The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-08-01
The News That it is to be Made at
Once is Not Credited.
NO RELAXATION OF EFFORT.
Some of Foreign Commanders Are Still
OF Opinion That Advance Cannot
.,e Made Successfully Before
Last Week in August, but
Our Government Wishes
to Hasten the Move.
(By Associated Press.)


WASHINGTON, July s1-Doubt has
given way TO feeling akin to certainty
that the legationers at Pekin and the
gallant marines who managed to rench
the Chinese capital just in the nick of time
were not only alive on July I'D, but in all
probability are still alive and likely to re-
main so until they are released from their
state of siege.
The officinls here feel certain that the
attack by the Chinese on the legations
will not be renewed. They are convinced
that the councils of the viceroys in the
great southern and central provinces ana
the advice Of LII Hung Chang have had
effecI, and that whoever is in power IN
Psldn, whether Emperor, Empress, Chlns,
Tuan or Tung. now has been made to see
the necessity for the preservation OF the
Legations. The officials here, while anx-
jous that the movement on Pekin peSin
at once, do not attach credence to the
rumor mentioned by General Chaffee tnat
the forward march was TO begin to-day
There are two reasons for the increoulits
in the first place, Chaffee's force, his
splendid cavalry and his battery of arhl-
-
strengthen a weak spot in. the interna-
t;onal column. In the second place (and
information on this point comes through
European channeis). some of the fore.gn
commanders are still of the opinion that
they cannot begin the campaign before
the last week in August at the earliest
WANT TO HASTEN THE MOVE.
The United States Government never has
ancaded to this view and is relaxing no
effort to bring about hallses Of s:slslanS on;
s this Sci5it But rSrepreSentafi Hons have
been I met AEy TIE almost swerAbie arr
Runaent that the decision Of this important
question properly should be left to the
military commanders on the spot, who
must bear the responsibility for the out
come of the expedition.
a rather startling proposition was ad-
yanced to-day which, if adopted, might
,put at once to the test the Chinese pro-
fession that the Boxers and not the Chinese
Government are responsible e for what mas
happened in Pekin. This was to the effect
that the Chinese Government should be
Informed that the international force was
prepared to take that Government at It's
word and to join forces with it in crushing
out the insurrection. The kernel OF just
such position is to be found In the last
proposition laid down by the President IN
his reply to the Emperor, and there may
be developments in that direction shortly
No C1ANGD.
Nothing received from China neceSStates
any modification in the instructions given
General Chaffee. If there Is an advance
on iPekin it is presumed that such United
States forces as are now ready will partl-
cipate In the movement. If dispatches are
received at Tien Tsin from Minister Con-
ger or others in the legation in Pekin,
which change the existing conditions, Cen
eral Chaffee will act at once on such in-
1orma ton. General Chaffee has full powers
and has been entrusted with the command
of the United States forces because of the
confidence that the Government has in his
ability to meet any situation that may
arise.
1t Is evident from the dispatches received
from General Chaffee that only portion
of his forces can be utilized If an in1me-
date advance is made. It is not believed
that all of the equipment of the last ex-
pedition sent from Manila has been land
ed, and it is apparent that the horses ana
most of the equipment of the cavalry are
still at sea. The Ninth Infantry and two
battaiions of the Fourteenth Infantry and
the marines are the only troops OF the
United States available on Chinese soh at
This time