The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-20

sent the urgency of pushing Keller forces
toward Pelxin. If the imperial govern
ment ismalking war ON the internationals
1t would probably not forward an eff
fort to get foreign troops into its CAPT.
tai At least that was the line OF rea-
soning at the state department.
A most significant feature of the
Conger message was the statement that
the British legation was under constant
fire by the Chinese troops Without
qualification or explanation that ex-
preston would seem to identify the inn
perial government with the attack upon
the foreign missionaries. He made no
mention Of boxers but simply referred
to troops AS the state department was
obliged to paraphrase the message to
protect its code from disclosure, it is
not possible at this moment to exactly
estimate the full significance of the
minister's language on this point But
in his last message preceding this he
speclhed boxers as attacking and it may
be that he has now purpoSely made
distinction.
The state department officials, how
ever feel that Minister COnger in using
the term Chinese troops meant troops
in rebellion against the imperial govern
ment; those under Prince Tuan'S direc-
ton. They find this contention entirely
logical. In the first place the Chinese
government itself has admitted that it's
troops had participated in many cases
during the boxer movement. The APP
peals of Minister WI and of other Chi
neSe ministers abroad to the powers to
hasten their forces to Pekin also We're
based on the theory that the imperial
government was resisting the rebellious
troops and boxers. Furthermore it can
not be accepted as probable that if the
Chinese government were attacking the
legations itself, it would permit Mr.. Con-
ger to advise his own government, and
let the world know of that fact Alto
gether it may be stated again that the
state department is satisfied of two
facts, first, that Mr.. Conger was alive
on the 18th instant, two days ago. This
al
Goodnow; it may also have been
in the original cipher from Mr.. Conger,
though the fact does not appear in the
paraphraSe, given out by the state de-
partment which is undated. In the sec
ond place, it still remains the opinion
that the Chinese imperial government is
not encouraging but is resisting the
boxer movement, which is consequently
an instruction against the titular gov
eminent.
State department officials do not &C
cept the conclusions reached by some of
the London officials that Minister Con-
gers dispatch is an old one. While they
refuse to make public the text of the
message sent by Secretary Hay on the
18th instant to Mr.. Conger through Min
lister WI they state that the message
received today from Minister Conger is
a satisfactory reply to the one sent by
Secretary Hay. 1t is further pointed out
in support of the authenticity of MI. Con-
gers message that the bombardment of
which he speaks, did not begin, accord
u o,
the legations had been besieged and at
tackled prior to that time, but not with
artillery.
URGENT MESSAGE TO REMEY.
Washington, July 2O.-Secretary Long
has sent the following caDlegram to Ad-
miral Remey:
"Conger telegraphs that he is under
fire in British legation, Pelxin. Use and
urge every means possible for immed-
late relief"
FROM THE CEJTN7SE E,NFPEPOE
Paris, July 20.-The Chinese minister
at Paris has transmitted to NJ. Delcasse,
minister of foreign affairs for communal
cation to President Loubet, a telegram
from the emperor of China, which was
dispatched by the governor of Shan
Tung, Thursday, July 10, asking the
mediation of France with the foreign
powers. The telegram make no illusion
to the foreign ministers at Pekin.
I NJ. Delcasse informed the minister
that President Loubet's reply would be
addressed to the French legation at
Pekin, where the imperial governments
can obtain it; but first, the government
of the republic will wait until it is GER
tain that the French minister at Pekin
is safe and sound.
FEARS FOR SHANGHAI
London, July 20.-To add to the gloom
occasioned by the extremely serious i'm
port of news showing the daily develop
ing strength of the anti-foreign move
ment in the south of China comes this
morning from Shanghai a report that
sixty missionaries and 100 native con-
vertS have been maSSacred at Tai Yuan.
Though the report is not yet cor
roborated, it tends to confirm the belief
that the central and southern vice
royalties would hold aloof from the
boxer rising has never had much foun-
dation.
If this massacre has occurred in the
province of Shan See there can be little
question that the intense anxiety for
the safety of the international colonies
at the river ports and even at Shanghai
latter by the masses of Chinese gather
ing in and about the international con-
cessions would mean horrors compared
with which the massacre at Pekin
would be insignificant.
The rumor is again current in Shang
hal that the empress and emperor are
preparing to retire from the capital to
See Ngan Flu
The authorities at ST. Petersburg are
satisfied that the measures for the re-
lief of Hardin, which is identical with
Charbin, will be successful.
With a view to proving his good faith
the Chinese minister at St. Petersburg
has begged the Russian foreign secre-
tary to examine all dispatches arriving
for the legation before their delivery
Indian troops are daily arriving at
Hong Kong route to Taku.
A Hong Kong dispatch reports a dar-
ing act of piracy within the harbor
there. A score of pirates armed with
revolvers seized a launch and took it
up the Canton river, capturing two
junks en- route. After looting the craft
the pirates abandoned them.
RUSHING TROOPS.
Movauent Of Re-enforcements For