The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1900-08-18
VERY CLOSE TO PEKIN
The Relief Column Only Nine
Miles Away.
Expected Opposition From Chinese Hordes
Net Sufficient TO Prevent tho
Steady Forward March.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13.-The Ameri-
can commander in China, in dispatch
of just three words, received at the war
department late this afternoon, sent q
thrill of exultation and expectancy
throughout official headquarters by an
nouncing his arrival at Ho-Si-Wu, only
thirty-three miles from Pekin, last
Thursday.
The last heard from him before this
was at Yangtsun, which had been cap
tured after hard fight, and word of
his movements since then had been
eagerly awaited. Thursday he was
eighteen miles beyond Yangtsun. Lang
Fang, the place where the Inflated
Seymour expedition met it's fate and
turned back, had been left behind.
The battle of Yangtsun was fought on
the 9th, and the advance to Ho-Si.Wu
was accomplished on the 9th--a march
of eighteen miles in three days. This
was four days ago, and at the same rate
of progress Chaffee is even now fairly
within striking distance of the walls of
Pekin.
The dispatch of Chaffee, conveying SO
much in SO few words, was as follows:
"CHEFoo, Aug. 7.--Adjutant-General,
Washington Tenth arrived Hospiwu
(Ho-Si-Wu) yesterday. CHAFFEE."
Word of the advance soon spread
through official quarters. In the en-
thusiasm of the moment report got |
about that this was the day for the |
actual arrival at Pekin. But the war |
department had not word of the ad- |
vance beyond Ho-Si-Wu. 1t was deemed |
hardly likely that the march to Pel1in |
could have been made since last Thurs
day. AT the rate of progress, six miles
a day, made from Yangtsun to Ho-Si-
WI, about twenty-four miles would
have been covered in the last four days,
and up today this would still leave the
forces nine miles from
Pekin. Viewed from any standpoint,
the advance to Hi-Si-Wu was of the
utmost Importance, not only strategy.
cally, but also in showing that com
was open back to Chefoo,
that the expected opposition from Chi
nese hordes had not been sufficient to
prevent the steady forward movement
Ind in the influence it would have upon
,he Chinese government.
Brief as the dispatch is, it conveys
much information beyond that specif-
;ally contained in its few words. AL
hr11 nh - 30 cka L.
arrived, the war department accepts it
% mean that this is the international
orce which first took Pietsang and
hen Yangtsun. 1t has gone steadily
Onward along the left bank of the Pei
10 river keeping on the main road
which skirts the river and branches off
o the west. Now the forces have left
he railway far in the rear and are de-
ending upon the highway and the
liver. Ho-Si-Wu is place of consider
BILE size and the largest town between
len Tsin and Ching CHA Wan. The
after place and Tungchow are the two
tiles of considerable size in the line OF ,,
dvance after leaving Ho-Si-Wu. 1t is
by orchards and gardens
nd is not place likely to have afforded
pportunity for strong defense. 1t is
he highest point on the Pei-Ho river !
here the river water is depended on, !,
S the native wells are the source OF
1pply on the balance of the route to ,.
ekin.
No Wire Communication.
AS it has taken five days for Gen.
haffee to report the advance to Ho-Si- :,
1u, 1t is evident that wire communica-
on is not open to the front. This was
ardly to be expected, and the safe t.
rival of the message at least shows n
lat a certain measure of communica-
on is open. One of the chief sources
congratulation among officials is
lat the fancied hordes of China have
ot materialized or at least have not G
reverted the international column
ON drawing close to the gates of
ekin. Shortly after this dispatch p