The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-08-14
Ry Associated press.)

{R! Associated l'ress.)
WASHINGTON, August 13.-The Ameri-
can commander-in China, in a dispatch
of just three words. received at the War
Department late this afternoon. sent a
thrill of e;,uitation and expectancy
throughout official quarters by announc-
ing his arrival at Hosiwu. only thirty
three miles from pekin. last Thursday,
The last heard from him before this was
at Yang TSun, which had been captured
after a hard fight, and word of his move
ments since then has been eagerly
awaited. Thursday he was eighteen miles
beyond Yang Tsun. Lang Fang, the place
where the ill-fatcd Seymour expedition
met its fate and turned back, has been
left behind The battle OF Yang Tsun was
fousn, ON the stn. ana the advance to
Hosiwu was accomplished on the 9th' d
march of eighteen miles in three DAYS.
This was four days ago, and at the SAME
rate of progress Chaffee is even no"
fairly within striking distance OF the
walls of Pekin. 1t was a censuiilha .ioi
which the War Department hao a"a'teu
calmly, and stirring as the news was tna1
Ihs AMERICAN force was now nearing the
gates of the Imperial City, Secfe'dlS
kno.t and Adjutant-General coroii4
e,rincaa no surprise. as it accorded with
caIcuIations. although the advance mas
been more rapid than was expected.
THE DISPATCH
The dispatch from Chahee, coliresins
so much in so few words, Is as 1oi4o"s'
on. roo August 7-..Adjutant-Gener
Washington, d C.
Tenth. Arrived Hosiwu YESTERDAY.
oSi.,a1, '.CIAFFEE.
Eord of the advance soon spread
throughout official quarters In the ehtlius-
in-,n al the moment a report got about
that this was the day for the actual arriVa!
at pekin. But the War Department had
mai a word of the advance beyond HosiWu
II was deemed hardly likely that the march
to Inekin could have been made since last
Thursday. At the rate Of progress, SIX
mites q day. made from Yang Tsun to
Hosiwu, about twenty-four miles would
have been covered in the last four days
and up to to-day. This would still leave
the international forces nine miles from
pei,in. Viewed from any standpoint the
advance 10 Hosiwu was Of the utmost I'M
portance. not only stratesically, but also
in showing that communication was open
back to Che Foo: that the expected opposl-
ton from Chinese hordes had not peen
sufficient to prevent a, steady forward
movement, and in the influence it would
exert upon the Chinese Government
STEADY ADV <A-Ntll-
Brief as the dispat n is, ii conveys much
information beyond that speclhcahE con.
tafned in its few words. Although II is
MOI stated wnat force has arrived, the
Mar Departments accepts il 10 mean that
this is the international force which ilrst
took Peit Sang ana then Yang TSun. II
has gone steadily forward along the ieit
hank of the Pei River, keeping on the
main road. which skirts the river bank. AT
Yang Tsun the railway crosses tAe HNet
and branches off to the vest. NOW tiie
forces have left the railway far IN the rear
depending upon the highway and the river.
Iiasiwu is place of considerable size am
the largest town between Tien Tsin ana
chin CHA Wan The latter place ana
Tunc Cnow are the two cities Of consii-
erahle size in the line of advance after
leaving Hoswu. 1t is surrounded by or
chards aui gardens and s not pace
likely TO have afforded opportunity tot
strong defense. II is the highest pom. %
the Pei River. Where the river wafer IS
depended upon, as the native wells are the
source of supply on the balance oil tNe
route TO Pekin.
WIRE NOT UP.
As it has tallen five days for Genefai
Chaffee 20 report the advance TO HoSi"u'
il is evident that wire communication .
lot open 10 the front This was tlafdiy TO
be expected. and the safe arrival OF the
message al least SHOWS that certain
measure of communication IS open; o!le
of the chief sources of congfatui 'ioti
among officials is that the fancled hoFies
OF China nave not materiGliZed. or at least
have not prevented the international col
ul.ln from getting close to the gates oi
Pekin
Shortly after this dispatch arrived an
other message from General Chatfee, lar
more lengthy. gave the melancholy result
of the fight at Yang Tsun. The casuai's
list was given in detail, with the additions, !,
information that the dead had been pu,ieeI i u
al Yang Tsun and that the wounded I; Ead
been sent back 10 the hospital al len
Tsin.
Tae reply of the United States Govern
ment to China's overtures Of peace was
made public early in the day. showing '.le
firm ana final position that mas peeh
taken. While expressing satisfac'leh a.
this pacific step, the reply states '!l5e = i,
evident that there can be no ssletai
negotiations between China and me row
ers'' so long as the ministers ana iesa 'ioi'-
\ ers are restrained and in danger.
Then follows a specific statement OF What
the United States expects as a conai''oE
precedent TO a cessation of hosiihhes.
a,amely that o body OF the relief force pc
nermitte4 10 enter Pekln unmoiested
eha escort the ministers back TO Tien Tsin
ARE ALL AGREED,
II developed during The GnH- that the
reference 10 "the Powers employed IN
the American reply was not without
distinct meaning. Exchanges between
the various Powers have been going on
constantly, and as result The officials
had the satisfnct!on Of knowing late In
the day that the position of the United
States had the apnrDyaf and SUPPORT OF
all the great Powers. While this had not
been expressed in any formal .nnnner by
all the parties. yet the exchanges in the
chanceliories Of Europe and through the
fore gn representatives in Washington
made it positive that the Powers were
acting un.tedlY IN approval OF the course
OF TIL. Government
Several of the foreign representatives.
including the German Charge ard the
49,