Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-07-26

Washington, July 25.-The State De-
partmcnt has received cablegram
from Consul McWade, at Canton. say
ing that Niceroy TAX gives assurances
that all the foreign ENJOYS at Pekin
were alive and well on July %.
THE SITUATION IN CHINA.
Washington, July 25.-The receipt at
Tien Tsin of an undoubtedly genuine
and autographs message form Minis
ter ConGer has done nothing TO dissi-
pate the doubt as to the situation at
Pekin. The message which was for
wardcd by the Naval officers at Tien
Tsin, Taku and Che Foo. has indeed
served only to deepen the darkest mys-
terry of the century. The official con-
clusion remains unchanged. of course,
but it is admitted that careful scru-
tiny of the autograph message in COM
parison with the famous cipher mes
sage from Minister COnger admits of
the belief that the two messages were
indited by Mr.. Congcr at about the
same time. The situation ut the Brit
iSh legation is represented to be the
same in each case, and az MIR. Conger
declares that relief must come quickl.
If at all, there Is ground for the suppo-
sition that conditions could not long
have remained unchanged at such
crisis.
CIPHER MESSAGE REDATED.
The assumption that this reasoning IS
that Mr.. Congcr's cipher message, II
genuine, was rc-datcd as of the 18th OF
July. two weeks later than the date OF
actual writing, and of course, if re-
dated al all, Chat was done by the
Chinese officials. on the other hand
and in support of the State Depart
ments position. came to-day Il mes
sage from another of ;hc great Chinese
viccroys, TAX, at Canton, he who took
charge after Ii Hung Chang's de-
oil mi
the safety of the legationers, and
coming from so many different sources
and from such important Chinese Off
Gals, these dispatches claim attention
a pessinistic view of them, however.
attributes 10 all common origin,
namely some one hiTh official parsonage
at Pekin. II is noted that Talks as
Surance brings the ministers one day
further towards ultimate rescue than
has any preceding message. The fact
that 1t allows ony three days to cover
the transmission over the great dis
tance between Pcltin and Canton has
attracted attention here. and appears
to demand explanation. if the message
is to be accepted as genuinely of Pekin
origin.
THE APPEAL TO FRANCE.
1t was not known to the State De-
partment until the publication of the
fact in the news dispatches that the
French Government also has been adj
dressed by the Chinese Government in
the effort To secure mediation. Now II
appears that still other Powcrs\were adj
dressed in similar strain. 1t is known
that Great Britain and Germany and
probably Russia, have received such
messages. The language Is not the
same. but the anmating idea is. The
State Department officials feel that
generally speaking. this idea Is not so
much to secure mediation, pure and
simple. as to induce the Powers to re-
sort to the settlement of the difficulties;
between them and China by the sub
stitution of negotiations for armed
forces. This appears more clearly from
comparison of the various notes than
It did in the single note addressed TO
the President. Being so. the chances
of n successful outcome of this attempt
of the Chinese Government to secure an
anleioration OF the consequences of the
Boxer uprising are much diminished by
the intimation that the Powers are cx-
pected TO refrain from pressing the
movement towards Pekin.
WAR DEPARTMENTS ENERGY.
On the contrary, the United States
War Department Is moving at present
with greater energy than at any time
since the original orders for troops to
get its contingent in position for the
task before 1t. General Chaffee report
ed TO the department. formally to-day
from Nagasaki. and there received
orders which have been sent by cable
since his departure from San Francisco
An idea of their general character
can be gathered from the generals re-
port that he was about to push for
Waru ut once with his big transport
LOT aku. He will not even stop at
Che Foo, and it is even doubtful
whether he will detain the Grant at
Nagasaki long enough to take on coal.
He is also energeticany taking steps in
ADVANCE to meet the evil of which all
.ne iorelgn naval commanders have
q LIZ elk Of lnnai,,e- ~