The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-22
NO ARMISTICE.
CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PACED

CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PACED
| that no indignities would be offered the per-
sons of their majesties. This reply is
crouched in the polite language of diplom-
acy, but it is understood that this does not
in any way commit the government to re-
frain from imposing on the Emperor and
Empress dowager any penalty that subse-
quently might be decided upon in case 1t Is
proved that they were directly responsible
for the recent atrocities. This question of
fixing responsibility where 1T belongs and
imposing any punishment that may be
deemed fitting has not received any formal
consideration as yet. The answer with
which the two viceroys' appeal is met ac-
cordingly is a diplomatic assurance that
the rights of the Emperor and Empress
dowager will be protected, but does not
impose any barrier to a proper punishment,
such as may be sanctioned by civilized
usages for any offense which hereafter may
be held to call for an accounting. This is
the Interpretation given the reply by a
Cabinet official tonight. The question of
responsibility will have to be worked out
slowly.
MESSAGE FROM CONGER.
The Cabinet had before 1t a message from
Minister Conger, received last night. After
the meeting the State Department made
public portions of the dispatch as follows:
United States Legation (undated), via
Che-Foo, Avg. 2.-Saved. Relief arrived
to-day. Entered city with little trouble. Do
not yet know where imperial family is.
Except deaths already reported, all Ameri-
cans alive and well. Desperate efforts made
last night to termina us. Mitchell,
American soldier, and a Russian and a
Japanese wounded; German killed. Advise
Woodward, Chicago; Conger, Des Moines;
Sims, Council Bluffs: Conger. Pasadena;
Porter, Paris"
1t had been hoped that Minister Conger's
advices, as well as those from General
Chaffee, would be ample by this time, in
order to afford the Washington officials
full opportunity to deal with the perplexing
questions raised by the Chinese disturb
ances. Gen. Chaffee has not been heard
from and the Conger message was not as
complete as the authorities here had de-
sired. 1t was stated to-day that messages
may be sent from here to our representa-
tives in China specially calling for more
detailed Information.
Aside from the consideration given to
particular questions raised by the Conger
dispatch the appeal of Ii Hung Chang and
that of the southern Viceroys, the Cabinet
also had time to look over the broad field
of Chinese affairs. There was no effort,
however, at this early stage to outline a
general policy. That will come later, and
will be, to a considerable extent, the out
growth of the governments action upon
the various issues as they may be pre-
sented.
AMERICAN TROOPS EN- ROUTE.
The War Department has no information
concerning the report from London that
additional troops for the allied armies
are urgently needed. If this was the case,
nothing more could be doHe by this govern
ment at present. The troops now under
orders for the far East will continue to
go forward. and when they reach Maya
saki 1t will be determined whether they
will go to China or to Manila, the Philip
pines being the original destination of
some of the troops under orders. There
are now i'm China the Ninth Infantry, eight
companies of the Fourteenth Infantry,
Battery F, Sixth Artillery. eight troops of
the Seventh Cavalry and four companies
of the Fifteenth Infantry, the latter having
recently arrived. There are at sea des-
tined for China four batteries of the Third
Artillery, Company z of the engineers,
four troops OF the Third Cavalry, eight
troops Of the First Cavalry. and eight
troops of the Ninth Cavalry. Beside there
sailed on the Sherman to-day four COM
panies each Of the Second, Fifth and
Eighth Infantry. Some of the troops
at sea should reach Taku within a week
or ten days. The latest arrivals were the
four companies of the Fifteenth Infantry.
who arrived with General Barry. When
General Barry reported from Taku he an
nounced that he would go at once to the
front, and IL was expected that the detach-
ment of the Fifteenth infantry would ac-
company him toward Picking. 1t is believed
that this force will be able to restore the
telegraph line which seems to nave been
interrupted.
The government has received positive
confirmation from official Chinese sources
OF the departure Of the Emperor and EN-
press dowager from Picking. They went
westward, but the point at which they are
now located was not given.
The Japanese legation has received a
dispatch from the Japanese consul at Annoy
saying that Chinese mobs continue to work
devastation in that neighborhood and have
destroyed several chapels.