Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-08-14
uy Telegraph 10 vlrr,n,ap.p l,sy

commander III China. in a dispatch of
Just three words. received at the War
department late this afternoon, sent Z
thrill of eNultation and expectancy
throughout official quarters by an
nouncing his arrival nj Hosiwu. only
thirty-three miles from Pekin. last
Thursday. The last heard from him
before this was at Yang TSun. which
mad been captured after Il hard fight
ana word OF his movements since then
has been eagerly awaited. Thursday
he was eighteen miles beyond Yang
ISun Lang Fang. the place where the
lll-tated Seymour expedition met its
tate and turned hack. had been left
behind. The battle of Yang Tsun was
fought on the sixth and the advance
10 lioSiwu was accomplished on the
!th, IL march of eighteen miles in three
DAYS. This was four days ago. and at
the same rate OF progress. Chaifee is
even now fairly within striking dis
lance of the walls of Feliin. 1t was a
contamination which the War Depart
ment had waited calmly, and stirring
as the news WAS that the American
force was now nearing the gates OF the
imperial city, Secretary Root and Adj
Jutant General Corbin cVinced no sur
prise. as IL accorded with calculations.
although the advance had been more
rapid than was expected.
GENERAL CHAFFEE'S DISPATCH.
The dispatch from Chaifec. conveying
so much in so few words. is rs follows:
Che Foo. Aug. l2.-Adjutant Gen
eral, Washington: Tenth, arrived Hos
iwu yesterday"
WHERE ARE THE ALLIES?
Word of the advance soon spread
throughout official quarters. In the en-
thusias~ of the moment q report got
about tSat this WAS the day for the ac-
tual arrival at Pckin. Bu; the
War Department had not word
Of the advance beyond Hosiwu
/
that the march of Pekin could
have been made since last Thursday
At the rate of progress. six miles a day.
made from Yang Tsung To Hosiwu.
about twenty-four miles would have
been covered in the last four days and
up to to-day. This would still leave
the international forces nine miles from
Pckin. Viewed from any standpoint.
the advance to Hosiwu was of the ut
most Importance, not only strategeti-
cally. but also in showing that com
munication was open back TO Che Foo.
that the expected opposition from Chi
ncse hordcs had not been sufficient to
prevent a steady forward movement.
and in the influence ii would exert upon
the Chinese Government.
BRIEF BUT NEWSY
Erief as the dispatch is. il conveys
much information beyond that spccin-
cally contained in its few words AL
tlloNCH IL ~ not suited what force has
arrived the War Department accents ii
TO mean that this is the international
force which first took Peitsang and
then Yang TSun. 1t has gone steadily
forward along the left bank of the Pei
river. Keeping on the main road. which
skirts the river bank. At Yang Tsun
the railway crosses the river and
branches off to the west. Now the
forces have left the railway in the rear
and are depending upon the highway
and the river.
AN IMPORTANT TOWN.
Hosiwu is place of considerable
size ana the largest town between Tien
rsin and Ching CHA Wan The lat
iei place and Tung Chow are the two
cities o: considerable size in the line
81 advance after leaving Hosiwu. 1t
was surrounded by orchards and
gardens. and is not Il place likely to
have afforded opportunity for strong
defense. 1t is the highest point on the
Pei river. where the river water is
depended on. as the native wells are
lie source of supply for the balance Of
the route 80 fckin. As it has taken
i've DAYS for General Chaffee to report
the advance TO HOsiwu ii is evident
hat wire communication is not open to
the front. THIS Nas hardly to be eN-
pected, and the safe arrival of the mes
sage at least shows that certain
measure of communication is omen
~
la,inn among officials is that the fan
cicd hordes of China have not ma
teriali2ea. or. nj least. have not pre-
vented the international column from
getting close TO the gates OF PeNin
MELANCHOLY NEWS
Shortly after his dispatch arrived
another message from General Chafee
far more lengthy. gave the melancholy
result OF the fight at Yang Tsun The
casualty list was given in detail with
the additional Information that tho
dead had been buried AT Yang Tsun
ana that the wounded had been sent
back to the hospital at Tien Tsin
FIRM AND FINAL
The reply OF the United States Gov
eminent to China's overtures of peace
@as made public early in the day.
showing the firm ana final position that
had been taken. While expressing sat
isfaction Mt this pacific step the reply
states that IL is evident that there
China and the Powers so long rs the
ministers and legationers are restrained
and i'm danger Then follows specific
statement OF what the United States
expects rs a condition precedent to n
cessation of hostilities. viz. that n
body OF the relief force he permitted to
enter Pekin unmolested" and cscor;
the ministers back To Tien Tsiu
SUPPORTED BY THE POWERS.
1t developed during the day that the
reference To the Powers" employed in
the American reply was not without a
distinct meaning. Exchanges between
the various Powers have been going on
constantly and as n result the officials
had the satisfaction OF knowing late In
the day that the position of the United