The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-08-17
Chinese Admit Heavy Defeat at
Tung Chau Sunday.


Washington. August 16.-At the close
of a day of intense anxiety, the depart
ment Of state tonight made public the
latest correspondence between the Unit
ed States government and China con-
stituting not only a remarkable series Of
state papers, but st the same time dis
pelling all doubt and uncertainty as to
the American policy in the present critt-
cal juncture. The urgent, almost pathe-
tic appeal Of ii Hung Chang, submitted
early IN the day, that the victorious
march of the allies stop at Tung Chow
and that the military commanders in
the field be Instructed to arrange an
armistice at that point was met with
response that Gen. Chaffee had been Civ
en- already complete instructions en-
powering him to carry out any arrange
ment IN concert with other commanders
for the delivery of the ministers and per-
sons under their protection to the relief
column, not at Tung Chow, as had been
suggested, but at the imperial city of
Pekin.
Furthermore it was made known to
China that Gen. ChaHee's instructions
left him free rein as to whether he should
insist upon entering Pekin and going to
the legations, or should receive the deliv-
cry of the legations at the gate of the IN
ner Tartar city, or at the great outer wall.
In short, China, through her peace en-
nd an ,icf5 a.
Tung Chow, 10 miles from Pek1n, where
as, the response of the American govern
ment is that, If there is to be a haitian
armistice-it must be at the walls Of the
imperial city. The conclusions of the gov
ernment We're announced after an extend
ed cabinet meeting.
At the same time the authorities gave
out the latest despatch from Minister
Conger, received today through the Chi
nese minister. Mr.. WI.
The appeal OF China and the prompt
response of the American government
were the subject of supreme interest
throughout the day. Coming at mo-
ment when the allied armies were in the
shadow of the great walls of Pekin, the
circumstances in which the correspon-
dence occurred were of q peculiarly mo-
mentous character. The President had
lust returned from brief respite at Can
ton and, going to the White House, found
his advisers ready to present to him the
Issue now advanced by China. e he appeal
| from Iii Hung Chang came first to the
Chinese minister who, early in the day,
conveyed it to the department. of state
Although it was not regular day for a
meeting of the cabinet, word was con-
veyed to those cabinet officers in the city
THAI a special cabinet session would be
held at II O'Clock. Secretary Root was
with the President before the meeting
opened, presenting the Chinese commu-
nications ana dispatches of instructions
already sent to Gen. Chaffee. With the
President at the cabinet table, were SEQ
retaries Root, Gage, Wilson and Postlnas-
ter General Smith. After the cabinet
meeting the American reply was sent to
the Chinese minister who, later in the
day, cabled it to Ii Hung Chang.
Thus the issue was framed, finally and
unalterably. The American memoran.
dunn OF reply gives Lii Hung Chang prac-
ticalIy nothing beyond repetitionsof the
two dispatches heretofore sent to Gen.
Chaffee. The first despatch of August
10 gives a sharp response to Earl LIS
first communication, laying down the
condition that "The forces composing
the relief expedition shall be permitted
to enter Pelxin unmolested." !"
The second dispatch of August IA,
merely amplifes Gen Chaffee's authori-
ty in anticipation OF China's acceptance
of the American demand that the relief
column must enter Pekin."
This second order to Gen. Chaffee
specifically states that If the Chinese
authorities are willing to deliver the
legationers ''to relief column at Pekin'
then Gen. Chatfee is authorized to make