Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-08-10
CAN'T ENTER PEKINC
Ii Hung Chang Makes Positive
Announcement.
HE DECLARES CHINESE MUST FIGHT.
Entrance of Allies 10 the Capital I'M
possible, and VIII BE Strongly OPP
poscd-Another Message from
Minister Conscr.

London, Aug. SIN case the troops
advance the Chinese must fight The
suggestion that the allies should be
allowed to enter Picking in order to
escort the ministers to Tientsin is alb.
solutely impossible" This is the die.
tum of LII Hung Chang. 1t was trans
mitted last evening to Mr.. William
Pritchard Morgan. member of parlia-
ment for Merthyr Tydvil. by his agent
at Shanghai. The agent had carried
TO Earl Lii message from Mr.. Nor
gan urging that the allied troops be
allowed to enter the capital. and stat
ing that settlement could be made
at Ilentsin whereby a war of the
world against China would be averted,
but even the optimistic Ii failed to
hold out the slightest hope of its
feasibility, although he reiterated to
Mr.. Morgans agent his declaration
that the ministers had left Picking,
fixing the date of their departure as
August 2. The agent makes this COM
ment: 1.-THE consuls are without con-
firmation.''
Message from Conger.
Washington, Aug. s.-The following
cablegram from Minister Conger was
received Tuesday night by the state
department:
tary of State: Still besieged. Situation
more precarious. Chinese government in
slsttng upon our leaving Picking, which
would be certain death. Rifle firing upon
us daily by imperial troops. Have album
dant courage, but little ammunition or pro-
visions. Two progressive yamen ministers
Deheaded. All connected with legation of
the United States well at the present mo-
ment. CONGER
Latest from Picking.
Shanghai, Aug. s.-The Japanese
consul here received by wire Tuesday
a message to the effect that the for
eign ministers at Picking were safe
August 1, but that they expected re-
newal OF the attack by the Chinese at
any moment. 1t was added that only
RS cartridges each and six days pro-
visions were left. 1t was also said
that the Japanese secretary had died
of his wounds.
Germany Approves.
Berlin, Aug. s.-The United States
embassy in Berlin has informed. THE
German foreign office that, the Amer
lean government desires, under all
conditions, that the Yangtse-Kiang be
left open for American trade, and that
will also oppose all
schemes for the division of China, no
matter from what power they may
proceed. 1t is understood that this
attitude is fully approved by the Ger
man government, since it comedies |
with the wishes of Germany.
A Chinese Version.
London, Aug. s-A special dispatch
from Shanghai, dated Tuesday, says.
1T is reported that heavy fighting took
place last Sunday east of Peitsang, the al
lies losing 400, of whom 65 We're British. The
japanese artillery did splendid service in
the face of calling Chinese cross fire I'M
der which they lost heavily The Chinese |
were forced to retreat. but saved their guns. |
Their rear guard was attacked and practi- |
caily decimated''
Tells of Intended Fight.
Washington, Aug. s-The war de-
partment has received the following
from Gen Chaffee:
"Chefoo. Aug. Z. : Adjutant General,
Tientsn Sd, conference to-
day decided battle Sunday. Chinese in
frenched east and west through Peltsang.
Lett OF Chinese protected by flooded
ground practically unassailable. japanese,
English, American forces about 10000
strong attacked Chinese right. west of
river in flank. Other forces, Russian,
French. about 1900 strong, opposite side be-
tween river and railroad.
Chlnese position apparently strong.
Tr11yr tod
Yang Tsun or crossing of road oyer Pei Ho.
Z ang Isun objective. Our force 1000 and ]
battery. Conemaugh arrived. Sixth cav |
alry left cat Tientsin) for guard of city |
ana awaiting mounts. Ministers safe on |
18th Of July. "CHAFFEE"
Confirms Story of Battle.
The dispatch of Gen. Chatfee, written
before the battle of Sunday, confirms
the dispatches received at the navy de-
partment Monday, and also the press
dispatches received Tuesday concern
ing the attack on the Chinese at
Peitsang. Gen. Chatfee's dispatch.
gated Friday. was not sent from Che
200 until Tuesday, an inexplicable de-
lay. The most interesting feature of |
The dispatch is the information regard
ng the positions of the Chinese army.
and the fact that the advance upon Pc
King is made by two columns, one on
each side of the Pei river.
Only $4,000 Men.
The international force, as given by
Gen. Chatfee, would aggregate about
$4,000 men, while the other dispatches
say 10000, but this difference can easily
De accounted Tor, as more men might |
nave been available when the move
nent began than when the conference
was held on the Sd instant. This con-
ference is supposed to have been be-
tween the several commanders present
" Ilentsln. 1T is evident that the for
e1gn commanders do not upderesti
mate the task which they have before
them, as the dispatch shows that q
ehorough reconnaissance of the Chinese
position mad been made and that even
before the advance OF the international
force from Tientsin the commanders
we're in position of full information
to the Chinese position. This
is one OF the most welcome features of
1he dispatch, as it proves conclusively
mat the international column did not
blunder upon an intrenched position of
the enemy.
American Troops Engaged.
The most positive addition to the
news Of The day was the brief line
rom correspondent at Tientsin
Rating that the Ninth and Fourteenth
Infantry, Reilly's battery and the ma
rines were in the battle of Pjetsang.
It was this force which, with the
brand Japanese bore the hrnnt Of 4hs