Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-08-15
FROM WASHINGTON.
TCorrespondence of the Alexandria Gaseste.l
Washington, August 10.

He
ter Conger has been delivered and that
the allies are now debating terms at
Pekip. A message from Admiral
Remey this morning conveying one
from Gen. Chaffee shows that the allies
are making remarkable speed toward
Pekin. Remey writes from Tsku ON
the 18th. The Chafiee dispatch is un-
dated but necessarily must have re-
qured from one to two days to come
from Mstow. 10 other words the al
lies must have marched forward rapidly
from Hosiwu where they were located
last Friday. Matow is but % miles in
straight line from Pekin and about 10
miles from Tungcnou where the next
resistance is expected. Strategically IL
is Of little importance. 1t is a walled
town but beyond this masonry has no
Notifications of account. Undoubted-
ly between three and four days have
elapsed since Chaffee sent his dispatch.
With but 10 miles to cover 10 that
time aud almost nothing to COMBAT,
save the intense heat, the allies are
most likely at Tungchou today. This is
the point at which the greatest res's-
lance is expected. The place is really
the key to Pekin and once captured the
sacred city IL 10 the power OF the allies.
Should the ammunition at ruogchou
prove of the quality Of that used In the
war with Japan the allies will have
little to oppose their entry to the place.
Another fact on which officials are san
euine is the disheartened condition Of
the Chinese soldiers. No Notifications,
they say, eau be stronger than the
courage of those who defend them, and
tue dispatches since the taking of Tien-
tsiu show that the Chinese forces were
almost demoralized by the victory.
However, il is probable that proximity
to the capital will renew the fanatical
frenzy of the boxer element in the OPP
posing army and a final rally be made
to preserve the center of the nations
| life
The mystery as to the contents OF
the message from Minister Conger re-
ceived yesterday continues. Neither
Secretary Adee nor Secretary Root will
divulge the nature of the dispatch. 1t
is officially denied. however, that there
was anything in it of an especially
alarming character, or to create more
apprehension than has been heretofore
entertained as to the safety OF the Min
listers. The most reasonable suppose
ton, and the one that receives most
sanction from the officials, is that it
contained confidential information as
10 the defenses of Pekin in men and
arms. If the Chinese Government
should find that Minister Conger, under
cover OF his cipher. was sending this
character OF information which would
be OF particular value to the allies just
now, 1t would probably result in shut
ting off all communication between the
Ministers and their governments.
1t is officially admitted this morning,
however, that the message from Min
lister Conger received Yesterday did
contain confidential military inform
alton relating to the defenses Of Pekin,
and charges the Chinese Government
with hsrrassing the legations. 1t is
said that the situation was more criti-
cal and that the Chinese Government
had stopped urging and persuading the
foreign Ministers to leave Pekin and
was now trying to force them to do so.
The dispatch does not show in what
manner this force is being applied.
Min ster Conger says that he and his
colleagues have stesdfastly refused to
leave, but he indicates that relief mnst
come quickly if it is to be of any use.
This dispatch has been sent to Gen.
Caaffee for his Information, aad he is
relied upon 10 realize its urgency aod
to press forward the advance of the allies
az rapidly as possible.
Consul Ragsiale at Chefoo cables to
The Sta department today that he he's
received cipher dispatch from Minister
Conger which states that the Chinese
Government is trying TO force the for.
eign ministers to leave Pekin and that
the situation at Pekin is critical.
Baron Won Ste.nbsrg, the charge of
the German Embassy, called at the
State department this morning. He
said he was without news and was
looking Tor some. He understands that
Count Won Woliersee's instruct ons are
general In character, so that he may
adapt his course to the conditions ex-
listing on his arrival at the end of Sep
TENDER. Won Sternberg has himself
ii yed for six years 10 China aud is very
familiar with the road to Pekin and the
places at which the battles have been
fought by the relief column. Sec~
rotary Adee took him to Secretary
Roots Office and for half an hour
Won Stermberg and the Secretary of
War talked over the advance of the
allies. He thinks that the allies will
encounter little resistance until they
reach Pekin and ne believes that they
are very near there now if not actually
before the city gates. "The question
as to the amount of resistance to be ex-
pected OF Tung-Chau," said he, sis one
that depends upon the condition OF that
city. Early in July, syou remember,
very nearly at the outbreak of the dis
orders 10 China cablegram from there
announced that Tuug-Chsu had been
burned by tbs Boxers. that was true
while it would be impossible that the
whole place should have been des-
troyed it would naturally greatly
weaken the defeuses ofthe city. Tung-
Chau is an important place and would |
ordinarily have been good point at !
which the Chinese would collect to OPP
pose the advance of the allies. am
uclined to believe, however, that the
Chinese have fallen back to Pekin and
hat, If there is to be any big battle at
all, it will occur there"
"Distrust all Chinese propositions"
is one OF the sentences in an important
cipher dispatch received by the State
department today from Consul General
Goodnow at Shanghai. The message
is being kept secret but enough OF it
has leaked out to make it certain that
Goodnow has sent this warning to the