The age-herald., 1900-08-23
]. HE AMERICAN REPLY
 IS ONE OF FIRMNESS
Rejects Ii Hung Chang's Proposition Open
 Peace Negotiations at Proper Time.

was the diplomatic Admiral Remey re- ported early in the morning. bringing the story of the Pekin operations up to the 18th in Pekin, and confirming the press report already printed of the death of the gallant Captain Reilly in the final assault on the outer walls of Pekin. Almost as impor- tant as the Pekin news in this dispatch was the statement that Boxers are again congregating around Tien Tsin, and Sun day morning the Sixth Cavalry, with about 400 English and Japanese troops, had lively brush with the Boxers eight miles outside of Tien Tsin, where about 100 of the Chinese were killed and Americans wounded.
 It was evident from Admiral Remey's account of this afftir that while the Chi nese are In force enough around Tien Tsin to make considerable show, they are evi- dently not in the humor to contest an en- gagement. The casualty list in this fight seems to indicate sudden and total rout.
 Admira, Remey's Dispatch
 The text of Admiral Remey's dispatch Is as follows:
 "Che Foo, August 2.-Taku, August 20.- Dickins' command is landing today. PelSin, 16. - All except Imperial City cleared of Chinese troops. American troops first to enter Imperial City; have penetrated to the gates of the palace. Captain Reilly, Fifth Artillery, killed on the 18th. Morning 18th Sixth Cavalry and about 400 English and Japanese dispersed about 1000 Boxers eight miles outside of Tien Tsn. About 100 Chinese killed, Americans wounded. Chaffee's losses, killed. 30 wounded; two days fighting. "REMEY."
 The Navy Department understands from the reference to the palace that the Amer ican troops, after penetrating the Imperial City, were, when the dispatch was sent attacking the Forbidden City. This Is the inner enclosure of the Imperial City.
 The signal office contributed its quota Of news in the dispatch of Major Scriven chief signal officer of the expedition, dated Pekin, August IT:
 City occupied; all well.
 (Signed) SCRlN FEN.
 The signal office says that while this dispatch was several days in coming through to Washington, there is enough to believe that the military telegraph hne is now working into Pekin. Some delays are expected at first the line is simply an insulated wire laid on the ground, there not being enough timber in that region to erect it on poles, until lumber or iron poles are shipped in. Notice also was received at the department today that the Iaku- Che Foo cable is in working order II IS thought there will soon be direct and re- liable line of wire communication from the War Department to General Chaffees headQuarterS at Pekin.
 An Extended Conference
 The most important dispatch of the day was not made public by the War Depart ment, but was the subject of an extended conference at the White House this morn ing between the President, Secreatry Root and Acting Secretary Adee. It was from General Chaffee and arrived about the same time as the casualty list of the Pe- kin fight. It is dated 18th, and it was not a reply to the message of inquiry sent to General Chaffee by the War Department on Monday night. Still it answered num- Der of inquiries contained in that message. It dealt entirely with military operatolnS and conditions
 While it cannot be said to have contain ed any bad news, and recorded the bril- liant success of the American troops Wno have borne themselves so gallantly in the assault on Pekin, it contained enough as to the unsettled conditions in China and the prospect of long and arduous work in restoring reace to form the subject for consultation of some hours between the President and his advisers. It was hoped in official circles that when General Chaf- fee should be heard from he would re- port that the work of the American expe- ditionary force had been accomplished by the relief of the Ministers and that the blow struck at the Boxer insurrection by the foreign column had dissapated these revolutionists and left China with hands free to make her peace with the civilized world Instead of this, however General Chaffee had to report an utterly chaotic condition of affairs and the capture of a capital whence all the heads of govern ment had fled There was nothing for the victorS to do but to prevent anarchy by administering this derelict of empire, which had fallen into their hands. There fore the prospect opened up by General Chafees dispatch is that the American contingent will be detained in China for some time to come, probably for the whole winter. This will necessitate the hurried completion of preparations that already have begun comfortably to subsist our army through the severe winter weather which will soon close in on Northern Chi na.