Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-08-14

WASHINGTON, August 13.-The
American commander-in-ch chief in dis
patch of just -four words, received at
the War Department late this afternoon
sent thrill of exultation and expect
ancy throughout official quarters by
announcing his arrival at Ho-Si-Wu,
only 33 miles from Pekin. last Thurs
day. The last heard from him before
this was at Yang Tsun, which had
been captured after hard fight, and
word of his movements since then had
been eagerly awaited.
Thursday he was Is miles beyond
Yang Tsun. Lang-Fang, the place
where the Inflated Seymour expedi-
ton met its fate and turned back, had
been left behind.
The battle of Yang TSun was fought
on the sixth, and the advance to Ho-
Si-Wu was accomplished on the ninth
Ia march of Is miles in three days.
This was four days ago, and at the
same rate of progress, Chaffee is even
now fairly within striking distance o.
the walls of Pekin. 1t was a consum-
nation which the War Department has
awaited calmly, and stirring as the
now nearing the gates Of the imperial
city, Secretary Root and Adjutant Gen
eral Conbin evinced no surprise as it
accorded with calculations, although
the advance has been more rapid than
was expected.
The dispatch from Ohaffee. convey
ing so much in few words is as fol-
lows:
"CHDE FOO.
sAdjutant General, Washington:
Tenth arrived Hos-Pi-Wu (Ho-Si-
Wu) yesterday.
(signed) "CHAFFEE"
The news of the advance soon spread
throughout official quarters. In the en-
thusiasm of the moment a report got
out that this was the day
For the Actual Arrival
at Pekin. But the War Department
had not word of the advance beyond
Ho-Si-Wu. 1t was deemed hardly like
ly 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 "a
miles would have been covered in the
last four days and up to to-day this
would still leave the international
forces nine miles from Pekin. Viewed
from any standpoint, the advance TO
Ho-Si-Wu was of the utmost import
ance. not only strategically, but also
In showing that communication was
open back TO Che Foo, that the expec-
ed opposition from Chinese hordes had
not been sufficient to prevent the steady
forward movement and in the influence
il would exert on the Chinese govern
ment.
Brief as is the despatch. it conveys
much information beyond that specifi-
cally contained in it's few words. AL
though 1t is not stated what force has
arrived, the War Department accepts it
to mean that this is the international
force which first took Peitsang and
then Yang Tsun. 1t has gone steadily
forward along the left bank of the
Pei river, 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 high
way and the river 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 being the two cities of consider
able size in the line of advance after
leaving Ho-Si-Wu. 1t is
Surrounded by Orchards
and gardens, and is not a place likely
to have afforded opportunity for
strong defense. 1t is the highest point
on the Pei river, where the river water
is depended upon, as the native wells
are the source of supply on the balance
of the route to Pekin. AS ii has taken
five days for Gen Chaffee to announce
the advance TO Ho-Sl-Wu, II is evident
that wire communication is not open to
the front. This was hardly to be ex-
pected. and the safe arrival of the mes
sage at least shows that a certain meas
ure of communication is open. One of
the chief sources of congratulation
among officials is that the faneied hor-
des of China have not materialized.
or at least have not prevented the in
Sensational column from drawing close
TO the gates of Pekin
Shortly after this despatch arrived
another message from Gen. Chaffee.
far moro lengthy. gave the melancholy
result of the fight at Yang Tsun The
casualty list was given in detail. with
the additional information that the
dead had been buried at Yang Tsun.
and that the wounded had been sent
back to the hospital at Tien Tsin.