Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1900-08-16
NOT PREPARING FOR
WINTERS CAMP AICN
Not Believed the Stay of the
Army in the Orient Will
Be of Long Duration.
ATMOSPHERE OF ANxIEsY

State Department Maintains the Ut
most Secrecy Regarding Chinese AT.
fairs-Important Developments Mo-
mentarily Expected-Hurry Order
Placed For Ammunition.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 15.-The navy de-
partment early this morning made pub.
lie dispatch from Admiral Remey an.
nouncing the arrival of General Chaffee
at Natow, the next town of Importance
after Ho ST WI, which the Americans
occupied with slight opposition Aug. 8.
The date of General Ohaffee's arrival
at Natow is uncertain 1t is taken at
the navy department. that NatoW was
occupied on the previous day, Aug IL,
and the opposition was slight both on
the road and in taking the town. Ma
tow is about IL miles by road from Ho
ST WI and the road, as indicated on the
war department map, Is of the worst
possible character. If General Chaffee
was at Natow Aug. II 1t Is quite posi-
Bile that by today he is either in posses
sion of Tung Chow or engaged with the
retreating Chinese army that 1t was
thought might make stand behind It's
walls.
The war department. is gratified at the
report of General Chaffee's steady adj
vance which, for week past, has been
secuted as a fool hardy piece Of adven-
ture by some of the European war off,
Gals.
Quite as much interest as the army'a
advance is the speculation about the
state department as to the status of Dip
lomatic negotiations. The state depart
ment has thrown around those proceed
ings such a sudden and unaccustomed
veil of secrecy that it is taken to pres
age important developments. One thing
is well nigh certain, namely, that the
Conger message of yesterday, which
was not made public, is one Of series
Of identical notes addressed by the be-
Ieaguered ministers to their govern
ments.
Important Developments Expected.
Minister Wa who, besides being the
Chinese minister here, is the accredited
representative of China to Spain, re-
ceived along with the Conger message
of yesterday a cipher message from the
Spanish minister in Picking, which was
forwarded to Madrid. 1t was not made
DuD4lC buGI6s OH S4SttAu6 H4dC4JO1tnu .
dispatch to the British foreign office, of
the same vintage as the two other dis
patches referred to, also was withheld
| from publication. This is taken as a
| fair indication that negotiations of i'm
| portance are on foot, but their nature is
entirely speculative
| The state department this morning
| stated that not only would the text of
the Conger dispatch be kept secret, but
no questions would be answered In con-
nection with it's contents. 1t was pointed
| out by the department that with the In
| ternational forces practically at the
! gates of Peking any statement OF Minis
| ter Oonger might involve him and all of
the other ministers in very serious con-
sequences 1t was said, however, that
| the statement from London this morn
| ing, credited to a member of parliament.
| that negotiations were on foot in Wash
| ington between the various powers look
| ing to future form of government for
| China was without foundation. The
state department announced that no
note on this subject had been exchanged
between the powers.
No Preparations For the Winter.
1t is considered significant that no
preparations are being pushed for the
wintering of the American forces in
China. Both the commissary and quar-
| termasters' departments are ready to
purchase and ship supplies for the Chi
nese expeditionary force, such as would
| be needful in "a winter campaign. There
are certain supplies which would be
necessary for this contingency and GER
tain steps which would have to be taken
and that quite speedily, unless there was
strong hope that the American army
would be out of China before the Gulf
Pc OH Ii freezes over, which it usually
| does about Nov. /.
Preparations made up to a recent date
looked for the quartering Of the Ameri-
can force on Chinese soil through the
winter season. 1t cannot be said that
this expedition has been entirely aban-
| doned but it is certain that some Of the
final purchases and preparations are sus-
pended for the present as though there
Is considerable probability that they
would not have to be made at all.
The war department has yet given no
definite statement on this subject, but
the suspension Of operations is consid-
cred significant.