Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-08-18

FlShI III " NsusukNou h"ShSsputCu
With Great Interest Chinese Min
lister at London Says Powers Must
Not Press Too Hard.
Washington, Aug. lG-The tension on
the Chinese situation is intense, for II is
appreciated by officials that the crisis
has reached an acute stage which cannot
be continued many hours without bring
Ing word Of momcntous import. deter
mining, either for good or evil. the en-
tire course Of events Wednesday was
day of extreme anxiety, of watching
and waiting. with only measre and frag
mentary information as to the military
and diplomatic phases.
One OF the new developments was the
statement that messages are being re-
ceived from Minister Conger which are
not transmitted through any of our ofii-
cials in China, or through the Chinese
minister here. but directly at the state
department.. These messages come by
the way of Isl Nan. Some of them can
not be fully deciphered, and for this
reason the statement cannot be definitely
made that the dispatches sent by the
government to Minister Conger are re-
ceived by him.
So far as the messages have been de-
clphered there Is no indication that
Minister Conger received any informa-
ton or dispatches from our state depart
ment. Nothing could be learned Of the
contents Of the dispatches rece ivcd, al
though 1t was stated that there were
quite a number from Minister Conger,
some coming from the consular ofiio ers
and General Chaffee, beside those which
came direct. The message transmitted
through Minister WI was entirely de-
ciphered in the department.
Word came early In the day to the navy
department that General Chaffee had
reached Matow, about 20 miles from
Pekin. This occurred Friday or Satur-
day, though the dispatch from General
Chaffee, sent through Admiral Remey
was not sufficiently defiEite to locate the
exact time of reaching Matow. But in
any event three or four days have
elapsed since then, and there has been
time for still further advance toward
the imperial city. The feeling among
officials was shown in the extreme cir
relating to China, and it was announced
both at the state and war departments
that any communication from Minister
Conger or the United States consuls con-
cerning affairs in China would not be
made public.
1t was explained that this was in no
way due to any desire to Ike ep from the
public information OF an important
character. but was based solely on the
fact that the crisis involved so many
possibilities of extreme hazard to the
800 legationers in Pekin that the great
est caution must he observed against
disclosures which would further imperil
those in danger
The actual developments OF the day
consisted of the Remey dispatch, here
tofore alluded to. and one from Consul
General Goodnow at Shanghai. The
state department declined to make
known the contents of the Goodnow dis
patch. This opened wide field for
conjecture. the most generally accepted
view being that Mr.. Goodnow had ad-
viscd against the plan of delivering the
legationers outside the city Of Pekin.
The cipher experts were busy with a
dispatch from Consul Fowler at Che
Foo. which was 50 uninteligble that it
had to be returned to the telegram
company to be repeated. SO far as 1t
could be deciphered, 1t appeared to re-
peat message sent by Minister Con-
ger to Fowler. telling the latter that the
situation was becoming more critical at
Pekin, and that the chinese authorities
,i,,rr tT,, ~ a.
leave the city under Chinese scort.
1t is possible that the message, WIKI h
10 quite long. will convey additional in
formation when its complications are
unravelled.
With the army at Matow, 1t is felt that
any one of several conditions might be
presented in the near future. The
Chinese officials concur in the belief ex-
pressed by the Chinese minister al Lon
don, that there will be u speedy and
sudden change. and a peace within the
next few weeks. On the other hand,
Baron Sternberg, the German charge of
affairs, regards Tung Chow, mid way be-
tween Matow and Pekin. as the real bat
tie ground, and Secretary Root is in
cllned to accept this view. Some of the
Japanese officials believe that when the
allies reach Tung Chow they will find
Pekin deserted city ahead of them, as
1t Is recalled that thes., tactics Of with
dawal occurred in 1860. when the Brit
lsh French expedition reached Tung
Chow.
In the absence of all positive informa-
ton as to what the allies armies will
do, these conjectures from the best
posted sources serve to show the va
rious serious possibilities forming part
of the present crisis.
The arrival of President Mckinley to-
day Is looked forward TO with great in
terest. In view of the gravity of the crisis.
An extended conference between the
president. Secretary Root, Acting Secre-
tary Adee and others Is likely to occur.
This probably Will assume the aspect
sf cabinet conference. it, indeed, 1t is
not felt desirable to hold a special cab
lnet meeting. The regular meeting day
Of the cabinet Is on Friday at which
time there will be further opportunity
Of going over the Chinese developments.
The statement was made last night on
reliable authority that the Pekin gov
would designate some high Off
cial to meet the commanders OF the al
lied forces at Tung Chow and agree with
them on some measures for the safe cen
duct of the members of the foreign lega-
lions in the capital. Information to this
effect was received here today.
London, Aug. 16-The Chinese minis
ter in London Sir Chih Chen Lofenelu.
,,.,t
not press too hard on Peli IN. II you de-
feat the Chinese soldiers II will not be
possible to control the spldiery. They
may turn and rsnd the legations. do
Lifetime of Heroic Service.
pn-,i,,5 Mo Anp l3-Rev CYRUS