The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1900-08-16
American Commander Leads
His Men as Far as
:.
Ho ST WI.
Gen. 0haffee Is Within Striking
Distance of the Chinese
Capital.
BY Wire From Warrington, Aug. IA.

The American commander in China in a
dispatch Of just three words received at the
war department late yesterday afternoon
sent a thrill Of exultation and expectancy
throughout the official quarters by ANNOUNCE
ing his arrival at Ho ST WI. only 80 miles
from Pekin. last Thursday.
Thelast heard from him before this was
at Yang Tsun, which had been captured
after hard fight. and word of his move
ments since then had been eagerly awaited.
Thursday he was 1S miles beyond Yang
Tsun.
Lang Fang, the plane where the i'll fated
Seymour expedition met its fate and turned
back, had been left behind. The battle of
Yang Tsun was fought on the 9Th and the
advance to Pc 81 WI was accomplished on
the 9th-a march Of 10 miles in three days.
This was four days ago and at the same
rate of progress. Chaffee is even now fairly
within striking distance of the walls of
Pekin.
1t was a contamination which the war de-
partment had awaited calmly and stirring
as the news was that the American force
was now nearing the gates Of the imperial
city. Secretary Root and Gen. Corbin
evidenced no surprise as 1t is in accordance
with calculations. &fi '--t}
The dispatch from Gen. Chaffee. convey
ing so much in so few words, is as fol-
lows:
Chez Foo, Adjutant General. Washing
ton. 10th.-Arrived Hospiuw (Ho 81
WD yesterday CHAFFEE.
Word Of the advance soon spread through
out official quarters. In the enthusiasm of
was the day for the actual arrival at
Pekin. But the war department had not
word OF the advance beyond Ho 81 WI. 1t
was deemed hardly likely that the march
to Pekin could have been made since last
Thursday.
SLOW BUT SURE.
At the rate Of progress, six miles a day,
made from Yang Tsun to Ho 81 WI, about
"a miles, would have been covered in the
last four days and up to yesterday this
would still leave the international forces
nine miles from Pekin
Viewed from any standpoint, the advance
to Ho ST WI was of the utmost Importance
not only strategically but also in showing
that communication was open back to Che
Foo that the expected opposition from
Chinese hordes had not been sufficient to
prevent the steady forward movement and
in the influence it would exert upon the
Chinese government.
Brief as the dispatch is, it conveys much
information beyond that specifically con-
tanned in it's few words. Although it is
not stated what force has arrived, the war
department accepts it to mean that this Is
the international force which first took Pei
Tsang and then Yang Tsnn. 1t has gone
steadily forward along the left bank Of
the Pei river keeping on the main road
which skirts the river bank.
At Yang Tsun, the railway crosses the
river, and branches off to the west. Now
the forces have left the railway far in the
rear and run along the river and highway.
Ho ST WI Is a place Of considerable size
and the largest town between Tien Tsin
and Ching CHA Wan. the latter place and
Tun Chow are the two cities of considerable
size in the line Of advance after leaving
Ho 81 WI.
It is surrounded by orchards and is not
a place to have offered opportunity for
strong defense. It is the highest point on
the Pei river where the river water Is de-
pended on, as the native wells are the source
of supply on the balance Of the route to
Pekin.
WIRE COMMUNICATION BROKEN.
AS 1t has taken five days for Gen. Chaffee
to reach the advance to Ho 81 WI, 1t Is
evident that wire communication is not
open to the front. This was hardly to be
expected and the safe arrival of the mes
sage at least shows that a certain measure
of communication b open. One Of the chief
sources of congratulation among officials is
that the fancied hordes Of China have not
materialized or at least have not prevented
the International column from drawing close
to the gates Of Pekin.-
Shortly after this dispatch arrived, an
other message from Gen. Chaffee. far more
lengthy, gave the melancholy result Of the
fighting at Yang Tsun. The casualty list
was given in detail with the additional in
formation that the dead had been buried at
Yang Tsun and that the wounded had been
sent back to the hospital at Tien Tsin.
LONDON, Aug. 1.-THE Shanghai CORES
pcndent of the Daily Express wiring yes
terday, says:
"The allies at noon Saturday were within
20 miles Of Pekin.''
As Cen. Chafee's report. which is the
only authentic news received here regard
ing the advance, located the international
forces about 40 miles from Pekin on Fri
day, 1t seems probable that the Shanghai
report Is optimistic. It is scarcely likely
that the allies could advance 20 miles in
as many hours.
RACE IN FRIENDLY RIVALRY.
A Yang Tsung dispatch dated Aug. T.. Civ
ing details regarding the capture Of that
place, says:
The Russians and French held the left,
the British the left center, the Americans
the right center, and the japanese the ex-
treme right. The British and Americans
advanced on the village ut rapid rate
for 5000 yards. under severe shell and
rife fire. Tho Russians opened and thu
British American advance became q race
for positions. eliminating In q brilliant
charge.
ssThe heaviest loss Of the day was sas-
tanned By the Americans, the 18th infantry
having nine killed. 81 wounded and several
missing. The Beagal lancers unsuccessful-
" attempted 20 cut on the Chinese retreat"
Another Yang Tsun special says: