The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-07

walled city of Tung-Chow. which is said
to be even more favorably located for pur-
poses of defense than was Tien-Tsin.
RELIGIOUS WAR PROBABLE.
1t is stated that considerable apprehen-
sion exists among those conversant with
Oriental affairs at the temperance in
Peking politics of that rabid anti-foreign
fanatic, Ii Ping Hong. 1t is understood
that his appearance in Peking affairs may
have had something to do with the Shang
hal rumors of Ii Hung Chang's suicide. 1t
is certain that with Ii Ping Hong and
Prince Tuan in control of the de facto gov
ernment in China religious war of der
vish-like fanaticism probably will be waged
against all foreigners, and friends o. the
more liberal Chinese statesmen are ex-
ceedingly anxious as to their fate under the
Tuan Ii regime
The War Department is in receipt of
dispatch from General Macarthur an
nouncing that he has shipped additional
artillery supplies to Taku for use in the
Chinese campaign. These supplies include
several Gatling guns and the remainder of
the rifle and howitzer siege train now in
Manila, which up to date has remained
useless in that country on account of the
bad roads. How much better General
Chaffee may be able to handle these mon
ster guns through the almost impossible
rice swamps OF China no one at the War
Department was willing to guess. but his
recent dispatch contained an urgent appeal
for more artillery, and he is getting 1t. The
ordnance experts at the War Department
say that If it comes 10 a bombardment of
Peking these fve-inch rifles and seven-inch
howitzers, with their enormous bursting
charges of high explosives, will be the most
effective battering weapons in the inter-
national column.
Minister Wu left Washington on Satur-
day for Cape May and remained away from
Washington to-day, although he had been
expected to return on Sunday night. The
Chinese legation wore an air of desolation
and desertion throughout the day and all
interrogations of the Chinese charge were
met with the response that there was no
news, nor expectation of any.
The position of the United States
automatically remains unchanged This
government will not consent to the
removal of the ministers and foreigners
from Peking until there is free COM
munication by the powers with their
ministers Nor will this government
consent to communication in plain Ian
suage alone, but insists that cipher mes
sages must pass freely between Minister
Conger and our State Department 1t is
emphatically stated that unless such mes
sages are exchanged, the United States
cannot know beyond question that the
messages were not garbled and both this
government and the ministers misled.
There seems TO be no doubt about the
safety of the ministers at Peking for the
present and that they will remain where
they will be able to protect themselves, and
will not be induced to accept any offers of
the Chinese government TO escort them 10
Tien-Tsin until they have had communica :
tion with their governments. Confidence is
expressed. however. that the Chinese gov
ernment will soon see the necessity of ac-
cepting the terms laid down In Secretary
Hays note to Consul Goodnow.
1t is stated that if all the international
forces in the vicinity of Taku can be
landed and the supplies brought up there
| is sufficient force to overcome any army
| which the Chinese may bring forward to
prevent the march on Peking. II also is
believed at the War Department that the
| information received through the Navy
Department of battle is correct.