The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1900-08-15
ATTACKED THE FOE.
Battle Was Prearranged by the
Allied Forces.
AMERICAN TROOPS ENGAGED.
Dispatch From General Chaffre Gives
Plans For the Attack.
DID NOT BLUNDER UPON THE ENEMY
Strategic Importance of Reaching
Yang rsun Unless Chinese
Arc Demoralized by Defeat
the iesInternationaIg gorees
May Expect severe
Fighting All tho
wayto Picking.
Dispatch From General Chaffre Gives
Plans For the Attack.
DID NOT BLUNDER UPON THE ENEMY


partment has received the following
cablegram from General Chaffee:
"Tien Tsin, August 3.-Conferences
today decided to begin the battle Sun
day. Chinese intrenched east and
west through Peltsang. Rest of CHI
nese protected by flooded ground prac-
tically unassailable. Japanese, Eng
lish and Americans forces about 10,
600 strong attacked Chinese right, west
ofrlYerin flank. Other forces, Russian,
French, about 1000 strong, opposite
side between river and railroad. CHI
nese position apparently strong. Army
reported 10000 between Pebang and
Yang Tsun or crossing of road Pei-Ho.
Yang Tsun objective. Our force 1000
and battery. Conemaugh arrived.
Sixth cavalry left at Tien Tsin for
guard of city and awaiting mounts.
Ministers safe July 2S. CHAFFED."
Washington, Aug. 7.-The dispatch
of General Chaffee written before the
battle of Sunday confirms the dis
ment and later press dispatches con-
corning the attack on the hinese at
Peitsang. The most interesting fea
ture of the dispatch is the information
regarding the positions of the Chinese
army and the fact that the advance
upon Picking is made by two columns,
one on each side of the Pei-Ho river.
American Troops Engaged.
TheAmericansw who participated were
the Ninth and Fourteenth regiments,
eillys battery and the marines.
The international force as given by
General Chaffec, would aggregate
about $4,000 men, while the other dis
patches say 10000, but this difference
can easily be accounted for, as more
men might have been available when
the movement began than when the
conference was held August 3. This
conference Is supposed to have been
between the several commanders pres
ent at Tien Tsin. 1t is evident that the
foreign commanders do not underestl
mate the task before them, as the dis.
patch shows a thorough reconnois-
Sance of the Chinese position had been
made and even before the advance of
the international force from Tlen Tsin,
the commanders were IN possession OIL
full information relative to the Chi.
nese position. This is ore of the most
welcome features of the dispatch as it
proves conclusively the international
column did not blunder upon an in
trenched position of the enemy.
The town, Pletsang, covers both sides
of the Pei river, but the main portion
of it is on the left side where the Jap.
anese, English ana American forces
arranged to attack the enemy in flank.
The left of the Chinese on the other
side of the river. according to the dis.
patch was partially protected by flood
ed ground and practically unassail'
able for that reason. According to
the map, there is lake five miles
from the river at this point and canals
which gridiron the country there
about. The Russian and French force
were to attack the enemy's left on the
right bank of the river between the
river and the railroad.
This makes it probable that the
flooded district extended only to the
line OF the railroad, about mile and a
half from the river.