The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-07-26
WHY THIS DELAY?
Probable Reasons Why the AdvaIc. Of
the Allied Forces is Not Msd..


Washington, D. c., cial-Two
dispatches from Chinese officials ana
one from Admiral Remey at Taku
represented the news developments OF
Saturday so far as the Chinese sit&a-
ton was concerned. The Chinese dis
patches We're corroborative or were in
tended to be, of the important news OF
Friday relative to the state OF the
legationers. Admire Remey's dis
patch aside from list Of casualties
was most important. 1t conveyed the
disagreeable news that the interna-
tional column would not begin its ad-
vance upon Pekin before the middle OF
August. This notice was received
here with CONSERVATION. in view OF
Mr.. Conger's advice Of the desperate
position the legationers We're in on the
18th The delay is incomprehensible
to the officials here. 1t is known that
an army, already formidable in num-
bers and of veteran soldiers is at Tien
Tsin and Taku. and with courageous
leader. it was expected that this would
push on at once; cutting loose from
its base if need be, and forcing its
way to Pekip., leaving the re-enforce.
ments now steaming toward Taku
from every quarter Of the globe to re-
establish the base and to reopen COM
munication.
1t is possible to draw two conclu-
sions from a failure Of the foreign
commanders to do this. First, the
European governments have allowed
their skepticism as to the authenticity
of Mr.. Ccngers dispatch to carry them
to the point of proceeding coolly and
deliberately upon the first supposition.
namely that there are no foreigners
alive to be saved: consequently there
Is no need for haste.
The 'other conclusion is that friction
is developing among the internationals
in spite of the earnest endeayors Of the
powers whose motives as to China are
so far unimpeached to prevent 1t. Col
or is lent to this latter theory by the
fact that Che governments have so far
been unable to agree upon an interna-
tional commander for the expedition
to Pekin, and this too, in spite Of the
fact that Admiral Remey, acting by the
instructions Of his government is eX-
hauSting every effort to induce the
other commanders at Taku and Tien
Tsin to hasten their movements.
The text Of Admiral Remeys state
ment relative to the movement Oh the
international column was not made
public; in fact it was not intended that
the news should get out, and there
was a feeling Of annoyance exhibited
at the publication, because of its pos
sible effect upon the international
negotiations now under way. Mean
while to secure an accurate statement
OF the exact conditions at Taku and
Tien Tsin ard the resources which
will be at the disposal of the ipterna,
tional commander, whoever he may be,
Secretary Long to-day cabled Admiral
Remey to send him statement Of the
number of international troops now
ashore in China, separating different
nationalitieS.
Gen. Chaffee is due at Nagasaki in
a day or two He will tranship at that
point and arrive at Taku in about a
week from this time. 1t has been sub
gested here that Gen. Chaffee will, ii
need be, leave the other commanders
to their own devices and lead the way
to Pekin himself. His brother Off
GERS in the war department say, that
he is quite competent to undertake
this task. Others declare that with
the small force of Americans at his
command, the attempt would be sui
cidal, even if Chaffee were supported
by the British.
A notable feature is the inclusion OF
Lieut.. Col. Heistand, now United
States military attache to the Paris
exposition commission.
The troops movements ordered con-
nerning the First infantry, had been
anticipated. 1t is presumed that one
effective battalion will be made out OF
the two battalions Of that regiment re-
turning from Cuba, excluding the
short term men, who will remain at
Leavenworth. as the home battalion
of the First regiment.
This new battalion with a battalion
now at Leavenworth will proceed to
China. The consolidation into two Of
the original six military departments
of Cuba. announced to-day, is nothing
more than the logical result OF the
Withdrawals of troops from that island
already directed.