The age-herald., 1900-07-26
The State Department ConcIus-
 ion Remains Unchanged.
SITUATION HAS GROWN DARKER
General Chaffee Reported to the De- pertinent Formally From Nagasaki and Has Hurried on to Taku-
 Landing Facilities

Washington, July 25.-The arrival at Tien Tsin of undoubtedly genuine and auto- graphic message from Minister conger has done nothing to dispel the doubt as to the situation at Pekin. The message, which was forwarded by the naval officers at Tien Tsin, Taku and Che Foo, has indeed served only. to deepen the darkest and saddest mystery of the country. The official con- clusion remains unchanged of course but 1t is admitted that careful scrutiny of the autographic message in comparison with the famous cipher message from Minister Conger admits of the belief that the two messages were indicted by MT. Conger at about the same time. The situation at the British Legation is represented to be the same in each case. and as MT. Conger de- cIares that relief must come quickly if at all, there is great belief of the suppostions .-at conditions could not have remained unchanged in such crisis.
 The assumption that this reason is cor- rect involves the further conclusion that MT. Congers cipher message, if genuine, was re-dated as the 18th of July, two weeks later than the date of the actual writing, and of course, If related at all it was done by Chinese officials. On the other hand, the support of the State Departments posi- ton came today in message from another great Chinese viceroy, Tax, at Canton. he who took charge after u Hung Chang's departure.
 Says They Are snfo
 This also affirmed solemnly the safety of the legationers and coming from many different sources and from such important Chinese officials these dispatches claim att tention.
 pessmistic view of them, however, attributes to all a common origin, namely, some high Chinese parsonage at Pekin. It is noted that Talks assurance brings the ministers one day further toward ultimate rescue than has any preceding message. The fact that it allows only three days to cover the transmission over the great dis tance between Pelxn and Canton appears to demand explanation.
 General Chaffee reported to the depart- ment formally from Nagasaki and there received orders which have been sent by cable since his departure from San Fran- cisco. An idea of the general character can be gathered from the generals report that he was about to push forward at once with his big transport for Taku. He will
 L.. doubtful whether he will detain the Grant at Nagasaki long enough to take on coal. He is also energetically taking steps in ad- vance to meet the evil of which all the foreign naval commanders have com- plained, but none have remedied, the lack of landing facilities at Taku. To this end he has instructed Lieutenant-Colonel Cool idge of the Ninth Infantry at Tien Tsin to secure at once all of the tugs and lighters necessary to a speedy landing of the re- Inducements and stores that are being car- red out by the United States transport Grant.
 In spite of the alarm with which tho Chinese officials, including Lii Hung Chang, appear 10 NieW tne auNdnce ol tie diiieo forces on Pekin so far 1t affects the safety of the foreign ministers it may be said that none of the powers have evinced any tendency to abate their, preparations or accept an escort of imperial troops for the ministers from Pekin to Tien Tsin.
 It was said at the State Department to- day that if the American minister needed an escort from Pekin 1t should be coms posed of American soldiers
 GENERAL RISING