The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-15
CONGER HEARD FROM
MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE IS WITH
HELD FROM PUBLIC.
NOTHING FROM GEN. CHAFFEE.
BELIEVED HE Is NOW CLOSE To
CHINESE CAPITAL.

Down Its Fifty-FOOt WaIls-Hope
That the Problem VIII Be Solved
without Recourse to Such Meas
ures-OppOsition to Landing OF
British Troops.
Washington, Aug. N-At the close of
the official day at the state department
the following official announcement was
bulletined:
The department of state announces
that message from Minister Conger has
been received, but of uncertain date, and
not in reply to the telegram sent him on
Aug s. 1t will not be made public"
This came at the conclusion of a per-
iod of intense expectancy, and yet one
devoid of any actual developments, save
in the foregoing meager announcement.
Minister Conger's message was received
in Washington shortly before noon, COM
ing first to the Chinese legation by the
usual route through Chinese officials. 1t
was in the American cipher, without date,
and signed with the minister's name.
1t was Transmitted to the state depart
ing Secretary Adee and Secretary Root
Throughout the afternoon, however, the
state department maintained an unac-
countable retcence concerning the sub
ject, declining to admit that the message
was in hand. The suspense was cleared
ment.
No Change in Affairs There.
1t was stated authorltatively that while
the message was of confidential char
acter. and for that reason would not be
given out, yet. as means of allaying
possible misinterpretation, it could be said
that the dispatch showed neither a bet
ter condition nor a worse condition on the
part of the legationers at Pekin 1t did
not indicate whether Minister Conger has
or has not received any messages from
this government.
Nothing was contained in the message
which will cause any change in the in
structions to Gen. Chaffee. In fact, it
was stated in this same authoritative
quarter that the only additional instruc-
tions sent to Gen. Chaffee since he left
Washington were those of a more specific
and explicit nature, which the develop
ments in China and the information re-
ceived by the war department necessitat-
ed
Pekin Will Be Hard to Take.
Throughout the day word was anxious
ly awaited from Gen. Chaffee as to the
development of the military situation near
Pekin, but not a word came, nor did Ad-
miral Remey send anything on the situa-
ticn. The last heard from Gen. Chaffee.
he was at Ho 81 WI, and according to
all calculations he must now be very near
Pekin, unless events have occurred to de-
lay the advance.
The officials are taking into account that
an advance even up to Pekin leaves much
to be accomplished in a military way. 1t
was stated to-day. by an official who has
lived at Pekin, that nothing short of the
heaviest artillery could make any i'm
preston upon the walls of the imperial
city He said light artillery would be OF
no avail and for this reason, the ad-
vance of a flying column even up to the
walls of the city could effect little if a
Unborn defense were determined upon.
The walls are some fifty feet high and
wide enough on top for two coaches to
pass abreast. From an offensive stand
point, the walls afford opportunity for
planting guns, while from a defensive
standpoint they could not be preached.
hxr h. -
tiles.
Although the situation admits of the
prospect of an assault upon Pekin, yet
government officials were decidedly more
hopeful to-day that a solution of the Chi
nese problem would be found without re-
course to such heroic measures. The i'm
proved feeling is based largely On the be-
lief that China, realizing tha, her sacred
capital is about to be besiegtd by the
armies Of the world, will yield everything
and that the legationers will be delivered
on the terms of the allies.
Opposing EngIand's Course.
The attitude of the United States con-
cerning the landing of British troops at
Shanghai has been known to the foreign
governments through their representa-
tives here. This has had the effect of
practically eliminating the United States
from the question. Neither the French
nor the German government is disposed
10 accept calmly the landing OF British
troops, and it is understood that strong
representations, both from France and
Germany, are now being made az Lon
don. AS summed up by a well-informed
diplomat, these representations in effect
are that for every British marine landed
at Shanghai, France and Germany also
would land a marine. 1t is felt, more
over. that the issue involved relates not
only 10 Shanghai, but virtually to the
control of the entire Yang-Tse-Kiangv val
ley, known as the paradise Of China.
Foreign governments have manifested a
desire also to learn the views of the
United States concerning the instruc-
tions Of Russia TO her minister at Pekln.
NJ. De Giers. In response to inquiries
here, 1t has been made known that this
government looks upon the course of
Russia as substantially the same as that
Of the United States. and that the Pow
ere are, therefore, acting in substantial
unanimity.