New-York tribune., 1900-08-03
NO WORD OF ADVANCE.
OFFICIALS ANXIOUS TO HEAR FROM
GENERAL CHAFFEE.
DIFFICULTIES OF CAMPAIGN IN THE PEI
HO VALLEY-RUSSIAN COMMANDER
OF THE ALLIES.

patch had been received from Major-Gen-
eral Chaffee, and Adjutant- General Corbin
said none could be expected before to-mor-
row or Saturday. The Adjutant- General de-
clined to express an opinion as to whether or
not general advance of the international
forces toward Peking had already begun, say
ing in reply to all such inquiries that he did
not know. 1t is assumed that General ChaHee
was too busy the first two or three days after
his arrival at T1en-Tsin in collecting informa-
ton, consulting with the other commanders and
getting his command in readiness to make
such report as he desired and the War
Department expects from him. Another con-
tingency might be mentioned which would ac-
count for a delay of several days in hearing
from him. The telegraph line between Che
Foo and Shanghai is under the control OF the
Chinese authorities, and General Chaffee's re-
port the military situation and proposed
campaign might easily be of such nature that
prudence would require that it should not be
exposed, even in cipher. to the inquisitiVe
scrutiny Of Chinese officials, in which case 1t
would have to be sent to Shanghai by dispatch
boat. which would take several days.
PRELIMINARY WORK NEAR TIEN-TsIN.
In regard to the reports in press dispatches
of advance from Tien-Tsin. it is suggested
here that they indicate a series of reconnois-
sances by detachments of cavalry to develop the
positions and strength of the Chinese forces
and perhaps also ito clear away the under
brush" in a military sense. rather than a gen
eral advance Of the relief column. good deal
of that sort of work was necessary before such
a general movement could be prudently under
taken. This view is supported to some extent
by to-day's dispatches. Of which, dated at
n-Tsin, July 80, says that General Gaselee,
the British commander with strong force. was
reconnoitering near Pei-Tsang. eight or nine
roi1aG Orth Of a
nese force is reported to be intrenched. Ac-
cording to the same dispatch, the Mahometans
in and about Tien-Tsin showing a disposi-
ton to cooperate with the international forces
to some extent in order to insure the protection
and safety of their persons and property. They
are said to be opposing the Boxers everywhere
The international commanders are trying by
every practicable means to overcome the dlft-
culties Of transportation, but that will require
little time. The problem of supplying column
of even fifteen thousand men for march of
eighty miles through a hostile country, which,
although thickly populated is reported to De
barren of forage or fuel or means Of subsistence
suitable for American European troops, Is a
serious one. Cavalry and artillery must compose
portion Of the forces, and forage to feed the
horses and the animals to haul the wagons and
carts and for the pack trains must be transport
ed, as we'll as rations to feed the troops. Med
cal and hospital stores and reserve ammunition
and clothing. well tents and other camp
equipage must also be carried An effort is to
be made to supply the expedition in part by
water by means of junks and other light craft
on the Pe-Ho The river IS napigable for such
craft as far as Tung- Chow, twelve miles east Of
Peking If this course is taken the distance to
be covered by the troops thus supplied will be
considerably more than eighty miles, which Is
the distance by the railway line from Tien-Tsin
to Peking.
Press dispatches also say that the Russians
are making preparations to repair or reconstruct
the railway and keep it open by running trains
of armored cars, which they are now preparing
in the repair shops at Tien-Tsin. II the destruc-
tion Of the railroad by the Chinese was as COM
plete as Admiral Seymour's official report indi-
Gated, the work of reconstructing 1t will occupy
some time even If all the necessary materials
are found in the conpanys yards at Tien-Tsin-
FLOODS IN THE PEI-HO VALLEY.
One unpleasant statement in to-day's press
dispatches from Tien-Tsin was that the heavy
rains had at last set in which, if they continue,
as is altogether probable, will soon convert the
valley of the Pei-Ho into of mud, through
which it will be extremely difficult for troops to
force their way with field transportation, even
if their advance is not resisted by the enemy
II, as some of the authorities indicate, there is
a low but continuous watershed to the eastward
Of the Pe-Ho and extending from the vicinity
Of Tien-Tsn to Tung-Chow, the international
commanders will be pretty to find and make
of it. If they should do so the Chinese
forces intrenched at Pei-Tsang and Yang-Tsung
would be compelled to retire in the direction of
Peking, and they might make a stand and dis
pute the passage of the Pei-HO by the interna-
tional forces at Tung- Chow If the interna-
tional forces have advanced or shall advance
with twenty thousand men and one hundred and
seventy guns, as press dispatch to-day ndi-
Gated, they will probably be able to do in
any direction they may choose, far as armed
resistance is concerned. OF course If the Chi
nese Government should order the Imperial
troops now between Tien-TSin and Peking to
communicate and cooperate with the relief froce
and the order should be obeyed, the only active
armed resistance that would remain would be
that Of the Boxers, which the Imperial troops
would be bound to suppress and prevent Such
action by the Chinese Government would not
only simplify and make easier the task of the
commanders of the international forces, but
would be strong and probably satisfactory proof
that the Imperial Government is now acting in
perfect good faith.
COMMANDER OF ALLIED FORCES
Although official information had reached
the War Department from North China to-day
a high official of the State Department said this
afternoon that the general command of the
Peking expeditionary force had been given by
agreement of the international commanders TO
the senior European officer present who accord
ing a press dispatch, is Lieutenant General
Observation-Disclosures AleXieff having proceeded
northward to Port Arthur. Reinforcenents are
still going forward to General Chaffee's COM
mand. Two squadrons of the 1st Cavalry left
Seattle to-day for Taku on the transport Ga
rome.
Secretary Root said this afternoon that there
had been no developments which would cause
any changes in the instructions to General Chat
fee or which would change the intentions of the
Government in the least. A cipher cable mes
sage sent to General Chaffee by Mr.. Root
to-day. which contained additional information
and facts which have developed since the last