Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-08-16
YANG TSUN IS TAKEN
The First Objective Point Of ths
International Force Captured.
The UNITED STATES NOTE TO CHINA.


ton with Advancing Allies.
Washington, Aug. 1O.-The capture
Of Tang Tsun, the first objective point
of the international forces, was the
supreme news of Importance received
yesterday on the Chinese situation
The first word of this capture, ef-
fected last Monday, came to the war
department from Col. Scriven, the
signal officer at Che Foo. Half an
hour afterwards a cablegram came
from Gen. Chaffee, giving details Of
the capture and showing that it had
been at the cost Of about 60 casualties
among the American troops.
Hardly less important was a dis
patch from Gen. Terauchi, second in
command Of the japanese staff, sent
to the war office Of Japan and trans
mitted to the legation here, stating
that the international army would
total $4,000 men on August IS, to ad-
vance on Pekin. This dispatch stated
that on the nth, when it was for
warded, the advance had not yet be.
gun. This was at first Incompetent
sible, in view Of the fact that fight
ing has actually occurred. But the
later statement that the international
force would total $4,000 men on the
18th appears to make clear Gen. Ter
auche's meaning and to reconcile it
with Gen. Chaffee's dispatches. The
present movement of some 10000 men,
doubtless is viewed in the light of a
reconnaissance in force, the main
movement of the army of $4,000 to
follow on the 18th. This makes clear
the meaning of Gen. Chaffee's dis
patch that Yang Tsun was the objec-
tive point. The war department has
been puzzled on this point; it would
appear, however, from Gen. Ter
auche's dispatch that the first force
of 10000 men, having opened up COM
munications to Yang Tsun, brought
forward supplies and established this
advance base, the way would then be
clear for the advance of the larger
force on the 18th. The capture OF
Yang Tsun is, therefore, an important
strategic branch of the fast maturing
military plans. The place is about IS
miles beyond Tien Tsin and little less
than a quarter of the way to Pekin.
Col. scriven's statement "wire up"
contains much meaning, as 1t is ex-
planned as showing that there is tele.
graphic communication with the army
in the field. Aside from tho assurance
this gives Of speedy transmission OF
news from the 'front.' II given the 3D.
ditional assurance that the line 10 In
tact back to the first base Of opera.
lions. The capture Of Yang Tsun on
the day following the battle of Pei
Tsang is regarded as highly sue
cessful military achievement and es-
pecially in view of the fact that it
was looked upon as stronghold
whose capture might give the for
eigners considerable trouble.
Aside from the military develop
ments of the day, the diplomatic as
pect was made more clear by the pub
LEGATION of the demand made by the
United States upon the imperial gov
eminent of China and transmitted to
Minister WI Wednesday evening.
The note is not at all belicose in tone,
and its temper is generally COM
mended as the best method of using
the professed friendship of the i'm.
perial authorities to save the lega.
TONERS. The demand for the imme-
date cessation of the attacks on the
legation is stern and emphatic. but
the word demand" gives way to
urge" when the imperial govern
ment is requested to place itself in
friendly communication with the adj
allies.
This action by the United States as
taken solely on its own responsibility
consulting other powers as to
the advisability of the demand. In
the technical parlance of diplomacy
u differs from an ultimatum, which
usually fixes n date or sets a time
within which there must be compile
ance, the lack of compliance during
the stated time being ground for
war. While demand is less specific
as to time of compliance, ii none the
less asserts positive right which
the government will enforce, If the
right be not conceded,
Late in the day the state depart
ment received an important dispatch
from Consul General Goodnow at
Shanghai announcing the landing OF
British troops at that point. The
consul general did not state that he
had protested against this action and
the state department judges from this
that no protest would have been made
by him in the absence of instructions.
He stated, however, that the mer-
chants of the city strongly disap-
proved Of the landing of the British
troops, fearing that it would incite
The Chinese to hostilities. The gov
eminent at Washington has taken no
action in the nature of protest and
i is stated officially that no such
,ction will be taken. On the con-
Lrary, tbs United States government