The age-herald., 1900-08-06
Encountered in Debarkation of
 Both Men and Horses.
ADVANCE UPON PEKIN BEGUN
Officials of War Department Decline to Discuss Latest Message of Gen. Chaf- fee, as it Contains Information Only
 For Guidance of Officials

Washington, August 5.--A beated mes- sage from Minister Conger was received today at the State Department. It came through Consul General Goodnow at Shang- hai, who transmitted messages received by MT. Ragsdale, United States Consul at Tien Tsin, from Mir Conger and MT. Squires, secretary of the United States Le- gation at Pekin. The advices are the same as those received a two or two ago by the State Department from Consul Fowler at Che Foo. The message was transmitted to President Mckinley at Canton, and MT. Adee. acting Secretary of State issued the following statement concerning it.
 Consul General Goodnow, in a cabegram dated Shanghai, August 5, which was re- ceived at the State Department at clock this Sunday morning, reports the receipt by Consul Ragsdale at Tien Tsin of mes sages from Minister Conger and the secre- tary of the latter, MT Squires. dated July q, ne following effect:
 "'All well; no fighting since the 16th by agreement Enough provisions Hope for speedy relief
 MT. Goodnow adds that the director oe posts, Sheng, had on the 5th communi- cated to him an imperial edict dated July 20, ordering Jung Tu to provide an escort for the Ministers to Ten Tsin when the Ministers fix the date. The edict says he Ministers can receive messages not in cipher, but notwithstanding this plain mes. sages were returned to some Consuls on August 4fh."
 " hiie the messages from Minister Con- aI 1-.t "A of July 2l the belief, founded not only up- on them, but also upon collateral and latey information is that the legationers are yet safe from immediate harm.
 No Means of Information
 At present there is no means of knowing whether the Ministers will accept the offer of the Chinese imperial government to provide an escort for them to Tien Tsin, but it is surmsed that they will prefer to remain within the British legation at Pekin until the arrival of the allied forces. Should they start for Tien Tsin in all probability it would be because they re- garded that the safer course to pursue, and it is thought to be unlikely that the Chinese government will be very insistent upon the departure of the Ministers, in the hopCb II thcS Sth pC 5ottcA lo ltcii SiD in safety the storming of Pekin may be averted. The inhibition of cipher dis patches to the Ministers, while serious breach of diplomatic usage is not regard- ed here with apprehension The Chinese government, 1t Is pointed out, Is suspicious of the actions and intent of the powers, and probably has adopted this precaution to prevent communication to the Ministers to the details of military movements It is evident from the adoption of this measure that the imperial government regards itself as antagonistic to if not actually at war with the powers. Thus far no lnhibi- tion has been placed upon cipher dis patches passing between the various gov ernments and their consular representa- tives in China outside of Pekin.
 The state department has taken the ground that the dispatch from the Tsung Ii Yamen, delivered at the department by Minister Wu, Is not an answer to the dis patch of Secretary Hay sent on August l. In that dispatch Secretary Hay finally and decisively insisted that free communi- cation with the ministers must be estab- lished before any steps would be taken by this government toward a peaceabe solu- tion of the present trouble. This dispatch was sent to Consul General Goodnow to be by him transmitted to u Hung Chang. The message delivered by Minister Wu to the state department yesterday was relative to the happier dispatch which was sent by the Tsung Ii Yamen on July 30 As of that date, 1t had already been communicated to the department by Consul Fowler. Obvious ly, therefore, it could not be reply to the dispatch sent to MT. Goodnow by Secre- tary Hay on August 1. A definite reply to the secretary's dispatch of the first instant Is awaited with some concern, not to say anxiety. It is the final word of the United States government in the pending negotia- tions with that the demand must be ac- ceded to if trouble of serious character is to be averted.
 Encountering Difficulties
 That General Chaffee is encountering dif- faculties that are proving serious there is little attempt to conceal The debarkation of troops and cavalry horses is being ac- complished with the utmost difficulty. It Is said that the big transports can approach the landing at Taku no nearer than twelve or fourteen miles, Vessels drawing more than fifteen feet of water are forced to lie far out in the gulf. This necessitates the use of lightlrs for the transportation to the shore of both men and horses, making the debarkation of considerable force a
 lContlnued on Third Pagal