New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-05
VEIL PARTIALLY LIFTED.
CHAFFEE THROWS LIGHT ON THE STU
ALTON IN PEKING.
gzosT1LrTIEs PRACTICALLY ENDED-ALLIEp
FORCES NOT IN DANGER.
GBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

EBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
Washington, Sept 1.-The veil which for many
DAYS hid view of the situation in Peklng
from, official eyes in Washington was partially
drawn aside to-day by important dispatch
from Major-General Chaffee. portion of which
was made public. The dispatch bore no date
but was apparently of recent origin. 1t was
placed on the wire at Taku, and the portion
made public read follows;
Taku, China.
Acknowledgement. Washington:
Written report of operations up TO rene i., ol
legations will be forwarded as soon as possiple'
Present conditions are that hostties nave pre- pre-
tically ceased. Only occasional shots nred from
cover small parties repairing telegrapn. llne
and foraging. No considerable eoay OF 1nti ie
troops (Boxers?l discovered here. or eIons nns
Chang has fun power. but he is not here.
Will United States keep military force mere
slntil terms of peace are arranged? Troops now
.n China about FIVE thousand (enecuNes)' oth
Series I'd Artillery. eth Infantry 14th Infantry.
one thousand marines. think ample Iofce Ior
limited States unless political reason, nor APP
-oarent to me, demands larger force. Shall take
I'VE thousand as basis Of my requirements Tor
supplies. If troops remain must winter IN tehts,
and conical wall tents will be required-one tent
fen men Escort wagons mentioned in -- of
18th will be required Immediately have nluies
for same shipped no more pack vT IFstns sa,I
Ing in river rapidly; must soon haul supplies
forty miles Satisfied railroad VII IL no1 1e re-
paired before river freezes. CHAPfhE'
by General Chaffee had been anticipated by the
department and has been shipped. Much Of it
Is at TaHu and the balance is due there soon.
ALARMING REPORTS UNFoUNDED.
The dispatch was evidently a reply to a brief
message sent to General Chafee by Adjutant-
General Corbin more than two weeks ago, di-
irecting him TO report Operations, conditions
and requirements" The reply is comprehen-
{sive. and as respects that portion made pubic
At is a satisfactory one. In the first place. II
aohicisIIy disposes of the numerous press reports
which have represented that the situation or the
international troops at Picking was critical ana
that they were il grave danger OF having their
communication with the coast cut of by large
armed hodies." which were reported as threat
-euing Picking" and marching on Tien-Tsin
from every point of the compass" General
sChaffee indicates that there is no considerable
body Of Chinese troops or Boxers in or near
Picking or along the lire of communication with
4he coast Then there is a break in the dis
patch. Something has been withheld which may
relate either 10 the military or to what might
be termed the diplomatic situation-prohaoly the
iatter, for the next sentence reads: I'VE hear
Ii Hung Chang has full power, but he is not
here" It would not be violent inference that
fhe sentence or sentences omitted related to
dimculties experienced by the Ministers and mill
Etary commanders in placing themselves in COM
1nunication with responsible authorized repre-
sentatives Of the Chinese Government competent
10 enter into negotiations or official relations
This inference appears 10 be justified by the re-
fusai Of the State Department to make public
Minister Conger's dispatch dated at Picking on
August 80. with the explanation that 1t did not
indicate any material change in the situation at
Picking 1t is also inferred from General Chat
fees dfspatch that he had not heard OF Rus
sia's proposition to withdraw her Minister and
troops from Picking. Whether either he or Min
lister Conger said anything about the reported
beheading of several Of the members Of the
Tsung-I- Yanen by the orders of the Empress
Dowager on the eve OF her fight from the capt.
tai or about the reported arrest Of one Of the
members Of the Tsung-li-Yamen by the Austrian
Minister cannot be ascertained-
cHAFFEE NEEDS NO MORE TROOPS.
General Chafee's assurance that the force
under his command is entirely adequate unless
political reasons not apparent TO him demand
a larger force pending the conclusion of Eego
fiations. was exceedingly satisfactory to the Off
Gals Of the War Department, as evidence of thu
wisdom Of their action in providing that al
further achievements from the United State
should proceed direct to Manila unless they re
ceived contrary orders their arrival at Maya
sah.
The State Department officials to-day declined
TO make any statement whatever respecting tn
state of the correspondence In regard to Russia
proposition to withdraw her troops from Picking
on the ground that premature publications IL
relation to it would necessarily be incomplete
land unsatisfactory and might also conplicat
matters 1t Is understood that Minister Congo
has been fully advised Of the new turn Of affairs
as also has General Chaffee-
!. MR.. CoNGER TO STAY AT HIS POST
IL was authoritatiVely stated that Ministe
Conger VIII remain at his post until further or
Iders. he has expressed no wish to be relieved
and the State Department holds that since h
has passed through the perilous ordeal OF tn
siege he is not likely to desire relief under TIT
present more favorable conditions. In view o
the statement Of Count Lansdors. Russian Min
lister of Foreign Affairs. IN the Official Mes
senger" that orders already had been issued t.
M De Giers and to the army to leave Picking 1
was said at the State Department to-day tina
mo such determination had been communicate
Ito Washington. Probably nothing short of al
TofHciaI statement from Picking TO the effect tina
the Russians have moved would be regarded b!
the Government as sufficient basis for such i'm
uortant action as the withdrawal OF American
trOoDs
In diplomatic quarters Russia's motive con
tinues % be a fruitful theme. The theory ad
Vanced by III. De BIowftz In ''rhe London Times
that It was an Offset to France for Russia's sup
posed nomination Of Count Won Waldersee is re
garded as fanciful. One Of the diplomatic of
lfciaIs who have taken an active part in the nego
siati0ns says that Russia recognizes that it
TO her advantage to have weak neighbor in
stead Of having a partition of China, Whicl
would range number Of the Powers alongsid