Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-08-15
CONGER'S MESSAGE
The Cause Of Considerable
Secrecy at Washington.
Hoped that an Assault on Pekin May
Not Be Necessary.
Indie ATOMS that China Will Yield 10 Demands
OF the Powers.

Washington. Aug. 1i.-With the
close Of the official day at the state de
partment the following official an
nouncement was bulletined:
The department of state announces
that a message from Minister Conger
has been received. but of uncertain
date, and not in reply to the telegram
sent To him on August s. 1t will not
be made public
This came at the conclusion of a
period of intense expectancy and yet
one devoid Of any actual developments
save in the foregoing meagre an
nOuncement.
Minister Conger's message was re
ceived in Washington shortly before
noon. coming first 10 the Chinese L.
CATION by the usual route through
Chinese officials. 1t was in the Amer
lean cipher without date and signed
with the minister's name. 1t was also
transmitted to the state department,
and conferences began between Acting
Secretary Adee and Secretary Root.
Throughout the afternoon, the state
department maintained reticence con-
corning the subject. declining to ad
The suspense was cleared up at I
o'clock by the above announcement.
1t was stated authoritatively that
while the message was of a Confiden-
tial character and for that reason could
not and would not be given out, Yet
as "A means Of aliaying possible mis-
representation, it could be said that the
dispatch showed neither a better con-
ditiOn nor a worse condition on the
part of the legationerS at Pekin. 1t
did not indicate whether Minister Con-
ger has or has not received any mes
sages from this government. Nothing
was contained in the message which
win cause any change in the instruc-
tons to Gen. Chaffee.
In fact. it was stated in this same
authoritative quarter that the only
additional instructions sent u
Gen. Chaffce since he left were
those of a more specific and explicit
nature which the developments in Chi
ma. and the information received by
the war department. necessitated.
Throughout the day word was anx-
iously awaited from Gen. Chaffee as
to the development of the military sit
came nor did Admiral Remy send any
thing on the situation. The last heard
from Gen. Chaffee, he was at Ho ST
WI, and according to all calculations,
he must now be near Pekin. unless
events have occurred to delay the ad-
vance.
The officials are taking into ac-
count that an advance even up To
Pekin leaves much to be accomplished
in a military way. 1t was stated, to-
day. by an official who has lived at
Pekin. that nothing short of the heav-
lest artillery could make any impress
sion upon the walls of the imperial
city. He said light artillery would be
of no avail. and for this reason the
advance of flying column even up
to the walls of the city. could effect
little, if stubborn defense were de
termined upon. The walls are 80 feet
high and wide enough on top for two
coaches to pass abreast From an Of
fensive standpoint the walls afford OPP
portunity for planting guns. while
from defensive standpoint they
could not be reached except by the use
of very heavy projectiles.
Although the sltudtiou ADMITS Oh tDe
prospect Of an assault upon Pekin, yet
government officials We're decidedly more
hopeful. today, that solution Of the
Chinese problem would be found without
recourse to such heroic measures. The
improved feeling is based largely on the
belief that China. realizing that her sa
cred capital is about to be besieged by the
armies OF the world. will yield everything
and that the legationers will be delivered
on the terms of the allies.
The attitude of the United States in the
landing of British troops at Shanghai has
been made known to the foreign govern
ments through their representatives here
This has had the effect of practically
eliminating the United States from the
question. Neither the French nor the
German government is disposed to accept
calmly the landing of British troops and
it is understood that strong representa-
tons both from France and Germany,
are now being made at London.
As summed up by well-informed diplo-
mat these representations in effect are
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