The age-herald., 1900-08-15
Department Refuses to Make
 Public the Contents.
OFFICIALS MUCH MORE HOPEFUL
Advance Upon Pekin Leaves Much Still To Be Accomplished The Great Walls Will Cause Allies
 Much Trouble

Washington, Aug. 1.-At the close of the official day at the state department, the following was bulletined:
 ''The department of state announced that a message from Minister Conger has been received, but of uncertain date, but not in reply to the telegram sent him on August 8. It will not be made public.''
 This came at the conclusion of period of intense expectancy, and yet one devoid of any actual developments save In the forego- ing meagre announcement. Minister Con- gers message was received in Washington shortly before noon, coming first to the Chi nese legation by the usual route through Chinese officials It was In the American cipher without date, and signed with the minister's name. It was at once transmitted to the state deparment and conferences be- gan between Acting Secretary Adee and Secretary Root.
 Throughout the afternoon, however, the state department maintained an unaccount- able reticence concerning the subject de- clining to admit that the message was in hand. The suspense was cleared up at o'clock by the above announcement. It was stated authoratively that while the message was of confidential character, and for that reason could not and would not be given, but yet means of allaying pos sible misinterDretation, 1t could be said that the dispatch showed neither a better nor a worse condition the part of the lega- tioners at Pekin. It did not indicate wheth- CT Minister Conger has or has not received any messages from this government. Noth- ing was contained in the message which will cause any change in the instructions eco I,1 f,o ,tat tod that the only additional instructions sent to General Chaffee since he left Washing ton were those of a more explicit nature which the department in China and the Information received by the war depart ment necessitated
 Word Anxiousiy Awaited
 All day, word was anxio9usly awaited from General Chaffee as to the development of the military situation near Pekin, but not word came, nor did Admiral Remey send anything on the situation. The last from General Chafee came from Ho S Wu, and, according to calculations, he must be very near Pekin. The off, cials are taking into account that an ad vance to Pekin leaves much still to be accomplished. It was stated today by an oncial who has lived at Pekin that noth- ing short of the heaviest artillery could make any impression upon the walls of the Imperial City. The walls are 50 feet high and wide enough on top for two coaches to pass abreast From an offensive standpoint the walls afford opportunity for planting guns, which from a defensive standpoint they could not be reached ex- cept by the use of very heavy projectiles. Although the situation admits of the pros- pect of an assault upon Pekn yet govern ment officials were decidedly more hopeful today that a solution of the Chinese prob lem would be found without recourse to such heroic measures. The improved feel ing Is based largely on the belief that China, realizing that the sacred capital is to be besieged by the armies of the world, will yield everything and that the lega- tioners will be delivered on the terms of the allies.
 Handling of British Troops
 The attitude of the United States con- cerning the landing of British troops at Shanghai has been made known to the foreign governments through their repre- sentatives here. This has had the effect of practically eliminating the United States from the question Neither the French government Is disposed to accept calmly the landing of British troops and 1t is understood that strong representa- tions from France and Germany are now being made at London As summed up by a we'll informed diplomat, these are that for every British Marine landed at Shang- hai France and Germany also would land a marine. It Is felt, moreover, that the issue involved relates not only to Shang- hai, but virtually to the condition of the entire Yang Tse Yiang valley, known as the paradise of China.
 Foreign governments have manifested a desire also to learn the views of the United States concerning the instructions of Rus sia to her Minister at Pekn M DeGiers In response to inquiries here it has been made known that this government looks upon the course of Russia as substantial iy the same as that of the United States. ana that the powers are therefore acting in substantial unaniunifu