The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-08-07

here from Taku via Che Foo, August 8,
says the commander of the Italian
cruiser Elba has seen a note of the gov
ernor of Shan Tung, dated PeI1in, July
80, saying the ministers and foreigners
are safe, that provisions have been sup
piled to them and that conferences had
taken place on the subject of the meas
ures to be taken to protect the minis
ters during their trip to Tien Tsin,
where. it is added, they were to estab-
liSh their headquarters
SEVERE FIGHTING AHEAD.
Washington, Aug. THE dispatch
Of General Chaffee, written before the
battle of Sunday, confirms the dis
patches received at the navy depart
ment yesterday and also the press dis
patch received today concerning the
attac1- on the Chinese at Piet Sang.
General Chaffee' dispatch dated Friday
was not sent from Che Foo until today
an inexplicable delay. The most in
teresting feature of the day is the in
formation regarding the positions of the
Chinese army, and the fact that the
advance upon Pekin is guarded by two
columns, one on each side of the Pei
river.
The international force as given by
General Chaffee, would aggregate
about 1900 men, while the other dis
can easily be accounted for, as more
men might have been available before
the movement began than at the con-
ference which was held on the Sd
have been between the commanders
present at Tien Tsin. 1t is evident that
the foreign commanders do not under
estimate the task which they have be-
fore them, as the dispatch shows that
a thorough reconnaissance of the Chi
nese position had been made and that
even before the advance of the interna-
tionaI force from Tien Tsin, the COM
mandeTs were in possession of full in
formation relative to the Chinese posi-
ton. This is one of the most welcome
features of the dispatch, as it proves
corclusively that the international col
umn old not blunder upon an intrench-
ed opposition of the enemy.
According TO the war department map
the town of Peit Sang covers both sides
of the river, but the main portion OF it
is on the side where the japanese,
American and British had arranged,
according to General Chaffee's dis
patch, to attack the enemy in flank
The left of the Chinese on the other
side of the river, according to the dis
patch, was partially protected by flood
ed ground, and practically unasSailable
for that reason. According to the map
there is a lake five miles from the river
at this point, and the ground may have
been flooded from this lake through
dykes and canals which gridiron the
thereabout- The Russian and
French forces were to attack the enc
my's left on the right bank of the river
between the river and the railroad. This
makes it probable that the flooded dis
trict only extended to the line of the
railroad. which at this point is about a
mile and a half from the river.
General Chaffee's dispatch also shows
another important feature Of the plan
OF campaign agreed upon by the inter
national commanders, it is that the
present objective point of the column
is Yang Tsun.. This is a town about 10
miles beyond Peit Sang at the point
where the railroad crosses the Pei
river from the right on the way to Pc
in of
the international force would have both
the railroad and river in its rear for
keeping open communication with Tien
Tsin. 1t naturally would become the
advance base from which the opera
tions on Pekin could be projected. At
this point the river VeerS to the right
and from it the column would have to
move over and along the line of the
river The Chinese evidently are as
much impressed with the strategic ad-
vantageS of Yang Tsun as the interna-
tional commanders themselves, as Gen
aral Chaftee says in his cable that the
enemy is reported 10000 strong at the
crossing of the road over the Pei
river Without doubt after the fight at
Peit Sang, the Chinese force there, If
he report of Admiral Remey that 1t
was forced to retreat, proves correct,
-etired to Yang Tsung- There is no in
formation as the number of the enemy
which met the advance at Peit Sang,
but judging from the casualties to the
arge, and may perhaps double the Chi
lese army which the column must en-
counter when it reaches Yang Tsung.
The general feeling at the war depart
ment is that unless the Chinese gener-
lis have been completely demoralized
by the Peit Sang attack. there is very
severe fighting ahead for the interna-
-ional forces. and that the ground will
be disputed all the way to Pekin.
MADE PERSONALLY RESPONSE
II
London, Aug. THE parliamentary
secretary of the foreign office, Mr..
Broderick in the house of commons to-
lay, answering a question, said her
najesty's government had informed the |
Chinese government that its members
Will be held personally responsible II |
he members of the foreign legation or |
,ther foreigners at Pekin suffer injury
Mr.. Broderick added that her majes- |
Us government did not think any use
ul purpose would be served by further
communications