The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-07-09
WASHINGTON Is HOPEFUL.
Felt That No News Is Good News
In This Case.


WASHINGTON, July S.-A slightly
more hopeful feeling for the safety of the
legationers in Peking is apparent in of
fetal circles tonight The hope Is not
founded on any official dispatches which
have reached the state department. as
nothing has been received during the day
from the consular representatives of the
United States in China. The cumulative
statements, however, which are daily
printed from various portions of the en-
pire reporting the diplomatic corps, with
the exception of the German minister as
safe up to within certain specified time,
together with the absence of any corrobo
rattve proof of their murder, is partially
responsible for the slight hope which pre-
walls that the ministers are yet alive.
The statements purporting to come from
Sir Robert Hart, the English Chinese in
spector Of customs are regarded as the
best information which has been received.
While showing that conditions were des-
perate, the dispatches have not been en-
tirely without hope.
WI Ting Fang, Chinese minister, con-
tinues optimistic in spite of the alarming
reports. Such recent communications as
he had with the officials of the southern
provinces lead him to believe that up to a
very recent date the legationers were still
safe. -..
Considerable Importance is still attach
ed here to the telegraphic announcement
that Prince Ching is leading a counter
revolution against the rebels in Peking.
The prince is the head of the Tsung Ii
Yamen, the Chinese foreign Office and
the commander of a garrisoned force in
the capital. His information is said to be
considerable, and the fact, If the report
be confirmed, that he has eepoused the
cause of the government of the empress,
and that the loyal troops are with him. it
is said, may prevent further murder and
pillage by the rebels, and in this indirect
manner be the means of aiding the for
eigners. The prince is a member OF the
reform party.
Now that the powers are asking for
Japan to supply the major portion of the
troops which are to be sent to Peking
for the relief of the foreigners the eX-
pectation is that the onward movement
of Japanese soldiers to China will soon
begin, If, indeed, it already has not done
so. Mr.. Nabeshima, the Japanese charge
d affaires here, thinks that this is prob
ably the case, as his dispatch from the
imperial government received here sew
eral days ago, announced that the move
ment would begin Immediately. A full
force of men is to be dispatched which
will bring Japan's army footing in China
up to about $4,000 men. The part of the
army to be sent is known as the army
corps, and thirty-fve ships each of
more than $500 tons, are to be used in the
transportation Mr.. Nabeshinna fordly be-
lieves that within ten days the relief
corps will be in Peking. The march to
Peking, he thinks, can be made in three
days without great difficulty. His opil-
ion is that the allied forces will remain at
Taku and Tien Tsin to guard the forts
and to keep open the communications
and that to the japan army will be dele
gated the duty of forcing the relief of the
foreigners in Peking. OF this, however.
he has no official information. If the al
lied forces were to make the attempt they
would want to carry rations in large
quantities, peculiarly adapted to their
mode of living, which might embarrass
them in their progress, while the Jap
anese, whose diet consists Of the most
part of rice, would not be so hampered,
and could subsist largely on the country
through which they pass. For these
reasons he inclines to the opinion that the
japanese will undertake the relief work.
Nothing came to the navy department.
today from China that was made public
Late tonight dispatch was received from
one of the naval officers, but as it was
in cipher and did not concern the lega-
tions in Peking, the decision was reached
bot to make it public until tomorrow.