The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-06

is awaited with some concerr.-' asI
anxiety. IL is the final word OF the - a
States government in the pending negotia-
tions The demand must be acceded 10 If
trouble of serious character is TO be
averted
Minister Wa was not in the city to-day,
having gone 10 Cape May TO pass Sunday
with his family. 1t is said at the Chinese
legation that he probably will return 10
Washington tomorrow. No dispatches Of
consequence We're received at the legation
to-day. and IL is said by the legation at
taches no messages will be made public
from the legation I'm the absence of the
minister unless messages should come
which. by reason of their Importance.
should require immediate transmission to
the State Department.
CHAFFEE DELAYED.
Neither the War nor the Navy depart
ments made public any dispatches during
the day, officials of both departments an
nOuncing that no dispatches of public in
terest had been received. That General
Chaffee is encountering difficulties that are
proving serious there is little attempt to
conceal. The debarkation of troops and
cavalry horses is being accomplished with
big transports can approach the landing
at Taku no nearer than twelve or four
teen miles Vessels drawing more than
fifteen feet of water are forced to lie far
out in the gulf This necessitates the use
of lighters for the transportation to the
shore of both men and horses, making the
debarkation of a considerable force task
surrounded with innumerable obstacles.
Added to the actual difficulties are the
discomfort and inconvenience placed upon
the troops. Rains are almost incessant,
heavy fogs are prevalent and the water
of the gulf is exceedingly rough.
That the advance on Peking actually
began no later than Friday is well assured
now. Officials of the War Department
still decline to discuss the latest message
l of General Chaffee, dated Friday, in which
| he announced that the American, British
and japanese forces were making the
| start without the remainder of the allies.
While no reasons for the reticence of the
| department are given it is well understood
| that General Chaffee's dispatch at this
| time cannot be given TO the public, as it
contains information intended only for the
| guidance of the officials here in the forma-
l tio1 Oh pOlicy Oh campaign III Cnind-
| The report of the suicide of Lii Hung
| Chang is wholly discredited in official cir
| cles here, and no information has been re-
| ceived regarding ii tonight either by the
| government or the Chinese legation. There
seems to be no reason known to the of
| ficials why the great Chinese diplomat
| should take his own life, which, in their
| minds, would be most deplorable event
His death would be regarded as a severe
loss 10 China in the present perturbed con-
| dition of affairs existing there. One of the
officials suggested the possibility that he
has suffered an attack of apoplexy other
| sudden illness incident to old age, but con.
| fidence was expressed that the report of his
| suicide was untrue.
There Is good reason TO believe that the
| imperial edict referred TO i'm Consul Gen,
| eral Goodnow's cable TO the State Depart
| ment has reached Minister WI. who 1:
| spending Sunday with his family at Cap,
May. If so. it will probably be delivered
to the acting secretary of state when IN,
4 minister returns 10 Washington tomorrow
| tt tire~chinese legation here, however
there is no information as to its receipt