The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-10-30
CAPTAIN NEWT 7. HALL
ChaFee Finds Charge U~nsustalned
Investigating.
THE SUICIDE OF YU HsIANG CONFIRMED
Stories of Removal by Chinese Government OF
Friendly Governors Ct Nan Kin and Han
Kow Disproved. We Reply to
Anglo German Note Monday
nv the Associated Press.)

Washington, Oct. 27.-Minister Conger
has preferred charges Of cowardice
against Capt. Newt. T. Hall, united
States marine corps, the second IN com
mand of the marine forces at Pekin du-
ring the siege. The details are closely
guarded, the regulations of the War and
Navy Departments strictly forbidding
publicity at this stage. 1t is gathered,
however, that Mr.. Conger questioned
Captain Halls courage because Of the
~latter's d~eclination to carry out certain
military operations suggested by the
Minister. The charges in the ordinary
course passed into the hands Of General
Chaffee. the cOmmander-in-chief OF the
forces in China, who examined them,
made an inquiry on his own account and
then concluding that the whole matter
rested on the difference of judgment be-
tween the Minister and the Captain, sent
the papers to Washing tOn with a recon-
mendation that no further proceedings be
had, a finding indicating the Captain.
From the War Department the papers
went to the Navy Department, and after
some consideration it was determined
that the morale Of the marine corps re-
uuired the most formal and complete ac-
uuittal Of an accused officer from such
a charge in order that he might not in
after years suffer from it's repetition.
Consequently, the papers were again re-
ferred to General Haywood, the COM
mandant of the marines, who is taking
steps to have a thorough investigation by
a proper court.
It happens that the only report Of the
conduct of the marines at Pekin to reach
the Department was from Captain Hall.
the senior officer. Captain Mills. being
still too i'll to report.
From an Independent source Secretary
Hay has received confirmatOry evidence
of the reported suicide Of Yu Hsiang, the
fanatical Governor of the Province Of
Shan ST, whose punishment was demand
ed by the powers for the massacre of a
large number of missionaries. This mes
sage came from Special Commissioner
Rockhill as follows:
Shanghai, October %.
"Have reliable information to the
effect that Yu Hsiang committed suicide
22nd.
(Signed.) "ROCKHILL."
A dispatch has been received from Mr..
Conger disproving the stories of the re-
dictionary tendencies of the Imperial Gov
eminent. The State Department had re-
ceived reports from various points in
China, and notably from Canton, through
it's agent there to the effect that the
Imperial Government had ordered the re-
moval from office of the Viceroys Of the
great Yangg Use provinces Of Nan Kin
and Han Kow. These men were said to
have been removed because of their pro-
foreign sentiments. Secretary Hay re-
garded as highly important that the
friendly officials should not be displaced
by anti-foreign Chinese leaders. There
fore he cabled Mr.. Conger to investigate
the report, and if it were found to be
true to make a forcible protest to the
Imperial Government through the Chi
nese ENJOYS at Pekin, Ii Hung Chang
and Prince Ching, against the proposed
action. This morning Mr.. Conger re-
ported that after careful investigation
the story Of the change in administra-
ton has been found to be without foun-
dation.
The answer to the communications from
Germany and Great Britain, e%mbodying
the last agreement relative to the ''open
door, and the territorial integrity Of
China probably will go forward Monday.
The point Of interest is the treatment
that will be accorded the third section
of the agreement relative to the course
to be pursued by the signatories, in the
event that they find themselves obstruct-
ed in the execution Of the two preceding
paragraphs. 1t is believed that the
State Department will find it unneces-
sary to enter into any agreement on
this point in advance Of the occurrence of
the contingency referred to in the third
section.