Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-07-20
FROM WASHINGTON.
lCorrsspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette.
Washington, July 20.

lCorrsspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette.
Washington, July 20.
After a month and eight days Of anx'
ious suspense, word has at last been re-
ceiyed from Minister Conger in Pekin
He saws be is in the British legation
under shot and shell, and that only
Quick relief can prevent general mas
sacre. Whether the massacre can bs
sverted now depends upon the ability
of the allied forces at Tientsin to post
on to the relief quickly enough to ar
rive at Pekin in time. The eyes OF the
civilized world will now be centereC
even more anxiously upon the Chinese
capital for definite knowledge has al
last been obtained that some OF the
ministers were alive up to two day.
ago, and it depends upon the exertioni
of the allied armies whether OIL
not they die. Minister Congeri
dispatch was 10 reply to O message
sent by Secretary Hay in the State
Department code. This message wa
brief and simply asked him for tidinRi
and told him to trust the bearer. Wa
the Chinese minister here, undertook
by means of his friends in China to de
liver Secretary Hays message to Con.
ger. and the success that has ate 1ded
his efforts is q source of deep gratifica
ton to him. No doubt whatever is en-
tertsined at the State Department a.
to the genuinenes, of the communities
ton from Conger. The State Depart
ment code from which the correspond
epce was condu ted is very difficult
one to decipher even with the aid of
kew and is believed 10 be practically
impossible without it. U. s. Consul Gen
ersl Goodnow at Shanghai sent cable
gram to Secretary Hay this morning
saving that the Governor Of Shantune
had told him a dispatch from Congel
dated the 18Th had been sent today
This is the only intimation as to wher
CoDger wrote bis message. There wa
10 date in the body OF the dispatch t
Indicate when the dispatch from Hay
vas handed to CoBger or when the
American Minister sent his reply. Tht
idea that il was written and forwarded
on the 18Th instant therefore rests upor
the word Of Chinese official who has
been heretofore characterized as "slip
perry" being too wary TO declare him
self either for or against the foreigners
In the general Joy Of hearing from
Conger at all, however, there was dis
position to overlook this omissiau OF 8
date to his dispatch and to believe thai
the governor Of ShantuDg was correct
in saying that it left the legation on the
18th and proves the foreigners to have
been alive at that time. II was shortly
after ten o'clock when Minister WI
appeared at the State Department with
the message. He knew that it con
tanned word from Conger, but he did
not know it's effect, and be waited unit
the cipher clerks had translated 1t
He was particularly pleased and hi:
face was suffused with smiles as hs
pointed out that the dispatch corrobora
ted those that he had been receiving
saving that the legations were holding
out from day to day. While the ut
most qualification is expressed in diplo
matte, army and navy circles at the
success which has attended the effort
to communicate with Conger, it Ia real
lad that there is no ground for undue
citation. Aside from the fact that The
American minister was alive OF
or about the 18th instant, thu
demonstrating that the detailed
reports of the massacre alleged
to have taken place on July 6 were pur'
fakes, the situation has not improved
c lnger's description of the condition o
affairs which only the early arrival o
reinforcements could relieve is serious
enough. The question is being asked
How long will the British Legation b'
able to withstand the assaults? Thii
building, while comparatively small
was constructed with especial reference
to just such an emergency as the present
Because of the necessity of speedy re
lief to these gallant defenders it is sug
gested tina; troops may be Immediately
ordered from the Philippines to rein
force those now at Tientsin and orgs
nize q relief column to again try to presI
on to Pekin.
The eleventh of this month the Sec
rotary of State communicated brie
message asking tidiogs OF Minister
Conger 10 the state Department code
to Minister WI, who undertook to gel
this into Minister Conger's hands il hs
were alive. He has succeeded in do
Jog this. This morning the Secretary
OF Slate received a telegram from The
consul general q. Shanghai saying "tht
governor of Shsntung informs me thai
he has sent you today cipher message
from Conger of the 18th" A few min
utes later Mr.. Wa appeared at the
state Department with telegram
from the Taotsi OF Shanghai, dated the
10th OF July, viii b had been received
by Minister WI at $3.50 o'clock this
morning. The dispatch reads as fol-
lows: "Your telegram was forwarded
as requested. l send you the reply o
the Tsung-li-Yamen as follows:
Your telegram OF the 18th day O.
this moon 9th of JULY received aDd
the Secretary OF States telegram has
been handed to Minister Conger. Here
with Minister Conger's reply to the
Secretary of State which please for
ward.'"
The following is Minister Conger's
reply: I'm British legation under con
tinued shot and shell from Chinese
troops. Quick relief only can prevent
general massacre" This reply wa
sent to the State Department in cipher
and its contents were, OF course, IN
known to Minister WI. 1t is regarded
by the State Department AS genuine, a.
forgery seems under the circumstances
imnossihle