The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-08-15
Conditions Said to Be Neither Better
Nor Worse.
NOTHING FROM RELIEF COL LUMN.
General Chat1cc. However, According
to Gates Of Capitai-Othcr Ma
tions Likely to Land Ma
rineS at Shanghai Equal
in Number to British.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1t.-At the close
of the official day at the State Depart
ment the following official announcement
was buetined:
1.-The Department OF State announces
that a message from Minister Conger has
been received, but of uncertain date, and
not IN reply to the telegram sent him on
August Sth. 1t will not be made public.
This came a the conclusion OF a period
of intense expectancy, yet devoid of any
developments save in the foregoing meagre
announcement. Mr.. Conger's message
was received in Washington shortly before
noon, coming first to the Chinese legation
by the usual route through Chinese Off
cals. It was in the American cipher,
without date and signed with the Minis
ters name.
1t was transmitted TO the State Depart
ment and conferences began between Act
ing Secretary AIcAiee and Secretary Root
NO CHANGE.
1t was stated authoritatively that while
the message was OF an official character
and for that reason could not be given out,
yet as means of allaying possible misin-
terpretatlon it could be said that the
dispatch showed neither better condition
nor a worse condition on the part of the
legationers at Pekin
1t did not Indicate whether Minister
Conser has or has not received any mes
saSes from this Government. Nothing was
contained iii the. message which will caug,
any change in the Instructions to Gem
Claffee. In fact, it was stated in HiiS
same authoritative quarter that TIM, Z oray
additional instructions sent TO ''eliei1i
{ cir no IaFf t-o CHI IT.
those of a more specific ~ ;, 80. Gat1,a
nature, which the deveIop,I -, -, ~, W
and the information rece'e oS e1e
Department necessitate/
NO WORD Fro Ia-Af + l-.,.. i1l1,
Throughout the da, "oro was ahAiouSLs
awaited from Gem N'l.iizs a. ~ e.s
DEVELOPMENT of u military situation near
pal,in hI,t M. word came, nor did Ad-
-,,,ral Poo,oIl send anything. The last
heara hear froa1 Saneral Chaffee he was at Ho
g yvr anaaccording to ali calculations ne
,,,,s+ No.. be very near Pellln, unless
events ave occurred to delay the advance.
r US stated to-day by official who
has 4ved at Pelln. that nothing short of
th/ heaviest artillery could make any i'm
,Iesson upon the walls of the Imperial
city. He said light artillery would be OF
no avail. The walls are some fifty feet
high and wide enough on top for two
From an offensive standpoint the walls
afford opportunity for planting guns, while
from a defensive standpoint they could
not be preached except by the use Of very
heavy projectiles.
OFFICIALS MORE HOPEFUL.
Although the situation admits of the
prospect of an assault upon Pektn yet
Government officials were decidedly more
hopeful that a solution Of the Chinese
problem would be found without recourse
to extreme measures. The improved feel
ing is based largely on the belief that
Chinu will yield everything and that the
legatoners VII be liberated upon the
terms of the allies.
The attitude of the United States con-
cerning the landing of British troops at
Shanghai has been made known 20 the
foreign governments through their rep
resentatives here. Neither the French or
the Government of Germany is inclined
to accept cnlmly the landing of British
troops, and it is understood that strong
representations from both are now being
made al London.
AS summed up by Well-nformed dtplo-
mat, these presentations say in effect that
for every British marine landed ut Shang-
hal France and Germany would also land
marine. II is felt. moreover that the
issue involved relates iut OILY " SIi>ti!a-
ha;, but virtually to the control of the
entire Yang Use Valley.
Foreign governments have manifested d
desire also TO learn the views of the
United States concerning the Instructions
of Russia to her Minister at Pekin, VI.
De Giers. In response to inquiry here it
has been made known that tbs Govern
ment looks upon the course of Russ:n as
substantially the same as that of the
United States, and that the Powers are
therefore acting in substantial unanimity.
nIItAIrNE nEnHnOhII7En