The sun., 1900-07-30
STATE DEPARTMENT
HOVERS TV|XI
HOPE and FEAR
Washington is Now Inclined to
Think the Ministers
Are Alive.
EXPECT CHAFEk'S ARRIVAL
More Troops May be Drawn From
Manila in Case of an mergency.
More Reports Received of
Missionaries ard Con-
yerts Massacred.

Washington, July 29.-The usual crop
of edicts and reports have come from va
rious quarters and the usual visit from
Minister WI to the state department, all
bearing directly upon the welfare of the
foreign ministers in Peking. This con-
stuntly growing mass of assertion is be-
ginning to have II cumulative effect upon
the skeptics. and there was noticeably
more hopeful view taken of the state of
affairs. Beyond the fact that it is scarce
t. conceivable that the Chinese authori-
tics should persist in repeating and
strengthening these stories up to the rap
idly approaching moment when the whole
truth must be disclosed by other agen-
cics it appeared upon careful considera-
ton of the reports that there really was
little more ground for hope as to the
safety of Mr.. Conger and his colleagues
at Peking.
The depressing fact is always in mind
that the Chinese authorities, by their
own statements able to communicate with
the legationers, for some mysterious rea-
son do not permit these unfortunates to
communicate with their own govern
ments. Minister Wu's explanation of
this-namely, that the Chinese methods
are different from our OWNS scarcely
sufficient for the officials here. The min
lister, however, is trying to get further
communication through from Mr.. Con-
ger, and it may be that success in this
undertaking will afford him II brilliant
yindicntion, AT least he maintains a
wonderful show of confidence in the safe
ty of the legationers and manages to i'm
press this in some degree upon the Off
cials and others with whom he comes in
contact.
ChaTee's Arrival Expected.
There was nothing of interest from
China respecting the military or naval
forces there The war department of
ficials now calculate that General Chat
fee, with his troops on the Grant has ar
rived at Taku. though it may be Severa
days before his report of the fact car
reach the department. The irregular
and unsatisfactory character of the pres
cnt system of communication betweef
TalSu and the cable end ut Shanghai has
been taken into account by the war de
partment, and it is said that one of Chaf
fees first acts upon taking command oi
the United States forces ashore ut TAXI
and Tien-tsn win he to establish. per
haps in cooperation with the other mil
itary commanders, Il line Of rapid dis
patch boats running from Ticn-tsln Z
either Shanghai or Nagasaki.
While the positive statement is mad
that it is not the present intention t
send any more troops from Manila t
China, at the came time it is known tina
all contingencies have been canvasse'
and that If an emergency should arise Il
China which made it imperative to hav
additional troops they would be draw
from the Philippines for temporary dut
at least. Some time ago General Mac
Arthur was advised by Secretary Roc
to maintain suffitapHt transports to carr
supplies between Manila and Taku, an
! these transports would be available fo
emergency troops. The Pennsylvania
Indiana and Sumner. when the latter Al
rives at Manila, probably will be hel
for service between Manila and Tax
and will be available for the contingenc
which may occur, but which the depar
ment does not expect to arise. A stul
born resistance to the advance of tf
international armies might make add
tional troops necessary. In that ever
n speedy relief column no doubt woul
be sent from Manila.