The Portland daily press., 1900-08-28

terest, was the order despatching the
C6stlne from Shanghai to Annoy, distant
about 400 miles. The little gunboat
should make the run In about two days
under favorable conditions. Her force
is small, but sufficient to serve the moral
purpose If there be need for such. 1t
appears that she is ordered to Annoy
quite as much on account of representa-
tions from ell-informed business cir
cIes as from any official advice. The
consul at Annoy agreeing with the repre-
SCI ltions Of the business interests 1t was
decided to be proper to send gun beat
to Annoy, not because of any particular
aDpre hension as to Japanese aspirations,
but to prevent liotirg at this dangerous
point.
The first direct word from Gen.
Chatfee since August IS came today in
the form of cablegram dated today at
Taku, reporting the action of the 9th cav
airy with the enemy near Tien Tsin on
the 10Th. The cable is as follows:
''Taku, August n.
"Adjntant General, Washington.
r'Col Whit on the 18th, reports marched
at 4 a. m and engaged large force of
enemy seven miles from city; dispersed
them, killing ABOUT 100. Americans lost
five wounded. VIII cable names wounded
as seen as asceItained
(Signed) "Chatfee."
Col Whit is lieutenant-colonel of the
5th cavalry, but is acting as colonel IN
the absence Of Col. Sumner, who is in
Europe The tight probably occurred
near Tien Tsin as the 9Th cavalry was at
that place at the time mentioned
This cable adds nothing to the informa-
tion in the possession OF the department
relative to military movements in the
possession of the department relative TO
military movements as it is simply Gen,
ChaHee's belated official report OF an en-
gagement previously reported by Admir-
al Remey in cable Edated Taku,
August 20, In which he said:
informing 19.-Sixth cavalry and
about 400 English and japanese dispersed
about one thousand Boxers outside of
Tien Tsin. About 100 Chinese killed;
five Americans wounded. y
The description of the action reported
by Gen. Chatfee talIies identically with
that previously reported by Admiral
Re1ney in that the above cable is
Identified with it by war department
officials. The explanation of the delay in
tha war departments report is that Col.
Whit who commands the 9th cavalry
probably forwarded his report to his SUI
perior at Pekin and Gen. Chaffee then
sent it officially to Washington. AL
though Gen. Chaffee's cable is dated
Taku, it is assumed that it was forward
ed from Pekin over the field telegraph
line or by courier. 1t is assumed, how
ever that field telegraph communication
is interrupted and that the despatch
reached Taku by courier. The fact that
the despatch was sent from Taku today
was extremely gratifying as it proves
that the cable between Taku and Che
Foo is working and that there is no long
or any interruption on the land lines
from the latter point to Shanghai.
There was general Disappointment that
Gen. Chaffee's message contained no
reference to the operations in Pekin,
but 6his was explained on the theory that
Gen. Chatfee, as Col. Wint's superior,
was simply forwarding the latter S re-
port. 1t is possible that Col Wint's re-
port may have reached him over the field
telegraph on the day of the engagement
August 19-and that his cable to the
departm ent may have occupied the inter-
ventng seven days, owing to the Interrupt
tion Of the field telegraphs in getting
back to LAX u. This theory is plausible
in that it would account for the failure
to hear from u en-. Chaffee since the 18th.