The Topeka state journal., 1900-08-08
Washington Fears That the
Force of the Allies
Can Not Reach Pekin in Time to
Save the Ministers.
CONGER'S MESSAG E
Calls Forth an Emphatic State
ment to the Empire.
Lii Hung Chang Says Chinese
Must Resist the Allies.

Washington, Aug. S.-AS a result VI
conference last night between the presl-
dent. Acting Secretary of State Adee'
Secretary Root and General Corbin, Il
cablegram was sent early this morning
to Consul General Goodnow, including a
COPY of the dispatch from Minister Con
ger and advising him of the situation as
it is understood here. He was directed
10 communicate this to Earl Ii Hung
Chang. to Sheng and to such viceroys as
can transmit it to whatever government
there is in the Chinese empire. This ca
BILE contained what is said to be a very
emphatic statement of the position OF
this government and saying that action
is immediat tely necessary While 1t is
not strictly speaking an ultimatum, 1t
is very close to it,
The government officials here regard
the situation as very dangerous to Min
lister Conger and other foreigners in Pc
kin and grave doubt is expressed wheth-
er the International force can reach Pc
kin in time to rescue the ministers
The Chinese minister has received a
copy of the imperial edict of August 2
which was delayed in transmission It
directs the safe conduct of the foreign
ers to Tien Tsin and assigns Jung Lu
10 select efficient officials to give this
conduct
CHINESE MINE THE RAILWAY.
New York. Aug. S.-A dispatch to the
Journal and Advertiser from Che Foo
says:
The Russians have gone out to a vii
lage east OF Peitsang, where the Chinese
are strongly entrenched. The japanese
came in touch with the Chinese outposts
Sunday
Boats have been sunk in the Pei Ho to
ind IA
has been cut, flooding the country to the
east
The Chinese have mined the railway
and filed the river with tOrpedOeS- They
have three large guns and many smaller
ones at Peitsang.
General Mai is in command. The vice
roy meditates escape to Hwang Hue
Tien. but he may be intercepted.
At Tien Tsin loOting by the allies is
common and private residences are en-
tered by the soldiers.
MADE COMMANDER IN CHIEF.
Cologne. Aug. S.-The Cologne Ca
zette's Berlin correspondent states that
he has 1t from an authoritative source
that Field Marshal Count Won Walder-
see has been appointed commander in
chief of the allied troops in China.
MESSAGE FROM MAC DONALD.
London, Aug. SIN the house of COM
mons today Mr. Broderick. parliament
tary secretary for the foreign office. read
telegram from Sir Claude Macdonald,
British minister to China. received in
clpher at the foreign office this morn
ing The dispatch was in reply to a
government message and bore date of
Pekin. August 5. 1t was as follows:
4 have today received your cipher
telegram forwarded to me by the Chi
nese minister. The shell and cannon
IRE ceased on July 16 but the rifle has
continued from the Chinese positions
held by government troops and boxers
interTnlttently ever since. The casual
ties since then have been slight. Ex-
cept one private of marines all the
wounded are doing well. The rest of the
British in the legation are well. includ-
ing the whole garrison
The total of killed is 60 and of wound
ed llO- We have strengthened our forti-
ncations- We have over 2O0 women and
children refugees in the legation The
Chinese government has refused trans
mission to kilograms in cipher un...
now"
Mr. Broderick also read the following
dispatch from Admiral Seymour. filed at
Che Foo. August 6:
The allies. about $1,000 strong attack
ed the Chinese entrenched position at
Hsiku, about two miles outside Tieu
Tsin early this morning. The Chinese
were driven out and retired northward
pursued by the allies, who occupied Peit-
sang Transports followed up the troops
by road and river the advance upon
Fel1in has begun
This dispatch does not give date of
leaving Tien TSin. Mr. Prodariclz saiT
he thought the messages We're on tbe
Whole, satisfactory. The country under
stood the policy of her majesty 5 govern
IheHt IN regard to China. which was to
carry on with absolute fir1nness and de-
ternina ton the measures taken to pre-
serve the country's interests
MESSAGE FROM CONGER.
Washington, Aug. S.-Another. cable
gram came to the state department
yesterday afternoon from Minister Con-
ger at Pekin, which is the second rs
SelVea olreet from him since June II
II is the first which has come direct
from the minister since the above 7a+e
the other having been received through
the Chinese minister here Mr. N11 Tha
telesffltn SHOWS that the situation in the
Chinese capital is still of a very, Sseio,,s
character; that the ministers are still
In danger from the Chinese troops. and
that their supplies of ammunition and
provisions have been reduced to n very
considerable extent So important were
the statements contained in the dis
patch that conference was held nv
wire between several of the ofFicia Is
here and the president at Canton Iastine
for several hours At its conclusion the
caoiegram form Mr. CoEger was made
public, as follows:
-Tien An Yamen. Aug ITO Secre-
tary of State: Still besieged. Situation
more percarfous- Chinese government
insisting upon our leaving Pekin, which
would be certain death. Rife firing
upon US daily by imperial troops Have
abundant courage, but little arrmuni-
tion or provisions. Two progressive
yamen ministers beheaded All CON
necteo with legation of the United
States well at the present moment.
(Signed) 'CONGER' -
cipher of the department. 1t is checked
by the telegraph company as having
been put on the wires at Tsi-Nan. a
large city about eighty miles southeast