The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-02
WILL PUSH THE ADVANCE.
No Change Has Been Made In the
Programme of the Powers for
Moving on Chinese Capital.

Moving ON Chinese Capital.
Washington Aug. 1.-The Chinese i'm
perial government is putting forth the
most powerful efforts to secure, through
negotiations, the abandonment of the in
ternational movement upon Pekin.
The cablegrams received at the state
department to-day from Ii Hung Chang
all tend to demonstrate the desire of
this leader to secure the succor of the
ministers at Pekin and their delivery at
Tien Tsin. If this can be safely effected.
trusting that in return the International
column can be halted.
Unquestionably a proper assurance of
the safe delivery of the ministers would
have some effect upon the temper of the
Powers, and il is possible that the United
States government would give ear 10
overtures in that direction were not the
attempt made by the Chinese 90 impose
conditions upon the delivery Of the min
listers that are altogether Objectionable.
Such. for instance, is stipulation that
the Chinese imperial authorities shall be
absolved in advance from the conse-
for what has taken place in Pekin.
The first stipulation might be regarded
as a direct invitation to the Boxers to
murder the ministers on their way to the
coast and therefore our government will
| leave ii TO Mr. Conger himself whether
or not he regards it as safe 10 leave
Pekin when the opportunity is held out
! 1t is said here that the one POSSIBLE
means of stopping the forward move
ment of the column within the reach OF
the Chinese government is an instant
compliance with the first of the demands
of the Powers, namely that the minis
ters be put in free communication with
their own governments.
1t has been suggested to the Pek:n au-
thoritits that they send an embassy i'm
mediately to Tien Tsin clothed with full
authority to deal with the situation and
given unlimited power TO afford repara-
tion for the injuries inflicted upon the in
ternationals. If this is preceded by the
release of the ministers from siege. there
is possibility that the Powers tempor-
arlly will suspend the military movement
which may in the end be rendered unnec-
essary. if the embassy meets the demands 5
of Europe and America. .
No Change in Programme.
Meanwhile there has been no change
as to the military programme of which
our government was to-day advised The
senior United States naval officer at Ia
ku is already under the most positive in
structions to urge forward movement,
these having been sent by Secretary Long
just after the receipt of the original Con-
ger message. and he also was advised OF
The intention of the government to add
to his force. These matters are referred
| to in the belated dispatch from Tien Tsin,
which touches upon the military situat
and the prospects of speedy forward
movement But no additional instruc-
tons on this point were sent to the Uni
ted States army officers to-day, and the
government is allowing It's officers on
the spot to shape their own campaign,
relying particularly upon the very full and
comprehensive instructions previously
given to Gen. Chaffee, both in Washington
and by cable on his arrival at Nagasaki
Secretary Root said to-day that there
had been no developments in the diplo-
matte situation which would delay the
advance on Pekin, and that Gen. Chaffee
had orders TO meet any contingency which
might arise.
A statepent has been made in the dis
patches from Europe. 10 the effect that
the United States is pushing Gen. Chat
fee for chief command. 1t was said at
the war department to-day, that sucn
was not the case, though il was recog-
nized that the situation might be such es
to make it necessary for him 20 accept
command, il rendered by the other Pow
ers.