The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-28

1t was admitted this morning by War
Department. officials that a message had
been received at midnight last night from
General Chaffee and that the fears that
the allied forces had been fanked and
were in danger of being overcome by an
overwhelming force of Imperial troops are
only TOO well grounded. The message is
said 10 contain alarming news in that an
army OF % 006 BLACK Flags has followed
up the advance of the force of 1900 Ger
mans into Pekin and has completely cut
eff communication with Tientsin and the
naval forces at Taku.
This army is said to be very close to
the Imperial City and that an ambush
Was prepared by still another force of
Chinese advancing from Shantung prov
ince.
While the latter force is attracting the
attention of the allies by engaging them
about eight miles north OF Pekip. the
larger force. it is feared, is steadily ad-
vanctng and carrying al before them
While the message was not given vut,
for reasons known to the officials. it is
intimated by them that the military teIe-
graph line has been completely destroy ed
and that every vestfge Of the railroad has
been removed from the country bztween
Tientsfn and Pekin This. with the cut
ting of the northern telegraphie route, has
left the allies completely in The dark, ard
messages can only be sent through the
primitive method of employing runners
from the capital to Tientsin. While Cen
eral Chaffee does not contToyert his form
er judgment in having stated that no
more troops were needed, by asking for
aid, he intimates that his position is a Sc
rious one, and leaves the matter to the
War Department. It is easily shown that
the allies are within an ace of being
caught like rats ia trap, and can be over
come by mere force of numbers.
Officials Greatly Alarmed
This is the present situation as under
stood by the authorities, and they are more
seriously alarmed today than at any time
since the siege of the legations began. A
conference was held over the message
today by Secretary Root. Adjutant Gen
eraI Corbin, Acting Secretary of State
Adee and Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Hackett What The decisions reached were
has not been given out, bat it is realized
that the United States is in an extremely
embarrassing position and that he Off
cials hardly know which way TO turn TO
extricate the Government.
In this way the military situation has
aqain come to the fore while the dlpIo-
matte status muddled as it is, has for the
time, been relegated to the rear. It is
not deemed good policy to admit the great
fears which exist. yet it is realized that
speedy and effective action must be taken
if the American troops now in Pekin are to
be saved. Several of the officials admit
that it is now too late to save the allies in
Pekfn from attack, but that re-enforce-
massacre.
Two other Messages From China.
Two other messages were received from,
China today by the War Department One
of these came also from General Chaffee
and refers to an escort to Baroness yon
Ketteler, the widow of the German Min
lister, who was murdered by the Boxers in
pekin- The despatch, which is undoubted,
ly eight or nine days Old, is as follows, and
is without date:
''Taku. China.
"Adjutant General, Washington:
Have offered assistance 10 Baroness
Won ketteler; viii furnish transporta-
tion and escort Tientsin few days: have
offered transportation accommodation
to Nagasaki, also. CHAFFEE'