Evening journal., 1900-08-08
Two Progressive Yamen Min
listers Have Been Beheaded
NEED FOR A SPEEDY ADVANCE
Ii Hung Chang Says That Chinese
Troops Must Fight-ii Allies
March to Pekin

Washington, Aug. S.-Another cable
gram came to the state department last
evening from Minister Congerat Pekin,
the second that has been received di-
rect from his since June u. 1t is the
first which has come direct from the
minister since the above date, the
other having been received through
the intermediary of the Chinese min
lister here. Mr.. WI. Yesterdays tele-
gram shows that the situation in the
Chinese capital is still Of a very seri-
GUS character, that the ministers are
still in danger from the Chinese troops
and that their supplies Of ammunition
and provisions have been reduced TO
very considerable extent. So import
ant were the statements contained in
the dispatch that a conference was
held by wire between several of the
officials here and the president at Cam
ton, lasting for several hours. At its
conclusion the cablegram from Mr..
Conger was made public, as follows.
"Still besieged. Situation more pre-
carious. Chinese government insist
ing upon our leaving Pelin, which
would be certain death. Rifle firing
upon us daily by imperial troops. Have
abundant courage, but little ammuni-
tion or provisions. Two progressive
Yamen ministers beheaded An con-
nected with the legation of the United
States well at the present moment
The cablegram came In the official
cipher of the department. 1t is un-
dated, like his previous cablegram but
from the internal evidence furnished
1tx h DO of fn a 4 Of
two members of the -l-yamen,
and to the insistence of the Chinese
government of the removal of the min
listers from Pekin, state department Of
ficials say it may be assigned a date
not earlier than July 30, and perhaps
not later than Aug. 2. 1t is checked
by the telegraph company as having
been put on the wires at Tsi Nan, a
large city about so miles southeast Of
Pek.n, Aug. Z.
That the Conger message will slim
ulate the energies of the government
to its utmost endeavor to press for
ward the advance movement towards
Pekin is certain, for the message
makes 1t clear that for the ministers
TO leave Pekin would result in their
death.
The information which came yester-
day that American troops were epgag-
ed in the battle at Pietsang establish
ed positively, for the first time, that
Notwithstanding the difficulties which
Gen. Chaffee had encountered in de-
barking troops and supplies, at least
part, and a considerable part, of our
force was in the vanguard OF the for
ward movement. Gen. Chaffees dis
patch to the war department convey
ed the most satisfactory evidences that
the commanders had thoroughly agreed
in advance upon plan of action, and
that there is every indication that his
plan had been followed, as Gen. Chat
fee on Friday sent the cable saying
that the attack upon the Chinese at
Pietsang would be made on Sunday
the day when Admiral Remey and the
press correspondents say the fighting
occurred. Gen. Chaffee's announce
ment that the present objective of the
international column is Yang Tsuan
is interpreted by the officials at the
war department to mean that this
point, where river, railroad and wagon
road meet, is to be made the advance
base for the operations on Pekin.
The most positive addition to the
news of the day was the brief line from
a press correspondent at Tien Tsi1
stating that the Ninth and Fourteenth
infantry, Reilly's battery and the ma
rines were in the battle of Pietsang
1t was this force which, with thu
British and Japanese, bore the brun
of the attack on the left flank which
was to turn the enemy's position. Thil
plan had already been made clear b,
Cen Chaffee's dispatch, although hi
did not mention what American troop
would be engaged.
In view of the participation of tn
American troops the war and navy de
partments are anxiously expectant o
a report of the part taken by ou
troops, and of any losses which tn
Americans may have sustained. NJ
light has yet been thrown upon tn
subject of whether the commanders o
the international forces have agreet
upon a commander The Chaffee dis
patch would seem to indicate tha
none had been agreed upon. Tn
movement was planned evidently b.
the commanders in conference. and tn
part which each command was to pla.
agreed upon in advance. Il is per
haps notev orthy and significant tia
in this plan Of attack upon the enem