New-York tribune., 1900-08-04
OPERATIONS AT TIEN-TSIN
GENERAL ADVANCE OF THE ALLIES NOT
YET BEGUN
ONLY SCOUTING AND RECONNOIssANCEs so
FAR-MARCH ON PEKING Ex-
PECTED SOON
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1BuNE.I

international forces from Tien-Tsn had not yet
begun, and confirmed the opinion expressed in
these dispatches on Wednesday night and last
night that the active operations thus far had
been confined to reconnoissances and scouting
detachments sent forward to ascertain the posi-
tions and strength of the eneny. The AdniraIs
dispatch is as follows:
Taku, August .
Bureau Navigation Washington
sinee Cnanee reports that eight hundred japanese.
scouting toward Pei-Tsang lost three men
Rllied TWENTY-FIVE wounded. Enemy in trenches
ana loopnoled houses. REMEY.
This information was probably sent from Tien-
Tsin on August l. making it the latest intelIi-
gence, either official or unofficial that has been
received in Washington from that quarter and
made public. The losses of the Japanese indi-
cate that they held until they had pretty
fully developed the strength OF the Chinese
force and its position but the affair not
an important one in other respects, except per-
haps. as a verifcaton Of press reports indicat-
ing that considerable Chinese force was in
trenched at Pei-Tsang, and between that place
and Yang-Tsun, which is a Chinese town of
some Importance, but not strongly fortified,
about twenty miles northwest of Tien Ts!n. Ad-
miral Remey's dispatch appears 70 dispose of
the London dispatch published this afternoon
saying that a general advance Of the inter
national forces was expected On last Tuesday.
1t is apparent however, that the general ad-
vance will not be long delayed. The intelli-
gence received from the theatre OF operations,
although exceedingly meagre and therefore un-
satisfactory. indicates great military activity
and a hustle of preparations for a speedy move
ment
General Charfee may have sent by cable to the
War Department a statement of the military
situation at Tien-Tsin and the practicability and
prospect of early advance toward Peking.
1t is possible that he has done so and that for
reasons of prudence it may have been received
and withheld from publication 1t is the opinion
Of some of the War Department officials that it
would be perfectly safe for General Chaffee to
send dispatches in the Army cipher from Che
Foo to Shanghai by the telegraph line which is
under Chinese control. He has however a swift
dispatch boat subject to his orders, and may
have thought it safer to send his report to
Shanghai before committing it 10 the wires. II
would then not be subject to the danger Of
Chinese delay or manipulation. which may be
considerable II the statement made by Ii Hung
Chang to the French Consul at Shanghai yes
terday and transmitted by Consul-General Good
now to the State Department is correct If Cen
eral Chaffee has sent his report by dispatch boat
to Shanghai it probably will not reach the War
Department before tomorrow or Sunday.
PROBABLE ROUTE OF THE ALLIES.
In regard to the probable direction and route
of the international troops when they take up
the march for Picking, an Army officer of high
rank to-day expressed the opinion that General
ChaRee would probably recommend that the
column advance along the line OF the railway.
repairing or reconstructing the road the
troops moved, to maintain the line OF
communication and transportation with the
bases at Tien-Tsin and Taku. In this way only,
he thought, could the problem Of supplying the
troops be satisfactorily solved, and even then
It might be found necessary to use the Pei-Ho
as an auxiliary means OF transportation. In his
opinion General Chaffee would be able to md
enough competent mechanics and railroad men
in the ranks of the 9th and 14th Infantry and
9th Cavalry to rebuild the railroad with fair
degree of rapidity This officer served in Ala
bama and Tennessee in the Civil War, and ne
evidently had not forgotten the exploits OF the
Union troops under General Dodge and other
officers in rebuilding railroads and bridges that
had been wholly or partially destroyed by the
Confederate troops
To rebuild the Chinese railroad may be
more difficult task on account OF lack of suitable
materials All railroad ties for example. have
to be imported from the United States, and sfI
rails are also imported. The main construction
and repair shops of the Imperial Railway are
not at Tien-Tsn, but at Tsang-Shan' eighty
miles northeast OF the former city and on the
branch from Taku to Chen-Chan, and most OF
the materials for railway construction are PROB
ably there. According to Admiral Seyrnours
official report. the extensive destruction OF the
railway" in his front. after he had covered two
thirds Of the distance to Peking, compelled him
to retire to Yang-Tsun. where "the roadway
was found to be entirely demolished, and the
train immovable." 1t is believed that the
railroad is now in fair running order beyond
Yang-Tsun and that the Chinese are making
military use Of IT.
Press dispatches say that the large fleet Of
junks captured at Tien-Tsin have been loaded
with supplies for the troops ready TO be sent
up the Pei-Ho when the expedition starts II
was reported several days ago that the river
had been obstructed for twenty-five miles with
sunken stone laden junks." which seems i'm
proba BILE in view Of the fact that according to
are not stones enough in the neighborhood 70
load single junk.
The arrival of the freight transport Leelanaw
at Kobe was reported to-day She will sail for
Tong-Ku tomorrow. and will probably arrive
there late next week. She carries a portion Of
the horses Of The 9th Cavalry, the remainder
left Kobe five days ago and have not yet been
reported from Tong-Ku. The Army transport
July IS for Manila, is nearly due at Nagasaki,
where the First Battalion Of the 10th Infantry,
which is aboard of her. will be transferred TO
the transport Indiana and carried 10 Taku, TO
join General Chaffees command
The Navy Department to-day issued an order
for the cooperation Of its officers abroad with
the officers OF the Army in landing and trans
porting troops destined for Chinese service. This
Tevves the situation that existed in Cuba when
Skaters army corps was landed largely
through the efforts of the Navy. II Is thought
in the Department that the Navy can lend con-
siderable assistance to General Chafee's troops.
not only aiding their debarkation. but possibly
in furnishing boat transportation II a move is
made along the Pei-Ho