The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-08-01
Americans Needed to
Strengthen Allies.
Proposition to Test China's
Good Faith.

Washington, July 81 Doubt has given
away to certainty that the legationers at
Pekin and the gallant marines who man
aged to reach the Chinese capital just in
the nick OF time were not only alive on
July %, but in all probability are still
alive and likely to remain SO until re-
Ieyed from their state of seige.
The officials here feel certain that the
attack by the Chinese on the legations
VIII not be renewed. They are convinced
that the counsels Of the viceroys in the
great southern and central provinces and
the advice CT Lei Hung Chang have had
effect and that whoever is in power in
Pekin. whether Emperor, Empress Dow
ager, Ching, Tuan or lung, have now
been made to see the necessity of the
preservation of the legationers.
The officials here while anxious that the
movement on Pekin begin at once do not
attach much credence to the rumor men
toned by General Chaffee that the for
ward march was TO begin today. There
are two reasons Tor their incredulity. In
the first place, Chaffee's force, his splen-
did cavalry and his battery of artillery,
are exactly what is needed to strengthen
weak spot in the international column.
In the second place (and information on
this point comes through European chan
nels) some of the foreign commanders are
still of the opinion that they cannot be-
gin the campaign before the last week in
August at the earliest. The United States
government has never aoceded to this
view and is relaxing no effort to bring
about a change of plans on this point.
But our representations on this point
have been met by the almost unansWer-
able argument that the decision of this
important question should be left to the
military commanders on the spot who
must bear the responsibility for the out
come of the expedition.
A rather startling proposition was ad-
vanced today, which if adopted, might
put at once to the test the Chinese profess
sion that the Boxers and not the Chinese
government are responsible for what hap
pened in Pekin. This was to the effect
that the Chinese government should be
informed that the international forcsslare
prepared to take that government at It's
word and join forces with it in crushing
out the instruction. The kernel of Just
such a proposition is to be found in the
last condition laid down by the Presi-
dent in his reply to the appeal OF the En-
| perOr, Kwang Su, and there may be a
development in that direction speedily.
Secretary Root says that nothing has
been received from China either officially
or unofficially, necessitating any change
in the instructions given Major General
Chaffee. If there is an advance on Pekin
it is presumed that such of the United
States force as are now ready will par
ticipate in the movement. If dispatches
are received at lien Tsin from Minister
Conger or others in the legations at
Pekin, which change the existing condi-
lions, Major General Chaffee viii act in
accordance with such information. The
secretary says General Chatfee has full
power and has been intrusted with the
command Of the United States forces be-
cause of the confidence the government
has in his ability to meet any situation
that may arise.
1t is evident from the despatch from
General Chaffee that only a portion OF
his command can be utilized if any i'm
mediate advance is made 1t is not be-
lieved that all OF the equipm ents OF the
last expedition sent from Manila Rave
been landed and it of course apparent
that most of the horses and equipment of
the 9th cavalry are still at sea. The 9th
infantry and the two battalions of the
14th infantry, together with th marines
are the only troops Of the United States
actually available on Chinese soil at this
time.