Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1900-08-25
Conference ut White House.

Conference at White House
Washington, Aug. 23-The war depart
ment announced early in the day that 1t
was in receipt of a casualty list from Gen
eral Cnatfee. and this was made pubic
about noon. 1t was learned, however, that
the Lnaffee dispatch contained a consider
able amount of matter besides the list OF
killed and wounded and 1t was the SUD
iect of an extended white house conference
between lne president, Secretary Root and
Acting Secretary of the State Adee. III
was hoped by officials .n", ,"e receipt OF
detailed news from General Chatiee would
simplify the situation considerably ana
enable this government to map out III
large degree its future line OF action IN
emma. This was not the case, however.
General Chatfee's telegram Indicated that
there may yet be considerable heavy
fighting around PeBin and between that
city and the coast 1t was impossible to
make any prediction on the information
thus furnished, and the administration Is
not able to fix an approximate date Tor the
withdraYaFof our troops from the Chinese
territory.
Bloody work has been going ON in Pc
kim according to ulspatch received to-
day from the navy department by Ad-
miral Remey, dated Taku, the 2Oth, and
Pekin the 10th. the message shows that
the American forces were ,Aen fighting,
along with the anes, and that progress
had been accomplished after military
Efforts of a severe character.
Officials of the war department who are
familiar with the physical conuuons OF
the defenses of Pekin say that the fact
that all but the imperial city had been
cleared of Chinese troops is evidence
enough of the severe fighting which must
have occurred. In oruer for the Amer-
can troops to penetrate to the gates OF
the palace they must have stOrmed wall
about 30 feet high which, no doubt was
stubbornly defended. 1t Is a source OF
satisfaction to the military officials here
that the allied commanders succeeded IN
clearing the region oule.ue OF the imperial
city of >nmese troops, as thereby the dan
Ger of attacks in the flank and i'll the rear
Nllle the invaders were olOlllluS bhS III
perial city would be obviated.
/ Admiral Remey's dispatch, in stating
that all but the imperial city had been
| cleared of the Chinese soldiery, left the
impression that force of defenders was
still intrenched i'll that section OF Pekln
and would have to be routed out.
/ General tnatfee's brief report stated
that he entered the legation grounds at D
o'clock on the evening of the 18th and
that so men were wounded in the days
fighting. Admiral Remey's dispatch shows
that within the next two days General
Chatlee lost six men klned including Cap
tain Reilly of the Sixth artillery and 30
men wounded.
To all appearances, therefore, the fight
inc in Pekin was more severe after the
entry into the city than during the move
nents which brought the Americans to
the legation gates. This may be explain
ed by the evident fact that the rescuing
parties were engaged in clearing the outer
city of Chinese soldIery. Such a task
could not have been light one, owing to
the presence of large bodies of Chinese
troops in the city and the means at hand
of fortifying themselves in the narrow
streets of the main city and behind the
IL I "a