The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1900-08-14
GEN. CHAFFFE
Is Msrching six Miles a day
Will Reach Pekin Tomorrow

WASHINGTON AUGUST 1S.-The AM
erican commander in China in a dis
patch Of just three words received at the
war department late this evening sent a
thrill Of exultation and expectancy
throughout the official quarters by an
nouncing his arrival at Ho-Si-Wu, only
thirty-three miles from Pekin last Thurs
day. The last heard from him ebforo
this was at Yang Tsun, which had been
captured after a hard fight, and word Of
his movement since then had been Gag
erly awaited. Thursday he was eighteen
miles beyond Yang Tsun at Lang Fang,
the place where the i'll fated Seymour's
expedition met its fate and turned back.
The battle Of Yang Tsun was fought on
the sixth, n the advance to Ho-Si-Wu,
was accomplished on the ninth-a march
Of eighteen miles in three days. This
was four days ago, and at the same ratio
of progro.s General Chafee Is even now
fairly within striking distance of the
walls Of Pekin.
Il was a consummation which the wal
department had awaited, as it is in ac-
cordance with calculations although the
advance had been more rapid than was
expected. The dispatch from Chafee con-
voying so much in so few words is az
follows:
"Chee Foo, August 10, 1900.
"Adjutant General, Washington.
Arrived Hospiwu Ho-si-Wu yester-
day.
(Signed) "CHAFFEE."
Word Of the advance soon spread
throughout official quarters. In a NOM
ent a report got about that this was the
day for the actual arrival at Pekin. But
the war department had not a word OF
the advance beyond Ho-si-Wu. 1t was
deemed hardly likely that the march to
Pekin could nave been since last Thurs
day. At the rate of progress-six miles
a day-from Yang Tsun to Ho-Si-Wu,
about twenty-four miles would have been
covered within the last four days and
ternational forces nine miles from Peki1.
Viewed from any standpoint, the ad-
vance to Ho-Si-Wu was of the utmost
Importance, not only stragetically, but
also in showing that communication was
open back to Che Foo, that the expected
opposition from Chinese hordes had not
been sufficient to prevent the steady for
ward movement, and in the influence it
would exert upon the Chinese govern
ment.
Brief as the dispatch is, it conveys
much information beyond that specifcal-
ly contained in it's few words. Although
it is not yet stated what forces have ar
rived, the war department accepts it as
to mean that this is the international
force which first took Pei Tsang and
then Yank Tsun. It has gone steadily
forward along the left bank of the Pei
river, keeping on the main road which
skirts the river bank. At Yang Tsun
the railway crosses the river and branch
es off to the west. Now the forces have
left the railway far in the rear, and
are depending upon the highway and the
river. Ho-Si-Wu is a place of consider
able size and the leargest town between
Tien Tsin and Ching chi Wan, the latter
place and Tung Chow are the two cities
of considerable size in the line Of ad-
vance after leaving Ho-Si-Wu. 1t is sur
rounded by orchards and gardens, Is no
a place as likely to nave offered opportu-
nifty for strong defense. 1t is the high
est point on the Pei river, where IN
river water is depended upon, as the ma
tive wells are the source of supply on
the remainder of the route to Pekin. AS
IL has now taken five days for Chaff e
TO reach the advance to HO-Si-Wu it is
evident that wire communications are
now open to. the front. This was hardly
to be expected and the safe arrival OF
the message atleast shows that a GER
tain measure Of communication is open.
One Of the chief sources of congratula-
ton among officials is hat the fanc.ed
hordes of China have not materiallze d.
or at least have not prevented the in
ternational column from drawing close
to the gates of Pekin.
Shortly after this dispatch arrived an
other message from General Chaffee far
more lengthy, gave the melancholy re-
suit Of the fighting at Yang Tsun. The
casulty list had been given witt
additional information that the dead had
been buried at Yang Tsun; that the
wounded had been sent back TO the hos
pital at Tien Tsin.
h reply of the United States govern
ment to China's overtures for peace was
made public early in the day showing
been taken. While expressingetaoinshrt