The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-27
NOT YET WAR
NO DECLARATION MADE BY THE
GREAT POWERS OF EUROPE.
Russia, Germany and Japan Had
Declared HostiIities.
NO REPORT FROM AMERICANS
WASHINGTON WITHOUT ADvICEs
FROM ITS REPRESENTATIVES,.
Japanese Legation Receives Informa-
tion that Allies i'm Peking Are i'm
Danger of Siege.
THIS CAUSES SOME DIsQUIET
But DOES NOT EXCITE ANY MARKED
UNEAsINEss.
Dfplomafic Features Of the Situation
EAGERLY Discussed I'm the Absence
of News from the Front
RUSSIAs POSITION DEFINED
1T is BELIEVED A STATE OF SIEGE
HAS BEEN DECLARED.
This Is Very Different from a Declara-
tion of war-Russian Denial Made
Missionary Report
Diplomatic Features Of the Situation
Eagerly Discussed I'm the Absence
of News from the Front.
RUss1A's POSITION DEFINED
TT Is BELIEVED A STATE OF SIEGE
HAS BEEN DECLARED.
This Is Very Different from a Declara-
tfon of War-Russian Denial Made
missionary Report

WASHINGTON. Aug. 26.-Russia. Ger
many and Japan have not declared war
on China. either separately or in concert.
This statement is made on authority of the
highest character.
What those nations may do within the
next forty-eisht hours, or within the next
fortnight. is question which no one in
Washington is prepared to answer
A brief dispatch from Che-Foo, conveying
a rumor current there that Russia. Ger
many and Japan had joined in declara-
tion Of war on China, aroused some in
teresting comment among Washington Of
ficials and among diplomatic representa-
tives OF foreign governments. resident here.
In neither official nor diplomatic circles.
however, was the rumor taken seriously.
No information of such action has reached
either the Department of State or the lega-
tions of the governments primarily inter-
ested. That fact alone is accepted in Of
fetal circles as a sufficient refutation of
the rumor.
Oficials of the State. War and Navy De-
partments were at their desks early to-
day; but, up TO the hour of closing for
the day. not a word had been heard from
Minister Conger, General Chaffee or Ad-
miral Remey. Since the dispatch from
Consul Fowler was received late last
Thursday night, the Department of State
has received no advices from any source
In China, except a brief cablegram from
Minister Conger. inquiring how he should
route his messages. The text of the dis
patch, which. it was explained, was very
brief and purely administrative in char
acter. was not made public.
The War Department has received no dis
patch from General Chaffee. known to have
come directly from him. for about a week.
Cabiegrams signed. "Chaffee,' have been
received. but as they contained only lists
of casualties, il is assumed they were sent
by some subordinate officer in General
Chaffees name. From no official source
has the department learned of the de-
parture of forty Americans from Peking.
for Tien-Tsin, reported in a special dis
patch to a London newspaper, under date
OF Aug. 10. Advices from General Chaffee
are expected hourly, as the military tele-
graph line between Tien-Tsin and Peking,
which has been interrupted. presumably
is being or has been repaired. Imperative
instructions were sent yesterday to the
commander OF the United States forces at
Tien-Tsin TO have the line restored at once
under the protection of cavalry detach-
ment.
CHINESE TRICKERY.
A suspicion exists here that the delay in
messages. both from and to Washington.
is rather between Che-Foo and Shanghai
than between Tien-Tsin and Peking. From
Che-Foo to Shanghai the telegraph line is
IT. control of The Chinese authorities, and
Il is suspected they are not as prompt in
the tranmission OF messages as they
might be.
Late in the day dispatch was received
at the Japanese legation from the Foreign
ONCE of Japan conveying the latest and
most authentic information of the situa-
tion in and around Peking. In a measure
the advices were of disquieting nature,
as they indicated that the Chinese had
rallied their forces and were preparing
for an attack on the allies in Peking IL
q should prove that the allied forces were
besieged In Peking it would account for
the lack of advices from General Chaffee.
f-s made public by Minister Takahira the
dispatch from the japanese Foreign Office
at Toxic is as follows:
AN official telegram dated Peking. Aug.
Is. was received at Toxic from General
Yamaguchi. commander of the japanese
forces. TO the following effect:
:" The capital is now entirely cleared of
the enemy. A cavalry regiment which had
been sent to Wan-Shau-Shan (where the
Empress dowager's palace IS located) re-
ports that the imperial family. who had
left Peking Aug. II. started after short
rest AT Wan-Shau-Shan for the west and
were under the escort of General Ma and
his troops. consisting only OF about 500
horsemen and twenty carts. The Japanese
forces occupied the treasury department,
in which over two million taels in silver
and large quantity of rice were found
Another telegraphic dispatch. dated
Taku. Aug 3, states that as the Chinese
troops and Boxers who had gathered at
Nan-Yuen were about 10 attack the for
efgn forces at Peking Japanese and Rus
san cavalry were expected 10 encounter
them or the 9th. The dispatch further
states that Chinese infantry. some 5000
strong, with hfteen gurs. are advancing