The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-14
Having Much Confidence in Goodnow,
Washington Yields to
Dispair.
REPORT BEARS THE IMPRESS OF TRUTH
Meanwhile Minister WI at The Request Of Sec
Hay is Endeayoring to Get Cypher Mes
sage From This Government TO Con-
ger at Pekin and an Answer
From Cong,r if He is
Still Alive.
(By the Associated Prcss.)

Washington, July 13.-The Depart
ment Of State has received a dispatch
from Consul General Godnow at
Shanghai, saying that the Governor
of Shang Tung wires that the Boxers
and soldiers were bombarding the le-
gators for final attack upon the 9TH
of July. He is extremely anxious for
the safety of the ministers and friend
ly Chinese in Pekin. The Consul adds
that fears for the worst are generally
entertained.
The State Department has also re-
ceived a dispatch from Consul Me-
Wade, at Canton, saying that the Wee
roy, Iii Hung Chang, has engaged
quarters upon the Chinese steamer
Anping, but that the date of his de
parture for the north is as yet unde-
cided.
Consul General Goodnow's message
terribly depressed the officials, here.
All along they have suspected that
the various communications received
from Chinese sources in Shanghai,
have been preparing the way for the
announcement of the determination
of the foreign Ministers, and their
wives, children attaches, dependents
and guards. The consul generals mes
sage, it is believed, is but repetition
of the latest reports from Shanghai,
but the State Department has come to
place a high estimate on Mr.. Good
mow's advices. 1t appreciates the
fact that he does not send every piece
OF unreliable gossip afloat in the SEN
SatiOnal news center where he is sta
toned, but uses good Judgment in
sitting out the probable from the
other kind of news. Moreover his
advice say this is from the Chinese
Governor of the province wherein
Shanghai is situated, and il is hard
to conceive of an adequate reason for
the Justification of the facts by that
, official in the direction of this partc-
ular report Therefore. the State De-
partment, which has all along been
hopeful Of the ultimate rescue of the
Minister'S at Pellin has now joined Eu-
ropean chancellorics in the belief that
they have all been killed.
a CABLE PROJECT on FOOT.
An attempt ha> been on foot for
some days past to arrange between
tiiC pONtlS HCW operating Ill Null<i
for an international cable connecting
the base of Chinese operations, either
with Shanghai, Port Arthur, Iolloho-
ma, or some other point through
which more speedy communication
can be had with the outside world.
The State, War and Navy Departments
here have all been parties to the con
ference which has been conducted
with a great deal of secrecy. Both
the War and Navy departments have
been figuring for months; on a trans
Pacific cable and consequently have
all the necessary information at their
fingers ends. The War Department
now has fifty miles of cable ready
to ship to Manila, to be followed by
400 more about the first of August.
This was to have been used for inter
island communication in the Philip
pine$s but the urgency of the case
may cause it to be diverted to China
The expense of this undertaking,
according to the present tentative ar
rangemcnts will be borne Jointly by
the powers interested. 1t is impos-
sible at present to give Il fair esti-
mate of the time that would be con
iumed in carrying out the project
but it is probable that the United
States is in position to do the work
more quickly than any other nation