Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-08-07
THE REFORM is DEL1EvrD

The REPORT IS BELIEVED.
washington. Aug. 6.-Thc announce
ment received through Admiral Remey
ana Commander Taussig of reported
heavy fighting on the road beyond Tlen
Ism, was the news of interest in the
Chlnese situation to-day. Little doubt
was expressed at the Navy Depart
ment that the news was substantially
correct. 1t is probable that n later re-
port may reduce the list of casualties
among the International forces. but il
Is evident that the move on Pekin is
at last fairly under way and that
strong opposition has been encounter
eu' Inc war Department officials who
nave been eXccedinly reticcnt for sew
eral days as TO the news from the seat
OIL war admitted to-day when the ma
val dispatches were received that the
announcement of the battle was not
unexpected.
FRUITS OF THE BATTLE.
Opinion among the various officials
now in Washington is somewhat di-
Vidcd as to Just what is presa gcd by
to-day's events. The more optimistic
are inclined TO think that such IL Sc
we're DloW as the Chinese must have re-
ceivcd at Petit Sang will result in the
speedy disntegration of the forces now
opposing the march Of the internation-
al column. In line with this prcdic-
lion. 1t was prophesicd that the
Chinese Government would find means
to send the Ministers from Pekin un-
der escort and thus stavc off the ad-
vance upon the capital. On the other
hand there were a number of officers
In position to Judge equally we'll who
held that the fight ut Petit Sang was
only the beginning of n strenuous re-
sistance that would be continued to the
gates of Pckin or beyond. 1t was
urged in support of this view that the
Chinese had n hundred men to lose
against one of the allies: that they
Wit u
had apparently an abundance of am
munition. 1t is stated that considcra-
bic apprehension exists among those
converSant with Oriental affairs at the
rc-appearance in Peliin politics of that
rabid anti-foreign fanatic Ii Ping
Hung. 1t is understood that his ap-
pearancc In Pekin affairs may have
had something To do with the Shanghai
rumor of Ii Hung Champs suicide. 1t
is certain that with Lii Ping Hung and
Prince Tuan in control of the de facto
government in China, a religious war Of
dervish-lihe fanaticism probably will
be waGed against all foreigners. and
friends of the more liberal Chinese
statesmen are exceedingly anxious as
to their fate under the Tuan-Li regime
UNCLE SANS POSITION.
The position of the United States dip
lomatically remains unchanged. This
Government will not consent to the re-
moVal OF the ministers and foreigners
from Pekin until there is free commu-
nicat!on by the Powers with their Min
listers. Nor will this Government CON
sent TO communication in plain Ian
guage alone. but insists that cipher
messages must pass freely between
Minister Congcr and our Department
of State. 1t is emphatically stated that
unless such messages are exchanged
the United states cannot know beyond
question that the messages were not
Earbed and both the United States
Government and Ministers misled.
SAFETY OF THE MINISTER'S.
There seems 10 he no doubt about the
safety of the ministers at Pekn for
the present. and that they will remain
where they will he able to protect
themselves and will not he induced to
accept any offers of the Chinese Gov
eminent to escort them to Tien Tsin
until they have had communication
with their Governments. Confidence is
expressed, however. that the Chinese
Government will soon see the necessity
OF accepting the terms laid down in
Secretary Hays note to Consul Cen
eral Goodnow.
SUPPLIES FROM THE PHILIP
PINES.
The War Department Is in receipt of
a dispatch from General Macarthur
announcing that he has shipped addi
tlonal artillery supplies to Tako for
use in the Chinese campaign. These
and the remainder of the rifle and
Howitzer siege train now in Manila
which up to date has remained useless
In that country on account of the bad
roads. How much better General
Chaffee may he able to handle these
monster guns through the almost i'm
passable rice swamps Of China. no one
at the War Department was willing TO
guess. But his recent dispatch con-
tanned an urgent appeal for more ar
tillery, and he is getting it. The
ordnance experts at the War Depart
ment say that If 1t comes to bonn
bardment of Pekin these five-inch rifles
and seven Inch Howitzers. with their
enormous bursting charges OF high ex-
plosives will he the most effective bat
column.
CHINESE LEGATION SILENT.
Minister WI left Washington on Sat
urday for Cape May. and remained
away from Washington to-day. al