The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-07-30
Nothing Heard of Spies
Despatched.
Col. Liscum Describes Operations
at Ticn Tsin.

Washington, July 29.-There is a grow
ing expectation at the State Department
that the news of the utmost Importance
may be forthcoming at any moment
from Pekin. 1t was even thought that
something might be received today, but
this hope was doomed to disappoint-
ment. The few cablegrams that We're
received referred to minor matters and
did not touch at all upon conditions in
the Chinese capital. It is believed that
the basis for this expectation is the
knowledge on the part OF the officials
that certain machinery heretofore set IN
motion, may result IN the opening of
communication through some secret but
reliable channels. It is known that sec
ond effort has been made by our own
government to get another message from
Mr.. Conger and that nearly all of the
powers also have resorted to private
agencies in their own interest with a like
object. The fact has Just been devel-
oped that one OF the last acts of the late
Col Liscum before his death at Tien
1sin was TO undertake the despatch Of a
spy to pekin. Ge--. Dorward, the Brit
ish commanding officer at Tien Tsin
also sent out two messengers and it IS
believed that the japanese did the same.
Up to date not one of these messengers
has returned to Tien Tsin, nor has there
been single word heard from any OF
them This fact, however, has not caused
the abandonment Of hope.and this is true
in particular of the message expected
from Mr. Conger Minister Wu is per-
haps the basis for this hope on our part
and he maintains an mistaken conf
dence in his original assertion that the
news when it does come, wiz show that
the Iegationers are alive. The message
reported to have come through Mission
airy Wilder at Che Foo is regarded as most
promising. Minister Wa had no cable
grams himself today, nor had theI State
Department. any directly from China.
Nothing further has been heard as ID the
date set for the beginning of the move
ment from Tien Tsin toward Pekin, and
it is said here that this is detail that
must be fixed by the military comman-
ders on the spot. A message came to the
war department. from the quartermaster
on the Lenox, announcing the arrival
of that ship, together with the Cone
maugh at Kobe. Japan. They have
aboard the mounts for the sixth cavalry
and, although they win start for Taku
at once, not less than five days viii be
consumed in this last stage of the voyage.
It is doubtful whether Gen. Chaffee
would care to leave Talu without horses
for the sixth cavalry, particularly as, ac-
cording to all reports, mounted cavalry
IS needed for successful operations in the
tiat country lying between Tien Tsin and
Taku. This fact alone may delay opera
tions until late in the present week,
though at least a portion of the interna-
tional column may start on the day
fixed. Assurance received here shows that
the Japanese government is doing all in
it's Fpower to facilitate the international
movement and though the good wiz of
the japanese was never suspected as far
as the United States is concerned, the
knowledge is gratifying.
Secretary Long had a cable message to-
day from the commander OF the Buffalo
at Hong Kong, stating that he had sailed
for Taku The Buffalo is taking out
much needed relief men for the naval
crews and also has a lot Of stores aboard
for the approaching campaign. The War
Department. received a cablegram from
Lieut.. Col. Coolidge, who assumed the
command of the 9th infantry after the
death of Col. Liscum, giving part of
the part played by that organization dur
ing the fighting at Tien Tsin. The re-
port is as follows:
s6(yho hoo