Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-08-15

ed to the State Department by Minister
WI Saturday is supplemented by the sub
stance of an imperial edict communicated
to Consu-G eneral Goodnow by Director
General Sheng, indicating that arrange
ments are still going ON in Pekin for es-
corting the ministers to Tientsin.
Interest in the Chinese situation was in
tensifed in Washington Monday morning
by the receipt of two dispatches from
naval officers at Cheefoo, repeating I'M
official but apparently reliable reports "f
active and extensive hostlities between
the allied forces aud the Chinese on the
line between Tientsin and Pekin.
The dispatches indicated that the relief
column had started in earnest ana that it
was meeting with determined opposition.
Although neither of the naval dispatches
mentioned the presence Of American
troops in the reported engagement, it was
geenrally assumed at the War Depart
ment that at least a part of Gen. Chat
fees small army was on hand
According TO information in p 1ssession
of the War Department. the town of
Peitsang is at the head of tidewater on
the Peiho, between eleven and ,weiye
miles by road beyond Tientsin. 1t is u
village of mud huts of considerable size.
bnt not walled. The river at this point is
not invigable by anything larger than n
goo,; lied steam launch, and it is thought
that the troops probably reached there in
small boats, towcd by the naval launches.
The country all along the river between
Pekin and Tientsin is n low, alluyial
plain almost impossible for wheeled We
hicles in the wet season. and under quite
a high state of cultivation. 1t presents
no natural defensive features, and the
War Department knows no strategic rea-
son why the Chinese should have made
a stand there rather than at any other
of the dozen villages east of the walled
town of Tungchow. where is stored an
immense amount of provisions upon
which the city of PeSln would have to de-
pend in case 3f siege.
From the fact that the engagement
lasted seven and half hours. it is ar
gued in the department that either the
Chinese must have been heavily lntrench-
ed or that there was an immense horde Of
them to so stu0borniy contest the ad-
vance of the 10000 international troops.
1t was figured by military experts that a
loss of l. 200 killed and wounded on the
part OF the allies probably meant a loss of
from three to six times as many by the
Chinese.
Free communea. ion between the for
e.gn ambassadors aud their governments
i: said to have been established by an
imperial cdict. Any message that may
be sent however. must not re in cipher.
Another proclamation provides for tie
safe deportation of the fore. gncrs from
Pckin to Tientsin. The United States
government VIII tot consent to the re-
inoyal Of the ministers ana foreigners
from Pckin until there is 4 free comment.
cation by the powers with their minister's.
Nor will this government consent to CON
munication in plain language alone bu;
insists that cipher messages must pass
freely between Minister Conger and oar
State Department. Ii is emphaticaIly
stated that unless such messages are OK
changed the United States cannot know
beyond question that the messages were
not earbled and both the United States
government and the ministers nisied
There seems to be no douht "a bout the
safety Of the ministers At pekin fo- the
present. and = at they will remain where
they VIII be able TO pfbtec1 themselves
and wi'l nc- be induced to accept any
offers Of the Chinese government TO es-
coTt them to Tientsin until they have had
communication with their governments.
II is stated that if ali the international
forces in the vicinity Of Taku can be
landed and the supplies brought up there
is sufficient force to overcome any army
which the Chinese may bring forward 10
prevent the march on Pekin.