The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1900-08-10
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
CAPTURED A FEW SOLDIERS
Fillpinos Ambushed a Small Ameri-
can Command

engineer corps, with an escort OF | > men
was taken In ambush in the province of
Nueya Eociia, Luzon, by large force.
The Americans fought until their am
munltlon was gone, and az they were
surrounded there was nothing to do but
surrender. One man was killed and
three wounded. General Lacun9 who
was In command of the Insurgents re-
turned the wounded with letter prom
lslng to treat the prisoners we'll
Lieutenant hulesburg was ambushed
ana Killed near Santa Cruz, province Of
Laguna.
FIVE men OF the Twenty-fourth infaD-
try were captured in Nenva Eociia hut
Sergeant Schmidt of the Twelfth infantry
with seven men, trailed the captors and
killed five. '''''
Captain Lara Of the Manila native
ponce was dangerously shot bv an nm.
known assallant yesterday while on the
street. lie had been effectively epforc-
ing regulations and had made enemies
among the tIllpinOs, some Of whom have
long threatened vengeance. Lara had
oeen generally accused of gross corrup-
tlon III office and specific charges we're
hled against him by an American officer.
Washington, Aug. ) A belated mes-
sage from Minister Conger was received
today at the state department. 1t came
through Consul General Goodnow at
Shanghai. The adviceL are the same M
those received day or two ago bv the
state department from Consul Fowler at
Chefoo. MIR. Adee, acting secretary Of
state, later in the day issued the follow
ing statement:
Consul General GOOdnow, in a cable
gram dated Shanghai, August ,. which
was received at the department of state
at O'Clock this Sunday morning. re-
ports the receipt by Consul Ragsdale at
IlentsIn OF messages from Minister Con-
ger and the secretary of the legation.
Mr.. Squires, dated July q, to the fol
lowing effect:
:" All well; no fighting since the 18th,
by agreement. Enough provisions. Hope
for speedy relief "
Mr.. GoOdnow adds that Director Of
Posts Sheng had on the 9Th made to
him an imperial edict dated July 30, or
derlng Jung Lu to provide an escort for
the ministers to Tientsin, when the min
listers fix the date. The edict saya the
ministers can receive messages not in
CIPHER, but, notwithstanding this, plain
messages were returned to some consuls
on August f.
While the messages from Minister Con-
ger and Secretary Squires bear the date
OF July 2l, the belief, founded not ONLY
upon them, but also upon collateral and
later information, is that the legationers
are yet safe from immediate harm. At
present there is no means of knowing
whether the ministers will accept the
oter OF the Chinese imperial government
to provide an escort for them to Tien-
tsln, but 1T is surmised that they will
prefer to remain with the British lega-
ton at Pekin until the arrival of the
allied forces. Should they leave for
Ilentsin, in all probability it would be
because they regarded it as the safer
course to pursue.
1t is thought to be not unlikely that
the Chinese government may be very in
sistent upon the departure OF the min
listers in the hope that il they can be
gotten to Tientsin in safety the storm
ing of Pekin may be averted
The inhibition of cipher dispatches to
ministers, which Is a serious breach of
diplomatic usage, is not regarded here
Il
ernment, 1T is pointed out, is suspicious
of the actions and intent Of the powers
and probably has adapted this precau-
ton 10 prevent communication to the
ministers the details of military move
ments. 1t is evident from the adoption
OF this measure that the imperial gov
ernment regards itself as antagonistic
to if not actually at war with the pow
ers. Thus far no inhibition has been
placed upon cipher dispatches passing
between the various governments and
their consular representatives in China
outside OF Pekin.
Chinese Are Evasive.
Washington, Aug. 3.-AnOther move
was made today in the diplomatic situa-
tiOn by the return of an evasiVe answer
by Ii Hug Chang to Secretary HAYS
peremptOry demand of August | to be
put in communication with the foreign
officials at Pekin. Lis answer il not
final and leaves the matter open to dipIo-
macy, but Lis action as reported by
Consul General Goodnow is unquestion-
ably sincere, and will amount to a final
rejection of the American proposition if
persisted in.
Mr.. GOOdnow's dispatch contains
some further information bearing on the
question OF the responsibility for Pekin
conditions in the statement that the
commander of the Chinese troops, bv
inference answerable to the Chinese gov
ernment, ordered the PaO Ting massacre.
1t is learned, however, that LII Ping
Hong, the commander, is well known to
all Chinese officials as one of the most
rabid anti-fOreign leaders in China. He
is a close friend of Prince Tuan, and the
association of these two in Pekin affairs
with the power behind them to cause the
ignominious death of two high officials,
is regarded here as a bad sign.
One Battle Expected.
simultaneously with Mr.. Goodnow's
dispatch came Enthusiastically dipIo-
matte message from Yuon Shi Kai, the
governor OF Shan Tung, repeating the
story of two days ago, that the Chinese
government was arranging to deliver
the ministers safely at Tientsin. No
reference is made to reconcile that state
ment with Earl Lis refusal to allow
communication with the ministers. Gen
eral Chaffee's messages as to the unex-
pected resistance offered to the japanese
reconnaissance is regarded by military
men here as forecasting a greater degree
of opposition to the international ad-
vance than had been anticipated, and
they are now satisfied the Chinese
troops will furnish material for at least
one severe battle before the way is clear
to Pekin.