The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-08-14

subsequent events might bring, il was
impossible for him 10 says. It may be
said, however, aside from Minister
Takahira's statement, that Japan has
up TO date displayed no jealousy of
Great Britain in the Chinese campaign.
Japan herself, it has been announced
semi-officially has no colonial ambi-
tions.
JAPAN'S EXTERME COURTESY.
Incidentally. it may be said that the
cordial relations between Japan and
the United States, aside from her par
ticipation in the British and American
advance on Peit Sang, has been shown
in her reply TO the state departments
advices concerning our last note TO
China. This note was transmitted
for information to Japan as we'll as to
the other powers interested and the
Japanese government promptly ac-
knowledged its receipt and indicated
its friendly approval of the stand TAX
en- by the United States. While this
acknowledgment was a mere official
courtesy, Japan is the only one of the
powers, SO far, to give formal express
sion of its concurrence in the action
of the United States.
RUSSIA'S ACTION CAUSES SUR
PRISE.
The action of the Russian govern
from Pekin for Tien Tsin under escort,
causes no little concern and much
surprise in official circles here as dia-
metrically opposed to the course of the
other governments although there is
no disposition to question the good
faith which, has inspired it. The Off
cials say its only effect is to leave NJ.
de Giers acting Independently and upon
his own discretion. If he determines
to leave Pekin with a Chinese guard
and succeeds in getting through to
Tien TSin, it at least will be demon
strated that this course is less hazard
Gus than has been supposed. The
position of the United States is un-
changed, however, in declining to en-
tertain the idea of allowing Minister
| Conger to leave under Chinese escort.
The official information from the seat
| of war made public by this government
| today was a dispatch from Consul Nc
| Wade at Canton, communicating an
! additional measure from Minister Con-
| ger to the state department, and a very
! brief dispatch from Admiral Remey
| repeating some information from Cen
eral Chaffee on the operations at Yang
Tsun.
! DOUBTS AS TO THE CONGER MES
SAGE.
In the opinion of the state depart
ment the value of the Conger message
is considerably reduced by the uncer-
| tainty as to its date. The date of Au-
| gust 10th at Tsi Nan certainly indi-
| Gates that the dispatch of the message
| from Pekin could not have been less
| than three or four days earlier. Use
| Nan is a large town on the main
Shanghai road, about 225 miles south
| of Pekin. 1t certainly would have haC
to travel by courier all the way tc
Shanghai, and have been re-transmit-
| ted from that point to have reached
| McWade at Canton. The information
it contains is practically the same a:
| the state departments message of Au'
gust 9Th, and the only cheering feature
is his plucky statement including sen
| tence:
What ever may Fbe the outcome, We
! will hold on indefinitely
The chief interest in the Chaffet
| dispatch is the indication that thu
| American command was in the thicl
of the fight at the capture of the i'm
portant town of Yang Tsun, but tn
reference to deaths from sunstroke in
dicates that the interna tional force
are undergoing terrible privations from
the tropical weather along the Pei H
river.