New-York tribune., 1900-08-02
EAGER FOR THE ADVANCE
Continued from pnge 4.

rations for the advance OF the relief force
have been pushed with the utmost expedition
and energy. and are nearly IL not quite COM
pleted. There has not been a hint an intima-
ton OF disposition 70 abate or modify the con-
ditions laid down in the Presidents note of July
%, and yet reports were persistently circulated
in the corridors OF the State, War and Navy
departments to-day that the expedition against
Peking was TO be abandoned, at least so far as
the United States was concerned, on account of
Chinese threats that in case OF advance
against the Imperial capital the Ministers and
other foreigners would be turned over to the
tender mercies of the Boxers
CHINESE BLUFFS DIsREGARDED.
A high official to whom these reports were
mentioned remarked dryly: "Al prepara-
tions refute such statements. The Administra-
tion is not likely TO be buffed in that way. You
will observe that the Powers not begging
but demanding that China shall do right. China
is doing the begging just now. She can put her
self in the right by accepting and observing the
conditions laid down by the President l be-
leve and sincerely hope she will do so'
An Army officer of high rank. in the course of
conversation on the press cable reports pub
lished to-day, remarked that he hoped and be-
lieved that the Chinese troubles would be settled,
public order restored and protection and safety
of foreigners in China secured and guaranteed
soon enough TO permit the withdrawal of the
piration of the next sixty days,
The dispatch from Ii Hung Chang, a copy of
which was brought to the State Department to-
day by Minister WI, did not excite much inter
est, except as to that portion which referred to
the memorial addressed by him and other Vice
roys TO the Emperor ''the other day" 10 which
reply had yet been received. That memorial,
IT appears requested that the Ministers be es
corted out of Peking "or that they first be en-
abied to freely communicate by letter or wire
with their respective governments" The grant
Ing of the lattsr request would be a partial
compliance with the second condition expressed
by the President in his note Of July % 10 the
Chinese Emperor.
The latest dispatches of General Chaffee and
Colonel DaSgett indicate pretty clearly the diff
hcuities and delays which attend the landing of
troops, animals, guns and military stores at
Ta1u General Corbin referred 10 this matter
today as one which might perhaps tenporariIy
delay the advance from Tien-Tsin. He said that
the military transports and warships of heavy
drauGht have to anchor about eleven miles off
shore. and everything-men, horses. mules. guns
and military stores and supplies-has to be
brought ashore by lighters. which must be towed
twenty-five miles for every trip. Even with
powerful steam tugs and big lighters the task
of discharging the troops and cargo of trans
port like the Grant must take a considerable time
even in the most favorable weather, and this
cannot be at all times expected especially in the
rainy season, when dense fogs often hang along
the low coast. Tugs and lighters not over
plentiful at Taku. and there will undoubtedly be
a brisk demand and sharp competition for them
on the part Of the quartermasters of the for
eign reinforcements as they succeSsively ar
rive. Colonel Daggett's dispatch says that some
OF these foreign reinforcements are now arrV
ing.
WRETCHED SANITARY CONDITIONS.
The big sick list of the 9th Infantry mentioned
in Colonel Daggett's dispatch did not appear to
create much surprise at the War Department,
where it was mainly attributed by Surgeon
General sternberg and other authorities to a
sudden change of climate and water and not to
an epidemic All the authorities China agree
and insist that the only safe precaut!on in the
ne atarF tna lie
ing and if used for drinking 1t must be hot. The
Chinese never drink cold water. Tien- -Tsn is a
city beside which New-York, London even is
an infant as respects age. 1t is a large city
with a population of million. destitute of any
system Of drainage or other sanitary conditions.
and all the water from whatever source obtained
is reeking with pollution and the germs of dis
ease Under such conditions the authorities
would hardly be surprised If the sick list should
run to 80 per cent of the strength of q command
Fortunately ample provision for the present at
least, has been made against this emergency.
The transport Grant carried eighteen medical
officers and seventy-eight Hospital Corps men
to Taku, where there were already eight medical
officers and forty-one Hospital Corps who
had been sent from Manila.
INCREASING HOSPITAL FACILITIES
A dispatch received at the Navy Department
to-day from Admiral Remey conveyed the news
that the Solace had been ordered to Nagasalxi
Yokohama and home with ten sick and wounded
Army, Navy and Marine officers and ninety
three enlisted men. and also that the hospital
ship Relief was preparing to sail from Naga-
saki to Taku, and that Japanese hospital ships
would be at the disposition of the United States
, if required. There have also been shipped from
Manila Taku outfits for two field hospitals,
one of fifty and one of twenty-five beds, and
general field hospital Of three hundred beds with
medical supplies for five thousand men for three
months, and a large hospital fund. The trans
| port Grant also carried medical fund Of $50
O00 and hospital fund Of 81 900. The prospect,
1 therefore, needs q
Chafees command will be literally met, and
| strong hopes are entertained that by the use
| Of necessary precautions the health and mill
| tary efficiency Of the troops will be maintain ed
| IN reasonable degree.
! Colonel Daggett's first dispatch shows that
! the engagement at Tien-Tsn remarkable
/ one in at least one respect No Chinese prison.
ers appear to have been taken. but Colonel Dag
eett afirms that there was no unnecessary
| killing" This indicates that the Chinese SOL
| diers who could not would not run away died
fighting. Colonel Daggett also assures the War
Department that there was practically no loot
ing by Americans" an assurance which was
J highly gratifying, but not unexpected or sur
| prising This dispatch, which left Tien-Tsin
| last Friday reported that the Pekng expedition
would move soon" which is an elastic term
| when used by military officer under such cir
| cumstances. It might be translated in a num-
| Der Of ways-to mean in week or in q fort
| night, or when all the reinforcements are up
| or when the transportation is ready" etc
| General Chaffee's report will probably convey
| more definite information as to the date al
though not necessarily
| IMPORTANT POINTS OF THE ADVANCE.
One Of the press dispatches published to-day
! says the expedition moved yesterday and was
| eight miles beyond Tien-Tsin. This would have
| brought II into contact with the enemy at Pei
Tsang. unless the latter had fallen back Re
ports from various sources have had the enemy
| intrenched with a force of $1,000 to 10000 men
| at or in the vicinity of Yang-Tsune which is
\ twenty miles north of Tien- -Tsin and a dispafcb