The Van Buren press., 1900-08-18
ALLIES ADVANCE ON PEKIN.
The Advance Was within Thirty-Thres
Miles of Pekii on Thurs
day, the Ninth.

tiers by announcing his arrival at do
Si-Wu, only 80 miles from Pekin, las
Thursday. The last heard from hin
before this was at Yang Tsun. whicl
had been captured after hard fight
and word of his movements since tina
had been eagerly awaited. Thursda!
be was IS miles beyond Ling Fang, thu
place where the Inflated Seymour ex
petition met reverse and turned back
The battle of Yang Tsun was fought
on the 9Th, and the advance to Ho
Si.Wu was accomplished on the stl
"a march of IS miles in three days.
Under the Walls Of Pekin.
This was four days ago, and at the
same rate of progress Chaffee is ever
now fairly within striking distance OF
the walls of Pelxin. 1t was consum
nation which the war department
had awaited calmly, and stirring AZ
the news was that the American
forces were now nearing the gates OF
the imperial city, Secretary Root and
Adjt. Gen. Corbin evnced no surprise
as it accorded with calculations, al
though the advance has been more
rapid than was expected.
Gen. Chafree's Dispatch.
The dispatch from Chaffee, convey
ing so much in so few words is as fol-
lows:
"Che Foo, Aug. 10.
"Adiutant General, Washington:
Tenth-Arrved Hospiwu (Ho-Si-Wu),
yesterday.
[Signed1 "CHAFFEE."
News and Enthusiasm Spread.
Word of the advance was soon
spread throughout official quarters
In the enthusiasm of the moment a
report got about that this was the
day for the actual arrival at Pekin.
But the war department had not a
word of the advance beyond Ho-Si-
WI. 1t was deemed hardly likely that
the march to Pekin could have been
made since last Thursday. At the
rate of progress, six miles a.day, made
from Yang Tsun to Ho-Si-Wu, about
twenty-four miles would have been
covered in the last four days, and up
to to-day this would still leave the in
ternational forces nine miles from
Pellin.
OF the Utmost Importance.
Viewed from any standpoint, the
advance to Ho-Si-Wu was of the ut
most importance, not only strate'
gically, but also in showing that
communication was open back to Che
Foo; that the expected opposition
from the Chinese hordes had not been
sufficient to prevent the steady for
ward movement, and in the influence
it would exert upon the Chinese gov
eminent.
A Brief but Newsy Dispatch.
Brief as the dispatch is, it conveys
much information beyond that spc'
officially contained in its few words
Although it is not stated what force
has arrived, the war department ac'
cepts 1t to mean that this Is the inter
national force which first took Pei
Tsang and then Yang Tsun. 1t has
gone steadily forward along the left
bank of the Pei-Ho, keeping on the
main road which skirts the river bank.
At Yang Tsun the railway crosses the
river and branches Off to the west.
Now the forces have left the railway
far in the rear, and are depending
upon the highway and the river.
HO-Si-Wu.
Ho.Si-Wu is a place of considerable
size and the largest town between
Tien Tsin and Ching CHA Wan. The
latter place and Tung Chow are the
two cities OF considerable size in the
line OF advance after leaving Ho-Si'
WI. II is surrounded by orchards and
gardens, and is not place likely ia
have afforded opportunity for strong
defense. 1t is the highest point on
the Pei-Ilo, where the river water
Is depended on, as native wells are the
source Of supply on the balance Of the
route to Pekin.
No Wire Communication.
As IL has taken five days for Gen
Chaffee to report the advance to Ho
Si-Wu, II IL evident that wire com
munication is not open to the front
This was hardly to be expected, ant
the safe arrival Of the message al
least shows that certain measure Of
communication Ia open.
Have Not Materiaiised.
One OF the chief sources OF congrat
ulation among officials Ia that Tho
fnncied hordes Of China have not ma
terlalized, or at least have not pre-
vented the international column from
drawing close TO the gates OF Pekln.
Casualty List at Yang Tsun.
Shortly after this dispatch arrived
another message from Gen, Chaffee
far more lengthy, gave the melan
choly result Of the hghting at'Yanl
Tsun. The casualty list was given II
detail, with the additional informa
ton that the dead had been buried a
Yang Tsun and that the wounded hat
been sent back to the hospital at Tiel
rsin.
AMER MENACING RUSSIA.