The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-22
Advance Won't Begin TIL
Middle Of August.
DELAY: INEXPLICABLE,
And the News Was Received With
CONSERVATION.
ARMY OF FORMIDABLE NUMBERS
1t Was Thought That Upon News of
the Desperate Position of the Le
sationers They Would Pnsh
on to Pekin Immediately.
Americans May Make
the Attempt Alone.
ARMY OF FORMIDABLE NUMBERS
CIV Associated Press.)

WASHINGTON, July 2l.-Two dispatch
es from Chinese officials and one from
Admiral Remey ut Taku represented the
news developments of the day 80 tar as
the Chinese situation was concerned Inc
Chinese dispatches were corroborative' or
were intended to be, of the important
news Of Yesterday relative to the state
OF the lesationers.
Admiral Remey's dispatch, aside from
list of casualties, already treated In bfiel
form, was most important. 1t conveyed
the dsagreeable news that the lnterna-
tional column would not begin its advance
upon Pekfn before the middle of August.
This notice was received here with con-
sternation, in view of Minister Conger's
advice of the desperate position the lesa-
tiorers were in on the 18th. Ine delay
is incomprehensible to the officials here
1t is known that nn army already for
mdabIe in numbers of veteran Soi0ierS Is
at Tien-Tsn and Taku, and with cour-
ageous leader it was expected that THIS
would push on at once, cutting loose from
its base, if need be. and forcing its way
to Pekin, leaving the reinforcements now
steaming townrd Taku from every quar-
ter of the globe TO re-estabiish the base
and reopen communication
MAY BE FRICTION.
1t is possible to draw two conclusions
from failure of the foreign commanders
to do this. First, the European govern
ments have allowed the skepticism as TO
the authenticity of Mr.. Conger's dlspatcn
to carry them to the point Of proceeding
coolly and deliberately upon the first sup
position namely, that there are no foreign
ers alive to be saved, consequently there IS
no need for haste.
The other conclusion is that friction Is
developing among the 1nternas1onals III
spite of earnest endeavors of powers, whose
motives as to China are so far un1mpeach-
ed. to prevent 1t.
Color is lent to this latter theory by the
fact that the governments have so far oeen
unable to agree upon an international COM
mander for the expedition to Pekin, and
this. too. in spite of the fact that Admiral
Remey acting by the instructions OF ms
government, is exhaustng every effort &c
induce the other commanders a Taku and
Tien Tsin to hasten their movements.
The text of Admiral Remey's statement
relative to the movement OF the l1ternf1-
tional column was not made public; in fact
it was not intended that the news should
get out and there was q feeling OF annoy
ance exhibited al the publication because
Of its possible effect upon the international
negotiations now under way.
Meanwhile to secure an accurate state
nent of the exact conditions at Taku anc
| Tien Tsin and the resources which Will bs
! at the disposal of the international com
| mander. whoever ne may be, Secretary
| Long desired Admiral Remey to send hin
a statement Of the number of internationa
! troops now ashore in China, separating diff
! ferent natonalties.
| NAY ATTEMPT IT ALONE.
AIaior-Ganeral Chefree is due at Nagasak
Z, In day or two. He will tranship at tina
! point and arrive in Taku in the course OF
a week It is suggested that General Chaf-
| fee leave the other comma nders to thelI
| own devices and lead the way to Pekin
| himself. His brother officers say that ne
| is quite capable to undertake this task
| Others say that with the small force OF
| Americans at his command the attempt
would be suicidal, even if Chaffee were
supported by the British
The details OF General Chaffee's staff
were announced to-day. A notable feature
is the inclusion OF Iieutenant-Coione
| Heistand. now United States military at
| tache to the Paris Exposition Commission
| The troop movement ordered to-day, con
cernine the First Infantry, had been anti
cipated Yesterday. 1t is presumed that one
effective battalion VIII be made out Of the
| two battalions of that regiment returning
| from Cuba, excluding the short term men
who will remain with the home battailoI
| of the regiment This new battalion, Wit
| the battalion now at LeavenWorth, VII
proceed to China The consolidation int
| tfo OF the original six military department:
of Cuba. announced to-day, IS nothlns
more than the logical resul. of the with
| drawal of troops from that island alread!
| directed.