The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-14
AT HOSIWU ON THURSDAY
Marching 18 Miles in 8 Days, He
Should Be in 9 Miles of Pekin
EARL LIS APPOINTMENT IS APPROVED
Washington Satisfied with His Selection to Ne
gotiate for Peace. Our Government
Again Names the Terms for
Peace with China.
(By the Associated Press.

(By the Associated Press
Washington, August 13.-The Ameri-
can commanders in China, in a dispatch
of just three words, received at the War
Department late this afternoon, sent
thrill of exultation and expectancy
throughout official quarters by announcing
his arrival at Hosiwu, only thirty-three
miles from Pekin, last Thursday. The
last heard from him befoSe this was at
Yang Tsun, which had been captured after
a hard fight and word of his movements
since then has been eagerly awaited
Thursday he was Is miles beyond Yang
Tsun. Lang Fang, the place where the ILL
fated Seymour expedition met it's fate
and turned back, had been left behind.
The battle of Yang Tsun was fought on
the sixth and the advance to Hosiwu was
accomplished on the 9Th, march of Is
miles in three days. This was four days
ago, and at the same rate of progress
Chaffee is even now fairly within strik-
ing distance of the walls of Pekin. 1t
was consummation which the War De-
ring as the news was that the American
was now nearing the gates of the i'm
perial city, Secretary Root and Adju-
tant General Corbin evinced no surprise,
as it accorded with calculations, al
though the advance has been more rapid
than was expected.
The dispatch from Chaffee, conveying
SO much in so few words, is as fol-
lows:
"Che Foo, August 18th.
"Adjutant General Washington.
Tenth. Arrived Hosiwu yesterday.
(Signed) "CHAFFEE."
Word of the advance soon spread
throughout official quarters. In the en-
thusiasm of the moment a report got
about that this was the day for the ac
tual arrival at Pekin. But the War De-
partment had not a word of the advance
beyond Hosiwu. 1t was deemed hardly
likely that the march to Pekin could have
been made since last Thursday. At the
rate of progress, six miles a day, made
from Yang Tsun to Hosiwu, about "a
miles would have been covered in the
last four days, and up to today. This
would still leave the international forces
nine miles from Pekin. Viewed from any
standpoint the advance to Hosiwu was of
the utmost Importance, not only strate-
gically, but also in showing that commu-
nication was open back to Che Foo, that
the expected opposition from Chinese
hordes had not been sufficient to pre-
vent a steady movement and in the in
huence it would exert upon the Chinese
Government
Brief as the dispatch is, it conveys
much information beyond that specifically
contained in it's few words. Although it
is not stated what force has arrived, the
War Department accepts it to mean
that this is the international force which
first took Pei Tsung and then Yang
Tsun. 1t has gone steadily forward along
the left bank of the Pei River, keeping
on the main road, which skirts the river
bank. At Yang Tsun the railway crosses
the river and branches off to the west.
Now the forces have left the railway far
in the rear and are depending upon the
highway and the river. Hosiwu is a
place of considerable size and the largest
town between Tien Tsin and Ching CHA
Wan The latter place and Tung Chow
are the two cities of considerable size in
the line of advance after leaving Hosiwu
1t is surrounded by orchards and gar
dens and is not a place likely to have
afforded opportunity for strong defense
1t is the highest point on the Pei River
where the river water is depended on as
the native wells are the source of sup
ply on the balance of the route to Pekin |
AS it has taken five days for General
Chaffee to report the advance to Hosiwu
it is evident that wire communication is
not open to the front. This was hardly |
to be expected, and the safe arrival of |
the message at least shows that a GER |
tain measure of communication is open
One of the chief sources of congratula- |
tion among officials is that the fancied |
hordes Of China have not materialiZed or |
at least have not prevented the interna- |
tional column from getting close to the |
gates of Pekin.
Shortly after his dispatch arrived. an |
other message from General Chaffee. far |
more lengthy gave the melancholy re- |
suit of the fight at Yang Tsun. The cas- |
ualty list was given in detail with the |
additional information that the dead had |
been buried at Yang Tsun and that the |
wounded had been sent back to the hos |
pital at Tien Tsin.
The reply of the United States Gov |
ernment to China's overtures of peace |
was made public early in the day. show |
ing the firm and final position that had
peen taken. While expressing satisfac- |
ton at this pacific step, the reply states |
that IL Is evident that "there can be no |
generai negotiation between China and