The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-07-29
WI TING FANG CONFIDENT
EXPLAINS LACK OF INFORM ALTON
AS DUE TO CHINESE
METHODS
Ii HUNG CHANG IS INDIGNANT
Protests Against the Doubts Express
Sed by Various POwers-WashIng-
ton Authorities Disposed to
Take Hopeful View.

WASHINGTON, July 2S-The day
brought forth the usual crop OF edicts
and reports from various quarters, and
he usual visit from Minister Wu TO the
state department, all bearing directly
Ip0n the welfare of the foreign ministers
~ Pekin. This constantly growing mass
Of assertion is beginning to have Il cumu-
aIve effect upon the skeptics, and there
Nas q noticeablY more hopeful view taken
3f the state of affairs today. Beyond the
iact that it is scarcely conceivable that
chinese authorities should persist in re-
porting and Strengthening these stories
lp to the rapidly approaching moment
when the whole truth must be disclosed
by other agencies it appeared upon care
lH consideration of the reports that
here really was little ground for hope
as to the safety of Mr. Ccnger ard his
Colleagues at Pekin today than there
was yesterday. The depressing fact is
always in mind that the Chinese authori-
ies~by their own statements are able to
communicate with the legatiorers, for
some mystery
FLIMSY EXPLANATION
Reason does not permit these unfortu-
government. Minister Wu's explanation
of this, is that the Chinese methods are
different from our own is scarcely suf-
hcient Gor the officials here. The min
lister, however, is honestly trying 10 get
a further communication through from
Mr.. Conger, and It may be that success
in this Undertaking will afford him
brilliant vindication.S At least he MAIN
tains a wonderful show of confidence in
the safety Of the legations, and manages
to impress this in some degree upon the
officials and others with whom he comes
In contact.
CHAFFEE At TAIIU.
There was nothing of interest from
China respecting the military or naval
forces there The war department or.
nCials now calculate that Gen. Chaffee
with his troops on the Grant will arrive
at Tallu this evening, though IT may be
several days before his report of the
fact can reach the department. The IL
regular and unsatisfactory character of
the present system of communication be-
tween Taku and the cable and at Shang-
hal has been taken into account by the
war department sapd it is said that one
of Chaffee's first acts upon taking COM
mand of tbs United States forces ashore
at Taku and Tien Tsin will be to estab-
lish, perhaps in cooperation with the
other military commanders, a line of
rapid despatch boats running from Tien
Isin to Shanghai or Nagasah.
MORE TROOPS MAY GO.
While the positive statement is made
that it is not the present intention to
send any more troops from Manila to
China, at the same time it is known that
all contingencies have been canvassed
and that if an emergency should arise in
China which made it imperative to have
additional troops they would be drawn
10 from the Philippines for temporary duty
at least Some time ago, Gen. Macarthur
was advised by Secretary Root to main
tain sufficient transports to carry sup
plies between Manila and Taku, and
these transports would be available for
emergency troops. The Pennsylvania
Indiana and Sumner. when the latter ar
Ives at Manila, probably will be held
fer service between Manila and Taku and
VIII be available for the contingency
which may occur, but which the depart
mont does not expect to arise. A stub
born resistance to the advance of the in
tionaI troops necessary. In that event a
speedy relief column no doubt would be
sent from Manila.
CAUSES SPECULATION.
The dispatches from Consul Fowler,
conveying assurances from Yuan Shih
Kai, the governor a Shan Tung, that the
foreign ministers were well on July "a
and had been provisioned, in connection
with constantly reiterated assurances
from other Chinese sources of the safe
" of the minister's have raised anew
the theory at the state department. which
is being speculated upon. These assur-
ances have been given in answer to the
repeated and urgent demand of the va
rious European governments that they
be placed in communication with their
ministers. the last assurances of Yuan
was in answer to the specific demand
of the foreign admirals for direct com
municatiOn. = Yuan's announcement that
the imperials government sat Pel1in not
only asserts the safety of the ministers.
but declares that they have been proyi-
stoned, if accepted as. true, indicates.
thai the ministers have been communi-
Gated with. The inquiry then naturally
arises If the ministers have been
prOYisioned, why does not the Chinese
government. knowing as ii does that the
whole world is demanding a direct mes
sage from the besieged legationers, allow
hem to communicate with their govern
ment? Why not furnish direct and un-
equivocal evidence of the safety of the
ministers, instead of this repetition of
assurance, which the world hesitates to
accept?"
DOUBT IN LONDON
LONDON, July 2S-The hopes of Eu-
rope for the safety of at least some OF
the members of the legations at Pekin,
which, earlier in the week. had COM
menced TO revive, are now Pickering and
at the point of extinguishment 1t has
been pointed out here that thare has
been ample time to get authentic mes
sages signed and dated by the ministers
This is the only confirmation of Chinese
assurances that will be acceptable Until
.'ch adyices have been received or until