The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1900-07-28
THE CHINESE WERE ROUTED
BY AMERICANS AND BRITISH.
1ur Boys Acquired Fort and Eight
Modern Gums without the Loss OF
"a Man-Another Decree Issued.

New York, July PA dispatch from
Chefoo says;
brilliant dash against large force
of Chinese at Tientsin was made this
nlorning by a detachment of the Ameri-
can troops assisted by some English fu-
-sileers- The object was to capture bat
terry of large calibre cannon which had
been doing great damage.
The Anglo-American troops charged a
large fort across an open space and when
exposed to a hot but poorly directed fire
from the enemy. They dashed into the
sort, and after engaging the Chinese in
a sharp hand to-hand fight, put them to
dight and remained masters of the fort
Eight large modern guns were captured,
together with carts and all the accessories.
The battery was Immediately turned upon
the fleeing enemy, who, under the well
directed fire, suffered heavily.
The victory was won in an incredibly
short time against an Overwhelmingly
superior force, and, despite the charge un-
der fire and fight in the fort, neither the
Americans nor the British lost a single
1lan-
Washington, July 24.-The state de-
partment was the center of interest in
the Chinese situation Monday. Secretary
Hay was at his desk by o'clock and for
an hour was busily engaged with a matter
OF such importance that he declined to be
interrupted by anyone. About 1918 the
Chinese minister arrived, and was with the
secretary for some time. On the de-
parture of the minister the department.
gave out the imperial edict of the Chi
'nese emperor, the substance of which had
been previously made known.
The state department has received del
nge of dispatches form all quarters of the
globe relative to the Conger message. These
chow the attitude of foreign governments.
Without exception the official view taken
,by all foreign officers is that the dis
patch is not genuine, and does>not afford
a basis for action. This incredulity is also
shared by United States Consul Goodnow
at Shanghai, who has communicated to the
state department his disbelief in the
ahenticity of the message.
The text of these several messages is
not made public, as they were incon-
elusive, and not adding anything i'll the
way of definite news TO the situation at
Pekin, the entire tenor being one of doubt
and suspicion. The official doubts are
based on various theories. One Nof them is
that the deception was practical by the
tsung Ii yamen itself. Still another is
that il emanated from a Chinese official
"a man holding a high position like that
OF Sheng or Prince 1uan, the latter be-
dng at the head of the anti-foreign ele-
a1ent and at last accounts connected with
the tsung Ii yamen.
Notwithstanding this flood of doubt
6rom foreign official quarters, the state de-
-partment has not varied its position to
she authenticity of the message, Secre-
tary Hays position being now, it always
mas been, that there Is little probability
that a fraud may have been perpetrated.
g3ut as against this remote possibility, Mr..
HAY feels that there is absolutely no mo-
tive for the preparation of such mon
.strous deception. The Washington gov.
eminent is mistaken, therefore, in it's
position on the message, while the rest
OF the world has made it known to this
government that this message is not ac-
copied coming from COnger on the 18th
INSTANT.
Concerning the proposition of mediation
Hnade TO the United States by China, the
state department was not prepared today
TO make any statement. 1t surmised
shat MIR. Hay was engaged in considering
the governments answer, which probably
would be delivered to Minister WI later
cedure could be obtained in any official
quarters.
Both the state department and Chinese
officials took occasion to deny a report
that plans were on foot toward the de
aivery of Minister Conger by the Chinese
authorities to Admiral Remey at Tientsin
Another Edict Issued.
Washington, July 24.-The state de
partment makes public the following tex
OF an edict delivered today by Minister
Wu TO Secretary Hay. This is the edic
referred to by United States Consul Fow
der at Chefoo in his message yesterday:
An imperial edict issued on the frs
day of the sixth moon (July ~, transmit
ted by the viceroy Liu Kun Yih, on tn
2Ist day of July and received by Ministe
Wu on the 2lst day of July at o'clock
''The present conflict between China ant
the foreign powers had its origin in tn
long standing antagonism between the pee
pile and Christian missions The subsequen
fall of the Taku forts precipitated the meet
of force with force The immortal erov