Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-14
Grave Tidings Received Regarding
the Chinese Situation.
BOXERS FAVORED BY HIGH OFFICIAL
Viceroy Of Two Provinces Said to
Be Their Friend.
GOODNOW'S SHORT DISPATCH

favorable in its terms to the Boxers.
Honan Shansi is the province lying mme
diately northwest of Shanghai, and be-
tween that city and Pekn.
Consul General Goodnow's short dispatch
represents all that the State or the Navy
Department knows Of the developments in
China within the last twenty-four hours. His
news only goes to confirm the general belief
that the situation in China is steadily grow
ing worse instead Of better. The "Honan
Shansi' referred to by Mr. Goodnow as
the place where the viceroy appears to ia
vor the Boxers is said at the State De-
partment to be actually two separate pro-
vinces of vast extent. lying in the western
and northern portions Of China Shansi.
meaning western island. is the province ly-
ing directly west of Chilli in which Pekin
is located. Honan adjoins Shansi on the
south The two might present an almost
impossible barrier If. Mr.. GoOdnow'S
dispatch indicates. they are disaffected and
undertake to oppose the northward march
OF the armies of Ii Hung Chang and the
other great southern viceroys upon Pekin.
The consul generals message was undated.
This lack of knowledge as to the exact time
of happenings recorded in the cablegrams
OF the Navy and State Department Off
cia1s is embarrassing, and even serious in
results The government here accordingly
today cabled Instructions to It's representa-
body of every dispatch sent by them.
FOrerunner of Outbreak.
Still another forerunner of the uprisings
in China IS contained in a report to the
State Department under date of June
from Consul General Goodnow at Shanghai,
regarding the conditions in Kiangsu prov
ince Consul General GoOdnow states that
the accountability for the agitation prevail
ing In northern China at that time can
not be laid to destitution and poverty, as
the crops in that region were abundant. the
Inhabitants prosperous. and new machines
and methods of transportation have not yet
thrown any of the people out of work, thus
intimating that some other and more seri-
Gus cause existed for the unsettled condi-
tionS in that section.
Chinese Minister's Interviews
rumor was afoat this morning to the
effect that certain interviews attributed to
the Chinese minister here Mr.. WI, had at
tracted official attention. and might be
made the subject Of representations to him
by the State Department. 1t is understood
that nothing has yet been done in that di-
rectiOn. however. and ii is possible that the
particular interviews may be ignored OFF,
cialiy in view of the realization on the part
OF officials that the minister is under high
nervous tension.
Second Dispatch Sent.
he 'nIItst minister CONTINUES TO
his efforts toward getting information from
Pekin, but up to a late hour of the day he
had not received any answer in connection
with the cipher cable to Minister Congsr
or from second inquiry which he for
warded yesterday. This second dispatch
vas to the taoti of Shanghai, and said in
substance:
american government and people great
ly concerned over safety of Minister Con
ger at Pekin. Can you give me any nfor-
nation on the subject?"
The taoti of Shanghai Is high official.
who will be apt to have the earliest reliable
information. and this personal appeal from
the minister may bring some reliable news
on the situation.
Minister WI Much Depressed.
Minister Wu is much depressed by con-
tinued reports that the legations had been
wiped out and the ministers murdered. TO
all inquiry he sorrowfully shakes his head
and says that he has absolutely no infor-
nation and can only hope for the best. Tn
report of the killing of the Russian min
lister and his wife was another severe blow
but as to this also Mr.. WI said that ne
had absolutely no news.
Talk About Miles Taking Command.
Lieutenant General Miles called at the
Chinese legation today and had talk with
the Chinese minister, Mr.. WI. This natural
ly aroused comment in connection with the
vague rumors aioat that General Miles
might go to China. 1t was stated later by
General Miles himself and by others in a
position to be thoroughly informed that
his call on Minister WI was entirely de-
void of official significance, and that Cen
eral Miles had no present purpose of going
to China. 1t is stated in weil-informed quar-
ters that the relations between General
Miles and Minister WI are friendly and
personal, so that they frequently meet and
exchange informal views. l is specifically
stated that General Miles has not asked
for service in China. and that such move
Is not contempla ted under the present circum-
stances. At most the American army to be
placed under foreign commander does not
exceed 1000 men, and 1t is pointed out that
such command would be quite inadequate
for lieutenant general. 1t is appreciated,
however. that the situation may develop at
any moment, so that a larger army will
be required. In which case General Miles
might determine to take the field in per-
son. For the present he is exercising care
In the preparations for getting the Ameri-
can troops on the ground, the detail of sup
plies, transportations, etc. The diplomatic
instructions of General Chaffee. who Is IN
immediate command of the forces in China
are quite apart from those of a military
nature. But in strictly military aspect
the operations OF the American force is
being watched with the greatest care nv
General Miles.
Advices mt Japanese Legation,
The Japanese legation added somewhat to
the fund of Information from Pekin TODAY
by an official dispatch from the minister
OF foreign affairs at Toxic, dated the 9th
instant. giving considerable explanatory
detail Of the conditions following the muir
der of Baron Won Ketteer. The following
is the summary Of the cablegram:
According to telegram from the min
lister OF foreign affairs the reports brought
by Chinese couriers from Pekin to Tien
Isin appear to confirm the rumors of the
destruction Of the legation and the murder
of the German minister. The minister ii
appears. was shot on the way and carried
into the Tsung Ii Yamen, where he expired
shortly afterward. Upon learning of his
death the German marines rushed into the
Tsung Ii Yamen and burned 1t down. 1t is
further reported that the foreign reinforce
ments which left for Pekin on June 10 ad-
vanced as far as Lan-Fang. NUT, after ter
rible suffering. returned to Tien Tsin on
the 28th. The allied forces destroyed sew
nro nalp