Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1900-08-18
NEAR A CRISIS
News Of Great Moment Expected
Hourly from China.
Lateat Dispatch from Gen. Chafsee Was
That Hs Reached Matow, About Twen-
~ Miles from Pskin, Friday
or Saturday.

~ Miles from Pskin, Friday
or Saturday.
Washington, Aug. 16.-The tension
on the Chinese situation was intense
yesterday, for II was appreciated by
officials that the crisis had reached IN
acute stage which cannot be contin-
ued many hours without bringing
word of momentous import determin-
ing, either for good or evil, the en-
tire course of events. II was day
Of EXTREMIST anxiety, Of watching
and waiting, with only meager and
fragmentary information as to the
military and diplomatic phases. One
of the new developments yesterday
was the statement that messages are
being received from Minister Congcr
which are not transmitted through
any of our officials In China. or
through the Chinese minister here,
but directly Mt the state department.
These messages come by the way of
Tsi-Nan. Some OF them cannot be
fully deciphered and for this reason
the statement cannot he definitely
made that the dispatches sent by the
government to Minister Conger are re-
ceivcd by him. So far as the messages
have been deciphered, there is no indi-
cation that Minister Conger received
any information or dispatches from
our state department. Nothing could
be learned of the contents of the dis
atches received. although 1t stated
that there were quite number from
Minister Conger, some coming from
the consular officers and Gen. Chaffee,
beside those which came direct. The
message transmitted through Minis
ter WI was entirely dcciphered in the
department.
Word came early in the day to the
navy department TINT Gen. Chnffee
had reached Matow about 20 miles
from Pekin. This occurred Friday or
Saturday, though the dispatch from
Gen. Chaffee, sent through Admiral
Remey, was not sufficiently definite to
locate the exact time of reaching
Matow. But, in any event. three or
four days have elapsed since then,
and there has been time for still
further advance toward the imperial
city. The feeling among officials was
shown in the extreme circumspection
thrown about all messages relating to
China, and Il was announced both ut
the state and war departments that
any communications from Minister
Conger or the United States consuls
concerning affairs In China would not
be made public. 1t was explained
thnt this was in no way due to any
desire TO keep from the public infor-
nation OF an important character. hut
was based solely on the fact that the
crisis involved 20 many possibilities
of extreme hazard to the 500 legation
ers in Pekin that the greatest eau
ton must be observed against dis
closures which would further imperil
those in danger.
Allies said 60 Have Reached Pskin.
London, Aug. 1G.-"The allies are
reported to have reached Pekin Mon
day." says the Shanghai correspond
emit of the Daily Express. wiring yes
terday. He adds: "Chinese official
news confirms this statement, but
without details" A Paris message
repeats this, but the statement, es-
pecially as II emanated from Shang-
hal, must be accepted with consider
able reserve. Other London morning
papers, basing their remarks upon
Washington dispatches, which, with
the exception of the foregoing from
Shanghai, form the latest news re-
garding the advance, are divided in
opinion, some believing that the al-
lies must already have reached Pekin
and others preferring to believe that
the relief will not be accomplished
until the end of the week.
Telegraphing from Yang Tsun Au-
gust Q q Daily News correspondent
says: "Sir Alfred Gaselee hopes to
keep the enemy running and to fol-
low him right into Pekin."
Ngan Ping was occupied without
firing n shot. according to dispatch
to the Daily Express from that place
dated August IL. at is believed" the
message adds, "that Gems. Tung Fuh
Slang, Ma and Chung IRE intrenching,
10000 strong. at Tung Chau. The al
lies may avoid Tung Chau, pursuing
the route northwest from Chang Xii
Wan"
Tung Chau appears to be about IL
miles from Pekin. A dispatch to the
same paper from Shanghai, dated yes
terday, says that the officials profess
to be willing to hand over the foreign
ministers, their families and servants,
but will not permit the departure OF
native Christians. "The Russian gov
ernment," continued this telegram,
.'has notified III Hung Chang OF its
willingness to receive NJ. DE Giers out
side the walls OF Pekin, thus avoiding
the entrance OF the Russirn force.
This independent action is calculated
TO embarrass the allies seriously.
Japan demands that Gen. Yung Lu
shall meet the allies outside the city
gates and deliver the ministers and
all the native Christians"
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