The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1900-08-18
CEN. gHAFF[E At NATION.
A. Least That's Where he Was on
the oth---May Be at Pekin's
Gates Now.
MEN SUFFERED FROM TERRIFIC HEAT.
The Opposition to Their Advance
was IncOnsequsntial, NOtwith-
standing the Road was of the
wOrst-Ching-Chis the Next
Apparent objective.

Washington, Aug. 16.-The navy de-
nortment made public a dispatch
from Admiral Remey announcing the
arrival Of Gen, Chaffee at Matow, the
next town of Importance after Ho-
si.Wu, which the Americans occupied
with slight opposition, ON the 9th
inst. The text Of the dispatch is as
follows:
Admiral Remey's Dispatch.
"Taku, Aug. 12.-Just received an
undated dispatch from Chaffee: Ma
tow, yesterday; opposition Of no con-
sequence, yet terrible heat; many
men Frustrated. Please inform sec.
rotary Of war. REMEY."
Matow is about eleven or twelve
miles beyond Ho-SiWu. The road be-
tween Ho-Si-Wu and Matow is indi-
Gated on the war department map as
the worst section Of the road between
Tien Tsin and Pekin.
The Natural Inference.
II will be seen from this message
that the date of Gen. Chaffee's ar
rival at Matow is uncertain. 1t is
taken at the navy department to
mean that Matow was occupied on the
previous day, the nth, and that the
opposition was slight, both on the
road and in taking the town. Matow
is about twelve miles by road from
Ho-Si.Wu, and the road, as indicated
on the war department maps, is of
the worst possible character. Matow
is not walled city, and no serious OPP
position was expected there.
Eleven Miles to Ching-Cbia-Wan.
1t is about eleven miles by road
from Matow to Ching-Chia-Wan.
which is really the suburb OF the
walled city OF Tung Chow and the key
to the gates of Peltin. If Gen. Chat
fee was at Matow on the nth it is
quite possible that by to-day he is
either in possession of Tung Chow or
engaged with the Chinese army that
il was thought might make stand
behind its walls. The war department
is highly eratihed at the report of
Gen. Chnffee's steady advance, which
for week past has been secuted as a
foolhardy piece OF adventure by some
OF the European war officials.
Another Matter Of Interest.
or quite as much interest as the
record OF the nrmy's advance is the
speculation now current about the
state department as to the status of
diplomatic negotiations. The state
department has thrown around these
proceedings n sudden and unaccus.
toned veil OF secrecy that is taken to
presage important developments. One
thing Is well-nigh certain, namely,
that the Conger message Of Tuesday,
which was not made public, Is one of
Q series OF Identical notes addressed
by the bclcnguered ministers to their
governments.
spain Got one, Tso-London Also.
Minister WI, who beside being the
Chinese minister here, also Is the ac-
credited representative of China to
Spain, received, along with the Con-
ger message Of Tuesday, cipher mes
sage from the Spanish minister in Pc
kin, which Mr., WI forwarded to Ma.
drld. II was not made public there.
bir Claude MacDonald's dispatch to
the British foreign Office, evidently
of the same village as Che two other
dispatches referred TO, also was with
held from publication. This Is taken
az a fair indication that negotiations
Of Importance are on foot, but their
nature Ia entirely speculative.
No Questions Answered.
The state department stated that
not only would the text Of the Con-
ger dispatch be kept secret, but no
questions would be answered In con-
nection with It's contents. II was
pointed out by the department that
with the international forces practi-
cally at the gates Of Pelsin, any state
ment OF Minister Conger might In
volvc him and all OF the other min
listers In very serious consequences.
without Foundation,
II was said, however, that tho
statement from London, credited to
q member Of parliament, that nego-
tlations were on foot In Washington
between the various powers, looking
to n future form OF government for
China, was without foundation. The
state department announced that no
note on this subject had been ex-
changed between the powers.