The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-08-10

road leading to Pedn. It's capture will
insure to the international troops, it ia
hoped, two routes Of transportation tS
Pekin. 1t is 17S miles from Tien Tsin.
CONFIRMED BY CHAFFEE.
The following dispatch has been re-
ceived at the war department from Gen.
Chaffee, sent via Che Foo:
Yang Tsun. Aug: S.-Yang Tsun
occupied today. Wounded: Sec
ond Lieut.. Frank r. Long, Ninth
abouI sixty men, Ninth United
States infantry, Fourteenth United
Fifth United States artillery. Near
ly all from Fourteenth infantry.
Names later. Many men prostrat-
~ -'0'-' w 9%Chafee."
The capture of Yang Tsun, the first OBJ
jective point of the united forces, was tina
supreme news of Importance received to-
day on the Chinese situation. The first
word of this capture. effected last Mon
day, came in a brief dispatch to the sig
nal office at the war department, from
Col. Scriven, the signal officer at Che
foo.
Half an hour after this message, q ca
blegram came from Gen. SK.ffee, giving
additional details of the capture and
showing that it had been at the cost OF
about sixty casualties among the Ameri-
can troops
STRENGTH OF THE ALLIES.
Hardly less important was a dispatch
from Gen. Terauchi, second In command
on the Japanese staff, sent to the office
of Japan and transmitted to the legation
here, stating that the international army
would total $4,000 men Of Aug Is, at which
time the real advance on Pekin would be-
gin. Gen. Terauchis dispatch stated
that on the 4th, when 1t yas forwarded,
the advance had not yet begun. This was
at first incomprehensible, in view Of the
fact that fighting has actually occurred.
But the later statement that the interna-
tional force would total $4,000 men on the
18th appears to make clear Gen. Terau-
chts meaning and to reconcile 1t with
Gen. Chaffees dispatches. The present
movement of some 5000 men doubtless is
viewed in the light Of a reconnaissance in
force, the main movement Of the army Of
$1,000 to follow on the 18th.
This makes clear the meaning Of Gen.
Chafee's dispatch that Yang Tsun was
the objective point. The war department
here has been considerably puzzled over
this statement of an objective point, far
short of Pekin. It would appear, how
ever, from Gen. Terauchfs dispatch that
the first force of 5000 men, having OPEN
ed up communications to Yang Tsun,
brought forward supplies and established
this advance base, the way would then
be clear for the advance Of the larger
force on the 18th The capture of Yang
Tsun is therefore an important strategic
branch OF the fast maturing military
plans. The place is about eighteen miles
beyond Tien Tsin. and little less than q
quarter Of the way to Pekln.
COMMUNICATION IS OPEN.
Col. scriven's statement, wire up" con-
tains much meaning. as # is accepted as
showing that there is direct telegraphio
communication with the army IN the field.
Aside from the assurance this gives ok
speedy transmission Of news from the
front, 1t gives the additional assurance
that the line of communication is intact
back to the first base Of operations. Tha
capture of Yang Tsun on the day follows
ing the battle of Pietsang is regarded as
highly successful military achievement,
especially in view Of the fact that it waS
looked upon as a stronghold whose caps
ture might give the foreigners considered
BILE trouble.
THE MESSAGE TO CHINA
Aside from the military developments
of the day. the diplomatic aspect of tho
crisis WAS made mora clear nv tha Dub-