New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-08-17
at once 10 the seeretary

nicate this telegram at once to the Secretary
OF State.
AMERICAS ANSWER TO Ii
The following memorandum in reply was
handed TO Mr.. WI this afternoon:
MEMORANDUM
Foreseeing that there would be insufficient
time after receiving reply to our memorandum
of August II 10 get instructions to the reile1
column before it reached Picking, we sent on
the same day TO the General commanding the
American forces in China the following dis
patch:
Ad1utant- Generals Office,
Washington, August II, 1910
Fowler, Che-Foo. for Chaffee.
Aug 12.-Secretary Of War directs to in
form you that Ii Hung Chang appointed by
Chinese Government to negotiate with Powers,
requests cessation of hostti4s. We have re-
piled that we are ready TO enter into agreement
between Powers and Chinese Government for
Gent body of the forces composing the RELIEF
expedition shall be permitted to enter Picking
unmolested and TO escort foreign Ministers and
residents back TO Tien-Tsinr the movement be
ing provided for and secured by such arrange
ments and dispositions of troops as shal De
considered satisfactory by generals cohII!dhu-
ing the forces composing the relief expedition
We have communicated this to all the Powers
japanese Government takes same position. we
had not heard from other Powers. CORBIN
And two days ago. in view of the rapid prog
ress Of the relief expedition, sent the fol-
lowing:
Adtutant- Generals Office,
Washington August II. 1900
Fowler Che-Foo for Chafee.
August 14-In anticipation of acceptance by
Chinese Government of condition in our reply
to them cabed you August ID if Chinese au-
thorities communicate Willingness to deliver
Ministers and persons under their protection 10
relief column at Picking under arrangements
which you consider safe, you are authorized to
make and carry out arrangement In concert
with other commanders without referring it
here. From informal communication with rep
resentatives of other Governments here, we be
lieve all TO take substantially same position.
Question whether you should insist upon enter
ing Picking and going to Legation, or Whether
viii receive delivery at gate Of inner Tartar
City or at outer wall. taking risk Of Ministers
passing through city with only Chinese escort.
you and other generals must determine.
BY order Secretary Of War COkBlN.
We are advised by Minister COnger that
the attacks by Imperial troops upon the
Legations I'm Picking had not ceased. While
these attacks continue we cannot stop the
advance of forces toward Pekins III
sHch attacks cease the above quoted IN
structiOns will he allowed to stand. and they
would seem to provide for all the action re-
quired under the circumstances stated by
Earl Lii in his dispatch.
ALVEY 4. ADEE. Acting Secretary
Department of State. Washington, August 10,
1900.
DECISION FORCED UPON CHINA.
The memorandum handed TO Minister WI for
either one of two alternatives The Imperial
authorities must at once open communication
and co-operate with the commanders of the
international forces for the liberation by the
former and safe delivery 10 the latter of the
Ministers and persons under their protection
or else resist the efforts Of the latter to ac-
compIish the same results by force of arms
As indicated in these dispatches last Sunday
night, and as is officially known, Japan
without previous consultation with the Wash
ington authorities fully sustains the latter and
so advised them last Saturday Moreover, the
diplomatic representatives in Washington of
the European Powers have taken the same
position It will, indeed. be China against the
world if she longer persists in a policy which
consists in sending fruits and provisions TO the
besieged Ministers by day and allowing, II not
ordering her soldiery TO attack them by night
Great has been the anxiety Of the President
and the members of his Cabinet to-day to re-
ceive authentic news from the theatre of mill
tary operations in North China. The press dis
patches while indefinite and contradictory in
many respects, agreed pretty generally that the
International forces had occupied TungChow
without a battle. and were pressing toward
Picking which they were TO attack yesterday or
to-day. The nearest to an official confirmation
Of these statements that was received and made
public in the course of to-day the following
dispatch from Admiral Remey.
TaI6u. August ., 1900.
Bureau of Navigation. HnshingtOni
Front unheard from since 18th. Licuten-
ant Latimer is Cha fees staff expressly TO
furnish me authentic information. Latest
reported through japanese sources nlIies
. occupied TunS-Chosv 18th; would attack Pc
king to-day. REMEY.
The date Of this dispatch and its receipt early
this morning are the foundation of a hope that
communication between Che-Foo and Taku has
been at last estab lished. which will shorten by
nearly twenty four hours the time hitherto
ouired for General Chaffee and Admiral Remey
TO communicate with Washington, the
thorities here TO communicate with them. Al
the present interesting and critical juncture this
IS all important.
FEARS FOR THE TELEGRAPH LINE.
1t was believed that Admiral Remey would
not have mentioned the japanese reports unless
Re had been convinced that they trust
worthy. and yet the silence of General Chaffee,
who is prompt in reporting military move
ments created some doubt in the minds Of Of
fcials, who know that the field telegraph be-
tween Tiep-Tsin and the expeditionary column
wss laid and is managed by a detachment of
the United States Signal Corps. The failure to
receive any official dispatches at Taku from the
front for the space of four days also caused
some uneasiness in the minds of officials who
realized that q cable. unguarded and running
for seventy miles through a hostile region thick
~ populated. might easily be cut and made tenn
porarily useless as means of communication
If there were such temporary interruption of
the line it would be impracticable for Consul