusting to the gratitude of
the powers to secure the desired absolu-
ton.
The State Department this morning is
sued the following:
minister WI this morning handed to
the acting Secretary of State copy of a
telegram from the Taotai of Shanghai,
dated August End and received by Minis
ter WI on the evening of the Srd.
cit confirms the message of Yuan Shin
Kai, Governor of Shan Tung TO Mr.. Fowler,
Consul at Che Foo, purporting to COM
municate the same telegram of July Both
from the Tsung Lii Yamen, but it is to
be noted that it contains passage omit
ted from Governor Yuan's message, name
ly the announcement that as fighting is
going on in Tien Tsin, it is inexpedient
to send cipher kilograms to the foreign
Ministers in Pekin. In this particular |
the present telegram agrees with Consul |
General Goodnow's report, received yes