Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-08-30
THESILENCE BROKEN
Reports Received From Both
Conger and Chafee.
AMERICAN CUNBOAT SENT TO ANOY
The Arrival of Two Thousand Fresh
German TrOOps Reported-Mem-
bers of the Tsung-li-yamen
Appear In Peking.


WASHINGTON, Aug. 2s.-After sew
eral days intermission in Chinese ad-
vices the government has received two
dispatches which presumably bring Its
advices up to the most recent date.
There are indications that the principal
delays in the lines Of communication are
encountered between Tien-tsin and Pc
king, u fact explainabe by the newspa-
per advices that small bands Of Boxers
are operating on the line of communica-
ton of the Peking campaign force. Just
such interference with the work of the
signal corps men was experienced by the
United States forces in the Philippines
and by Lord Roberts troops in the
Transvaal campaign. Usually these in
terruptions are very short, the marauders
being driven off and the lines restored
within day or two. The fact that
more than week was covered by the
last interruption gives rise to the belief
here that these attacks upon the lines
of communication by Boxers are more
formidable than was supposed to be pos
sible after the heavy losses inflicted
spon them by the international forces in
rs advance.
The most important dispatch was one
from Minister Conger, relative to the
military situation in Peking. Unfoytu-
nately it lacked a date, the minister pre-
sumably not having yet'received the de-
partment's instruction to include the
date in the body Of his dispatches. The
state department ut first undertook to
have the cable companies correct this
serious omission, but finally concluding
from internal evidence that Mr.. Con-
gers message was certainly later than
any official emanation from the Chinese
capital the message was allowed publici-
ty for what 1t was worth Mr.. Conger's
reference to the arrival of 1900 fresh
German troops caused some surprise, no
one apparently having closely watched
the movements of the German contin-
gept, which is now arriving with fairly
regular frequency in China and which
consequently may be expected soon to
eqnal In numerical strength the military
Gohtingents Of any Of the European ma
tiehs there represented.
A significant statement in Minister
Copger's dispatch is that respecting the
expected appearance in Peking of some
of the members Of the tsung-li-yamen.
A natural construction to be given to
this statement is that these ministers
wish to undertake to represent the Chi
nese government formally in negotia
tions with the powers. 1t having been
found impossible up to this moment, ac-
cording to Mr.. Conger's statement, to
meet any representative of the Chinese
government in Peking who was COM
petent to open negotiations, it may he
inferred that il these ministers actually
appear with proper credentials one of
the problems Connected with the present
difficult situation in China will be solv-
ed.
With some responsible person or per-
SONS to deal with it may be possible for
the United States to come to some agree
ment as to a settlement of the Chinese
trouble. Ever since the fall of Peking
the principal difficulty confronting the
government here> has been to arrange
for the next movement in Its programme.
Another event of some interest is the
order dispatching the Castine from
Shanghai to Annoy, distant about 400
miles. The little gunboat should make
the run in about two days under favora-
BILE conditions. Her force is small, but
sufficient to serve the moral purpose. if
there be need for such. 1t appears that
she is ordered to Annoy quite as much
on account of representations from well
informed business circles as from any
official advice. The consul at Annoy
agreeing with the representations of the
business interests. it was decided to be
proper to send a gunboat to Annoy not
because Of any particular apprehension
rs to Japanese aspirations. but to pre-
vent rioting at this dangerous point. The
first direct word from General Chaffec
since Aug. l6 came In the form of
cablcgram reporting the action of the
Sixth cavalry with the enemy near Tien-
tsin on the 10Th. The cable is dated
Aug. q and is as follows:
Colonel Wint on the 10th reports
marched at a. m. and engaged large
force Of enemy seven miles from city.
Dispersed them. killing about 100. Amer
leans lost Eve wounded. Will cable
names wounded as soon as ascertained."
Colonel Wint is lieutennt colonel Of
the Sixth cavalry. but is acting a. colo
mel In the absence Of Colonel Sumnci.
who is in Europe. The fight probably
occurred near Ten-tsin. as the Sixth
cavalry was at that place ut the time
mentioned