Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-08-15

w ASHlNGION, August l4.-At the
close of the official day at the State
Department, the following official an
nouncement was bulletined:
THE Department of State announc-
ed that message from Minister Con-
ger had been received but of uncertain
date and not in reply to the telegram
sent to him on August Sth. 1t will not
be made public"
This came at the conclusion of a
period of intense expectancy and yet
one devoid of any actual develop
ments, save in the foregoing meagre
announcement. Minister Conger's mes
sage was received in Washington
shortly before noon, coming first to
the Chinese legation by the usual
route through Chinese officials. 1t was
in the American cipher, without date,
and signed with the minister's name.
1t was at once transmitted to the State
Department and conferences began be-
tween Acting Secretary Adee and Sec
rotary Root. Throughout the after
noon, however, the State Department
maintained an unaccountable reticence
concerning the subject declining to
admit that the message was in hand.
The suspense was cleared up at 4
o'clock by the above announcement.
1t was stated authoritively that while
the message was of confidential
character, and for that reason could
not and would not be given out, yet,
as a means of allaying possible mis-
Interpretation, it could be said that the
dispatch showed neither better con-
dition nor worse condition on the
part of the legationers at Pekin. 1t
did not indicate whether Minister Con-
ger has, or has not, received any mes
sages from this government. Nothing
was contained in the message which
will cause any change in the instruc-
lions to Gen Chaffee. In fact it was
stated in this same authoritative quar-
ter that
Only Additional Instructions
sent to Gen. Chaffee since he left
Washington, were those of a more spe-
cifc and explicit nature, which the de-
velopments in China and the informa-
ton received by the War Department
necessitated.
Throughout the day word was anx-
iously awaited from Gen. Chaffee as
to the development of the military
situation near Pekin, but not a word
came, nor did Admiral Remey send
anything on the situation. The last
heard from Gen. Chaffee he was at Ho-
Si-Wu, and according to all calcula-
tons, he must now be very near Pc
kin, unless events have occurred to
delay the advance. The officials are
taking into account that an advance
up to Pekin leaves much to be accom-
plished in military way. 1t was sta
ted to-day by an official who has lived
at Pekin that nothing short of the
heaviest artillery could make an i'm
preston upon the walls of the imperial
city. He said light artillery would be
Of no avail, and for this reason, the
advance of a flying column even UP to
the, walls of the city could effect little
if stubborn defense were determined
upon. The walls are some fifty feet
high, and wide enough on top for two
coaches to pass abreast. From an of
fensive standpoint the walls afford OPP
portunity for planting guns, while
from a defensive standpoint they could
not be preached, except by the use of
very heavy projectiles.
Although the situation admits of the
prospect of an assault upon Pekin, yet
government officials
Were Decidedly More Hopeful
to-day that a solution of the Chinese
problem would be found without re-
course to such heroic measures. The
improved feeling is based largely on
the belief that China, realizing that her
sacred capital is about to be besieged
by the armies of the world, will yield
everything and that the legationers
will be delivered in the terms of the
allies. The attitude OF the United
States concerning the landing OF Brit
ish troops at Shanghai has been made
70 the foreign governments through
their representatives here. This has
had the effect OF practically eliminating
the United States from the question.
Neither the French nor the German
government is disposed TO accept
calmly the landing Of British troops,
and ii is understood that strong rep
reservations, both from France and
Germany, are now being made at Lon
don. As summed up by well in
formed diplomta these representations
in effect are that for every British
marine landed at Shanghai, France
and Germany also would land a marine.
1t is felt. moreover. that the issue in
volved relates not only 10 Shanghai
but virtually to the control OF the en-
tire Yang Use Valley, known as the
paradise Of China
Foreign governments have manifest
ed desire to learn the views OF the
| United States concerning the instruc-
tons of Russia TO ner minister at Pc
kin, VI. De Giers. In response to in
quiTies here, it has been made known
that this government looks upon the
course of Russia as substantially the
same as that OF the United States and
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