The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-08-23

completely the entire city is dominated
By the allies. Mr.. Conger's statement
that 'the conditions are chaotic' was
taken as another strong justification for
the firm reply given to China today. He
emphasizes ths fact that the Chinese army
has fled, the imperial family and court
have gone and no Representative OF the
Chinese government is to Be seen in Pc
kin.
Minister Conger makes no mention of
his desire to come home and it is stated
officially that this government has made.
the suggestion that he return to this
country. Admiral Remey reported early
IN the morning. bringing the story of the
Pekin operations up to the 10th in Pekin
and confirming the press report already
prin ted Of the death of gallant Captain
Reilly in the final assault on the outer
walls Of Pekin.
Almost as Important as the Pekin news
in today's despatch was the statement
that the Boxers are again concentrating
around Tien Tsin and that last Sunday
morning the sixth cavalry with about 400
English and japanese troops had a lively
brush with the Boxers, eight miles out
side Of Tien Tsin, where about 100 of the
Chinese We're killed and five Americans
wounded. The casualty list in this fight
seems to indicate a sudden and total
rout. The text of Admiral Remeyss des-
patch is as followsl
"Che Foo, August q. .Taku, August %
Dickens command is landing today.
Pekins Is. 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 10th, Morning
18th. Sixth cavalry and about 400 Eng
lish and Japanese are dispersed. A Jout
1000 Boxers eight miles outside of Iien
Isin. About 100 Chinese killed, five
Americans wounded. Chaffee's losses.
six killed and thirty wounded; two days
fighting. ''Remey.'
The signal Office contributed it's quota
to the news in thu following despatch
from Major Scriven, chief signal officer
of the expedition, dated Pekin, August
II:
CITY occupied. All well.
(Signed) "Scriven.''
The signal Office says that while this
despatch was several days in coming
through to Washington there is reason to
believe that the military telegraph line
is now working in to the Chinese capital.
1t is thought there soon viii be direct
and reliable line OF wire communication
from the War Department to General
Chaffeess head quarters at Pekin.
The most important despatch of the day
was not made public by the War Depart
ment 1t was from General Chaffee
and was dated the 18th aud therefore was
not a reply TO the messag- inquiry sent
to General Chaffee by the War Depart
ment on Monday night. Still it answered
number of the inquiries contained IN
that message. 1t dealt entirely with mili
tary operations and conditions. While it
cannot be said TO have contained any bad
news, an d recorded the brilliant SUCCESSES
Of the American troops who have borne
themselves SO gallantly IN the assault on
Pekin, 1t contained enough as to the un-
settled conditions in China and the pros
pect OF .ong and arduous work in restor-
ing peace, to form the jury for a consulta-
tion OF some hours between the President
and his advisers. 1t was hoped in official
I circles that when General Chaffee should
be heard from, he would report that the
work Of the American expeditionary force
had been accomplished by the rescue
OF the ministers and that the blow
struck at the Boxer insurgents by the for
eign column had dissipated the sIrevolu-
tfonists and left China with hands free to
make her peace with the civilized world.
Instead of this, however, General Chafee
had to report an utterly chaotic condition
Of affairs and the capture of capital
whence all the heads of government had
fed.
There was nothing for the victors to do
but to prevent anarchy by administering
on this dereIict Of empire, which had fallen
into their hands, Therefore the prospect
opened up by General Chaffee's despatch
is that the American contingent Of ne
cessity will be detained in China for
some time to come, probably for the
whole winter This viii necessItate the
hurried completion of preparations that
already have been begun comfortably to
subsist our army through the severe win
ter weather which Will soon close in on
northern China.
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