Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-08-09
MAY NOT GET WORD
VIE CANNOT COMMUNICATE WITH
BELEAGUERED MINISTERS.
so SAYS Ii HUNG CHANG
State Department Receives a Very Dis
couraging Reply from Old Viceroy-
Other Chinese Officials Intimate
That Further Advance on Pekin
WillResult in Murder of Foreigners.

Washington, Aug. Another move
was made yesterday in the diplomatic
situation by the return of an evasive
answer by Ii Hung Chang to Secretary
Hays peremptory demand to be put in
communication with the foreign min
listers at Pekin. Lis answer is not
final and leaves the matter open 10
diplomacy. But Lis actions, as report
ed by Consul General Goodnow, are
unquestionably sinister and will
amount to a final rejection OF the
American proposition if persisted in.
Goodnow's dispatch contains some
further information bearing on the
question of responsibility for Pekin
conditions. 1t is learned here that Ii
Ping Hong, the commander of the
Chinese troops, is a civil official we'll
known to all Chinese officials abroad as
one of the most rabid anti-foreign lead
ers in China. He is a close friend OF
Prince Tuan, and the association OF
these two in Pekin affairs with power
enough behind them to cause the igno-
minious death of two high officials is
regarded here as bad sign.
simultaneously with GoOdnow 5
dispatch came a Enthusiastically dip
lomatic message from Yuan Shih
Kai, governor of Shan Tung, repeating
the story Of two days ago that LAe
Chinese government was arranging to
deliver the ministers in safety at Tien
tsin. No effort was made to reconcile
that statement with Earl Lis refusal
to allow communication with the min
listers.
Gen. Chaffee's message as to the IN
expected resistance offered to the jap
anese reconnaissance is regarded by
military men here as forecasting a
greater degree Of opposition to the in
ternatiOnal advance than has been an
ticipated, and they are now satisfied
the Chinese troops will furnish ma
before the way is clear to PeEin. The
navy department yesterday issued Or
ders for the cooperation of it's Off
GERS abroad with the officers Of the
army in landing and transporting
troops destined for Chinese service,
Thts revivea the situation that exist
ed in Cuba when Skaters army corps
landed largely through the efforts of
the navy. 1t appears some misunder-
standing exists as to the st. Petersburg
dispatch saying the Chinese minister
there had cabled the COVER
nor of Shan Tung. demand
ing that free communication be
opened between the Pekin ministers
and their respective governments.
This communication was in fact joint
memorial to the throne concurred in by
all the Chinese ministers abroad, in
Guiding Minister WI in Washington
1t was forwarded by Minister Yeng Lu
at st. Petersburg, because the latter is
dean Of the Chinese diplomatic service.
1t was transmitted through the govern
or Of Shan Tung to be forwarded to
Pekin. This action is considered very
important as indicating that the Chi
nese ministers abroad have at last
reached the unanimous conclusion
that the situation can no longer be
trified with. Their action may be re-
garded as the final effort on their part
to influence the home government and
it's outcome is awaited with great in
terest
Meanwhile the government of the
United States, like the governments of
Europe, has not abandoned it's efforts
to establish communication with it's
ministers at Pekin by Independent
means, and the state department has
instructed Consul General Goodnow
at Shanghai and the other consuIs to
spare no effort and expense to open
up direct communication with Conger
Gen. Chaffee made another and a
direct cable report yesterday after
noon. The message was withheld from
publication by Secretary Root, who
declined to make it's purport public. It
was presumably devoted to a recital Of
zen. Chaffee's needs in a military way
In view of the London statement that
the advance on Pekin was actually be-
gun with the present week there is also
possibility that Gen. Chaffee's mes
sage has some bearing on that subject,
though it is evident from his report Of
yesterday morning that the advance, if
started, could not have progressed far
beyond Tfentsin, as the outpost affair
described by him took place only ten
miles out Of town. Second Assistant
Secretary Adee is to act as secretary
OF state for few weeks during the
absence of Secretary Hay, who left in
the afternoon to visit his family at his
summer home at Sunapee Lake, N. H.
Dispatch from Chaffee.
Washington, Aug. At was stated
last night the dispatch received by
the war department yesterday from
Maj. Gen. Chaffee, commanding the
American troops in China, was dated
Tientsin, July 81. At at the time it
was filed there had been no general for
ward movement Of the allied armies,
the only action having been recon-
presumably that reported
by Admiral Remey in the dispatch
received at the navy department. in
which the Japanese lost several killed
and wounded.