Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-13
News Transmitted by the Governor
Of Shan-Tung.
}OXERSPREPARINGFORF ATTACK
Were Bombarding the Foreigners
JuIy7.
OFFICIALCIRCLES DEPRESSED

Shan-tung wires that the Boxers and SOL
diers were bombarding the legations for
final attack upon the 7th of July. He is
extremely anxious for the safety of the
ministers and our Chinese friends in Pekin.
The consul adds that fears of the worst
are generally entertained.
The Department of State also received
dispatch from Consul McWade at Canton.
saying that the viceroy, Ii Hung Chang,
engaged quarters upon the Chinese steamer
Anping. but that the date of his departure
for the north is as yet undecided.
officials Greatly Depressed.
The short telegram received at the State
Department today from Consul General
Goodnow, at Shanghai announcing the be-
ginning of the final attack on the legations
at Pekn terribly depressed the officials
All along they have suspected that the
various communications that have come out
of Shanghai, in each case from a ChlneSe
source, have been preparing the way for
the announcement of the determination of
the foreign ministers and all of the hapleSS
people-wiveS, children. attaches, depend
ents and guards. The consul generals mes
sage, it is understood. is but repetition of
the latest press reports from Shanghai, but
the State Department has come to place
high estimation on Mr.. GoodnoW's adVlceS.
1t appreciates the fact that he does not
send every piece of unreliable gossip af1oat
IN the sensational news center WHeTe lie lS
stationed. but uses good judgment in sift-
ing out the probable from the other kind of
news. Moreover his advice this time is
from the Chinese governor of the province
wherein Shanghai is situated. and 1t is hard
to conceive of an adequate reason for the
Justification of the facts by that official, at
least in the direction of this particular re-
port. Therefore. the State Department.
which has all along been hopeful of the
ultimate rescue Of the ministers at Pekin,
has now Joined European chancellories in
the belief that they have all been killed.
Ii Hung Chnng's Intentions.
The department officials find it hard to
estimate the value of the statement of the
consul at Canton that Ii Hung Chang has
again engaged passage northward. owing
to the lack of date on the cable message.
and it is suspected that the press dispatch
stating that he has abandoned the trip to
Pekin is of later date than Mr. McWades
notice. Should the great viceroy go north
ward. his coming to Taku and Tien Tsin
would raise at once a question as to the
conditions under which he undertakes to go
to Pekin. and incidentally the decision as to
whether or not he should be permitted to
pass the lines, would involve the decision
of the other question as to whether or not
a state of war exists.
COnferrinE in Regard to n Cable.
An attempt has been on foot for some
days past to arrange between the powers
cable connecting the base Of Chinese opera
tions either with Shanghai, Port Arthur.
Yokohama or some other point through
which more speedy communication can be
had with the outside world. The matter
has been conducted with a great deal of
diplomatic secrecy. but the State. War and
Navy Departments here have all been par
ty to the conference furnishing estimates
of cost and data on the time which prob
ably will be necessary to put the project
in a eff JlE
partments have been figuring for months
past on a trannspaciiic cable. and conse-
quently have all tn" necessary informat ton
at their fingers ends The War Depart
ment now has fifty miles of cable ready
to ship to Manila, to be followed by 400
miles more about the 1st of August. This
was to have been used for interisland COM
municaton in the Philippines. but the ur-
gency of the case may cause it to be di-
Verted to China.
No point has yet been decided on for
either end Of this Internal tional line Che
foo and Taku both having been discussed
for the Chinese terminus. 1t IS GOO miles
by water from Taku to Shanghai. the ter
minus of the English cable. 1t is less than
100 miles from Taku to Port Arthur but
the Russian land lines both in Corea and
Manchuria have been subject to such scri-
Gus interruption as to almost bar the con-
tional connecting link.
The Expense.
The expense of this undertaking. accord
ing to the present tentative arrangements.
Will be borne Jointly by the powers inter-
ested. 1t Is impossible at present to give a
lalr estimate Of the time that would be
consumed IN carrying out the project, but
1t is probable that the United States Is In
conditlon 10 do the work more quickly than
any other nation. Great regret is expressed
IN both army and navy circles that the
transpacific cable, with its proposed branch
~ iokohama' was not authorized by the
@ aast congress. as this would have aided
greatly in the possibility of quickly secur-
Ing ana maintaining reliable open route
Eager to Fight the Chinese,
The recruiting of troops to fill up the
regiments in service in the army has been
greatly stimulated by the present outbreak
IN China. The War Department has been
unable up to date to give applicants for
enlistment any positive assurance that
they will be used in Chinese service but
those regiments which have been definitely
ordered to China were Immediately recruit
ed to their full strength without the slight
est difficulty. Further than this recruits
have been forced to take their chances be-
tween service in China and in the Philip
pines, but the prospect of active Chinese
campaign has brought out a better class of
men than have recently applied for enlist
ment, in spite of the fact that the Ameri-
can requirements for enlisted men are
higher than those of any other army in
the world
Col. Ward, who is In charge of the re-
cruiting bureau Of the War Department
feels no doubt to the possibility of
enlisting any number of first-class men for
Chinese service whenever occasion ARISES.
There Will be a large number of Short-ser-
vice men in both the Porto Rican and
Cuban regiments now destined for oriental
service, but at the present rate of enlist
ment they will be quickly recruited to their
full strength.
Russian Embassy without Advices.